Sustainability and Development Courses

Personalize your degree plan and conduct independent project-based sustainability research

Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lyle School of Engineering, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÔ¤²â

CORE + pathway + Capstone

The S+DP core contains 3 courses at three scales of focus: the global, the city, and the human scale.

The program is highly flexible and individually constructed. All SD+P courses can be taken in-person or remotely. Most are evening format for working students. Fully flexible, the program allows students to move in and out of full time study, and participate in internships and research. Each student develops an individual degree plan in their future specialty.

3 core courses + 2 courses in a pathway + 4 individual electives + capstone research A&B (30 CH)

City Scale
CEE 7306 Sustainable Urban Development & Design

The classroom is the research base for an actual sustainable development & design project. The work will build on an immersion into the primary historical texts of sustainable urban development with readings covering the range of issues central to sustainable development: ecological, economic and social. Practical workshop lab exercises will introduce a number of the tools developers of sustainable projects need to draw upon, from research and data analysis, to GIS mapping, and financial brackets, which will be tested in the project-based portion of the course. 

Human Scale
CEE 7330 Design for Sustainable Buildings & Infrastructure

This course covers basic methods of sustainable building and environmental design to assure minimal and efficient resource & energy use. Students undertake a design project, and work to integrate green strategies into their proposal. Introducing technical methods for energy modeling, water-balance calculations, and daylight modeling; emphasis is placed on passive, non-mechanical building systems. Sustainable infrastructure is addressed, including integrated storm water management, passive water systems and land use, with specific  reference to USGBC’s LEED system

Global Scale
CEE 7301 Climate-Smart Inclusive Economic Development

The convergence of risks brought on by climate change, unbalanced impacts of globalization, and technological advancement have led to increasing inequality and poverty. The private sector and markets have a central role in fostering global (social and environmental) development when the ability of nation-states are limited. This course will provide an understanding of inclusive economic development through its four pillars: economic, social, environmental and governance, as well as shed light on the key stakeholders, their roles, and incentives. 

or  CEE 7307 Infrastructure Design for the Developing World (taught in Rwanda)
Capstone A

CEE 7128

Design and develop you direction of study, develop your topic, arrange a mentor with whom to work, begin stakeholder and community-centered connections and write up the capstone project proposal and outline.

Capstone B

CEE 7228

Conducted as an independent directed study, capstones focus on a student’s area of specialty, and shows knowledge of sustainability, building on program content, and containing measurable data from a project-based initiative. Students work in consultation with a mentor, and present completed projects at a public event.

S+DP 3-D CITY HUB

An annual, intensive 3-day intra-collegiate accelerator in collaboration with the Urban Research Initiative at Paul Quinn College.

Specialty Pathways

Along with the core courses all MA S+DP students follow one of 4 specialty pathways. Each provides a different focus and approach to sustainability, from which students construct a personal degree plan. S+DP offers flexibility and customization to all students in the program.

FOUR pathways of specialization; all students take at least 2 courses (6 CH) from one area of concentration

SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT & DESIGN

Specialty Path Cities

‘CITIES’

The complex interlocking of urban systems; infrastructural, social, spatial and political invite creative design solutions for new ways in which global cities can serve as resilient ecological structures, and within which the economic and social lives of its citizens can be framed.

 

CEE 7324 - GIS & Mapping

This course will introduce the basic structures and tools of GIS software covering geospatial concepts, basic map design, geodatabases, importing spatial and attribute data, geocoding, and spatial data processing & analysis. Focusing on ArcGIS Pro, the course will also introduce ArcMap, Q-GIS, and AGOL. Through a project-based focus, the study of GIS becomes a tool for interdisciplinary research and creative thinking in design and research. In collaboration with local stakeholders, we will model tangible spatial data to uncover sustainable urban systems (infrastructural, ecological, political, and social). Developing the use of GIS as a support system for innovation and community based practice.

CEE 7329 - Methods and Technology for Sustainability

This course covers technologies and methods used in sustainable design and analysis. Areas covered include methods for assessing sustainability; ENVISION Rating System for Sustainable Infrastructure, technologies for resource application, technologies for green infrastructure and natural systems, water reuse and supply, and sustainable return on investment analysis. Also discussed are life cycle assessment and other sustainability indicators. The course provides a quantitative and qualitative understanding of the technologies which underlay sustainable practices and teaches students to use tools which measure and assess sustainability and to engage in the site based sustainable design of a local infrastructure system project.

CEE 8325 - The Sustainable Urban Plan

Focusing on the strategic role of an urban plan in the sustainable environment, this course contrasts the inventive and critical aspects of creating and developing a sustainable urban plan, exploiting the potentials and limits given by the interaction of government, finance, landowners and neighborhoods, local stakeholders, and the combined planning tools of code and urban design. The UrbanPlan project, administered with local working professionals from the Urban Land Institute (ULI) teaches development role conflict through a team based, computer modeled market simulation of financial returns. The course then introduces site planning & design processes through an individual site design, documentation & policy proposal. Lectures and readings support design exercises and workshops, resulting in a proposal for specific DFW developers/planners.

CEE 8328 - Defining the Future of Global Sustainability

This course examines the national and international drivers of change, along with both current and future sustainability trends that can be identified. Taking a specific global development project as a case-study, this advanced course will focus on complex inter-relationships between social and environmental outcomes of engineering problems. It will include hands-on participation with a range of actors in determining policy approaches, political limits, short term and future goals, and setting strategies for data gathering, data measurement, and data analysis. Impacts will be concerned with balancing limits of growth based on climate-change, natural resources, biodiversity and health.

CEE 7326 - Sustainable Transportation

Covers planning and operations management of sustainable transportation systems with a focus on energy efficiency. Provides an integrated overview of main concepts and issues related to developing sustainable transportation systems for urban areas, freight transportation, and aviation. Also, advanced topics related to vehicle technologies, alternative energy, and smart cities. Presents findings from national and international case studies.

DSIN 7303 - Human Centered Design

A fast-paced, project-based examination of human-centered design, which is a well-established process and set of methods aimed at devising solutions based on people’s needs. Explores HCD’s foundation in design research that emphasizes primary, contextual research such as interviews, observations, and adapted ethnographic methods, with a focus on empathy for the user and rapid prototyping to quickly express possible solutions.

CLIMATE-SMART INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Seed

‘CIED’ (seed)

An understanding of climate-smart inclusive economic development through the lens of global resource utilization, its four pillars: economic, social, environmental and governance, and the key stakeholders and their roles and incentives.

 

CEE 7301 - Climate Smart Inclusive Economic Development

Globalization and technological advancement have led to unprecedented prosperity for many, however large segments of the world’s population have been unable to benefit from these changes.  Meantime climate change is causing new risks, disproportionately impacting the already vulnerable. The convergence of these forces led to increasing inequality, working poverty and challenges to adapt.  Natural resources are under great demand posing the challenge of finding balance between utilizing and preserving the environment, keeping the well-being of current and future generations in mind.  While social and environmental challenges are increasingly driven by global forces, nation-states’ ability to lead and enforce remain limited to national boundaries, thus the private sector and markets have a central role in fostering sustainable inclusive economic development.

CEE 7305 - Policy Impacts on Sustainability

The idea of a truly sustainable society is either encouraged or negated by its policies. This course will examine policies at multiple levels to assess their impact on our society's ability to become a sustainable one. Guest lecturers from the city, regional and state level will be included, as well as examinations of policies at the national level from around the world.

CEE 8330 - Engineering Sustainability for the Future

Solving the global challenges of the future will require innovative engineering of problems that are understood now, and those not yet faced. Examines the status of cutting-edge technologies and analyzes what issues need to be addressed for the future survival of the planet.

EMIS 8361 - Engineering Economics and Decision Analysis

Introduction to economic analysis methodology. Topics include engineering economy and cost concepts, interest formulas and equivalence, economic analysis of alternatives, technical rate-of-return analysis, and economic analysis under risk and uncertainty. Credit not allowed for both EMIS 2360 and EMIS 8361. Prerequisite: Knowledge of introductory probability and statistics.

EMIS 8363 - Engineering Finance

Develops an understanding of corporate financial decisions for engineers. Topics include cost of capital, capital budgeting, capital structure theory and policy, working capital management, financial analysis and planning, and multinational finance.

CEE 7302 Leadership in the Development Sector

Examines issues, strategies, and techniques related to leadership and management of third-sector organizations. Designed to provide future global development professionals with an overview of a range of concerns and practices, while honing their analytic skills. In addition to lectures and discussions, this course employs a heavy applied field component through internships or collaborations with governmental ministries and NGOs.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

Environmental Justice

“EJ”

Focused on the environmental impact of infrastructure and pollution, and ways that it has, globally, had a disproportionate effect on minorities and communities in poverty, leading to increasing inequality, and the leadership role of activist engineers in countering this trend.

 

CEE 7353 - Environmental Epidemiology

Introduction to the science of epidemiology. Design and conduct of studies examining health effects of environmental exposures. Strengths and limitations of research strategies and interpretation of study results. Areas of interest include air and water pollution, lead, and biological marker outcomes.

CEE 7312 - Risk Assessment & Health Effects

Introduction to toxicology as it relates to environmental and health effects of hazardous materials; toxicology methodology; risk management factors including legal aspects; human health and ecological risk assessment and risk communication; emergency response; computer databases.

CEE 7356 - Civil Infrastructure Systems

Covers different civil infrastructure systems serving urban and rural communities. Introduces main concepts related to infrastructure project conceptualization and lifecycle analysis, demand and supply interactions, planning, and operations management. Topics such as infrastructure interdependences, resilience, sustainability, security and cyber-physical systems are discussed. Prerequisite: Senior/graduate standing or permission of instructor.

CEE 7331 - Air Pollution Management And Engineering

Covers the science, engineering, public health, and economic aspects of air quality. Students develop in-depth understanding and broad knowledge of the sources and properties of air pollutants, air quality management, fate and transport of pollutants in the environment, regulations of air quality, and the operation and design of air pollution control systems. Reviews the status of science, policy, and regulations on several selected topics such as urban smog, regional haze, greenhouse gas and global climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, and mercury emissions and control.

CEE 7312 - Risk Assessment & Health Effects

Introduction to toxicology as it relates to environmental and health effects of hazardous materials; toxicology methodology; risk management factors including legal aspects; human health and ecological risk assessment and risk communication; emergency response; computer databases.

CEE 7314 - Environmental Regulations And Compliance

Practical knowledge of federal and state environmental permitting processes and procedures is provided. Regulatory requirements are reviewed with emphasis on the 40 CFR regulations for water, air, and solid hazardous waste. Air, water, storm water, and waste permits are reviewed, as well as permits-by-rule. Also explored are the consequences of noncompliance with regulations by presenting enforcement options available to government agencies.

ANTH 6348 - Toxic Topics: Anthropology, Environment, and Health

Engages students in the anthropological study of the relationships between environment, health, and society. Designed around environmental issues, including climate change, water, food, energy, and other topics.

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT

Serve

“SERVE”

Integrating sustainable approaches to strategic management and policy, and building skills to lead companies, non-profits and citizens in pursuit of environmentally responsible, economically sustainable outcomes for a climate-challenged future.

 

CEE 7302 - Leadership in the Development Sector

This international based course examines issues, strategies, and techniques related to leadership and management of third sector organizations. Designed to provide future global development professionals with an overview of a range of concerns and practices while honing their analytic skills, this course employs a heavy applied field component through an internship with local governmental ministries and NGOs.

CEE 7312 - Risk Assessment & Health Effects

Introduction to toxicology as it relates to environmental and health effects of hazardous materials; toxicology methodology; risk management factors including legal aspects; human health and ecological risk assessment and risk communication; emergency response; computer databases.

CEE 7305 - Policy Impacts on Sustainability

The idea of a truly sustainable society is either encouraged or negated by its policies. This course will examine policies at multiple levels to assess their impact on our society's ability to become a sustainable one. Guest lecturers from the city, regional and state level will be included, as well as examinations of policies at the national level from around the world.

CEE 7323 - Project Management

Role of project officer; systems and techniques for planning, scheduling, monitoring, reporting, and completing environmental projects; total quality management; project team management, development of winning proposals; contract management and logistics; case study application of project management to all environmental media and programs; community relations, risk communication, crisis management, consensus building, media, and public policy.

EMIS 8364 - Engineering Management

Ways to manage technology and technical functions from a pragmatic point of view, to keep from becoming technically obsolete as an individual contributor, and to keep the corporation technically astute. Explores the management of technology from three distinct viewpoints: 1) the management of technology from both an individual and a corporate perspective, 2) the management of technical functions and projects, and 3) the management of technical professionals within the organization.

CEE 7303 - Citizen Engineering with Community-Based Design Research

Applying principles of community-based design research to solving complex engineering problems in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. Experiential and project-based learning with community stakeholders to develop systems awareness (systems thinking and sensing) and data- and model-based reasoning. Ethical and policy perspectives on the impacts of societal challenges that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations (e.g., climate change, increasing natural hazards, shrinking resources, loss of biodiversity, aging infrastructure).

CEE 7380 - Management Of Ind. & Mission Critical Facilities

Efficient industrial centers require balanced consideration with respect to facility design and function. Mission-critical component management and information technology systems are designed for exceptionally reliable performance and efficient operation. Emphasizing component systems that are designed to maintain a high level of function, the course covers electrical and mechanical reliability, efficiency, readiness, robustness, flexibility, and the management of the information technology systems. Presents the implementation of sustainable technology, green certifications, and alternative energy strategies that are compatible with the mission-critical requirements of the facility. Including approaches to reduce energy requirements for power and cooling, mandated safety standards, and environmental codes.

Additional Electives

 

ADDITIONAL ELECTIVES

an additional 12 TCH (4 courses) from the following electives, or any courses listed above

 

CEE 7351 - Introduction To Environmental Toxicology

Presents toxicology as it relates to environmental and health effects of hazardous materials. Examines toxicological methodologies, pharmacokinetics, mechanisms of action to toxicants, origin response to toxic substances, and relevant aspects of the occupational and regulatory environment. Includes toxicology of metals, radiation, industrial solvents and vapors, pesticides, teratogens, mutagens, and carcinogens. Examines risk communication and risk assessment as they relate to toxic substance exposure.

CEE 7365 - Introduction To Construction Management

Construction practice techniques and current technological tools are examined. Included are cost estimating, bidding, contracts and contract bonds, risk and umbrella excess insurance, labor law and labor relations. Building codes and regulations are examined. Business methods with respect to managing project time and cost including typical forms used in construction are addressed.

CEE 7378 - Transportation Planning and Traffic Engineering

This course is concerned mainly with the analysis and modeling of urban transportation systems. The course consists of three main parts. The first part provides an overview of main definitions and terminologies involved in the planning and modeling of urban transportation systems. The second part introduces the concept of urban transportation planning systems along with an overview of various models used in travel demand forecasting. The third part describes principles of traffic operations, analysis and control. Prerequisites: Basic principles of probability and statistics.

CEE 7313 - Environmental Chemistry

Covers chemical and biochemical processes, chemical thermodynamics, acid-base equilibria, precipitation and dissolution, oxidation-reduction processes, environmental transformations of organic materials, introductory taxonomy, microbial growth and kinetics, energy transfer, and microbial ecosystems. Also, controlling fate and transport of hazardous materials, with emphasis on chemical equilibria.

ANTH 6345 - Creating Global and Public Health Impact

Interdisciplinary approach to creating sustainable impact in global, public, and population health. Taught by engaging discussions, case studies, and helping local health organizations solve difficult institutional and community challenges.

EMIS 7365 - Program and Project Management

Development of principles and practical strategies for managing projects and programs of related projects for achieving broad goals. Topics include planning, organizing, scheduling, resource allocation, strategies, risk management, quality, communications, tools, and leadership for projects and programs. Prerequisite: Reserved for Lyle majors.