Sustainability
Sustainability can be described as a state in which the needs of the present generation can be met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (cf. Brundtland, 1987)[1]. Sustainability studies investigate the relationships between ecological, economic, social, and political phenomena, and behavior and policies impacting those relationships. Sustainability studies’ core concern thereby involves understanding human impact on the natural environment and deducing wise stewardship of natural resources. It may also include the study of economic development, inequality, governance institutions, education, public opinion, civil society, and the ethics of social responsibility. As such, virtually every program in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (EPPS) touches in some way on sustainability.
Students in EPPS can pursue the study of sustainability as part of their Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degrees, with the most likely programs being Geospatial Information Sciences or Public Policy and Political Economy. Regardless of their major, students can fulfill elective requirements by taking courses from other programs in the school, and Ph.D. students can form multidisciplinary dissertation committees. Students have opportunities to participate in structured internships in Washington, DC, or Austin, TX, to gain experience in the world of politics and policymaking and explore potential career paths. Students may also have opportunities to participate in faculty research projects and to conduct their own research with support from the Office of Undergraduate Education or the Office of Research and Innovation. The UTD Office of Sustainability serves as a focal point on campus for student engagement and sponsors numerous events and opportunities.
[1] Brundtland, G.H. (1987) Our Common Future: Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. Geneva, UN-Dokument A/42/427.
Faculty
Elias Cisneros
Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Political Economy
Eugenia Gorina
Associate Professor of Public and Nonprofit Management
Dohyeong Kim
Professor of Public Policy, Geospatial Information Sciences, and Social Data Analytics and Research
Erin Litzow
Assistant Professor of Sustainability
Robert Lowry
Professor of Political Science
John McCaskill
Clinical Professor of Public and Nonprofit Management
Banks Miller
Associate Professor of Political Science, Public Policy and Political Economy
Camila Morales
Assistant Professor of Economics
Clint Peinhardt
Professor of Political Science, Public Policy, and Political Economy
Kevin Siqueira
Associate Professor of Economics
Sheryl Skaggs
Professor of Sociology
Degrees
- B.S. Geospatial Information Sciences
- B.A./B.S. International Political Economy
- B.S. Public Policy
- M.S. Geospatial Information Sciences
- M.S. International Political Economy – Development concentration
- Ph.D. Geospatial Information Science
- Ph.D. Public Affairs
- Ph.D. Public Policy and Political Economy
Courses
Undergraduate
- ECON 4332 – Energy and Natural Resources Economics
- ECON 4333 – Environmental Economics
- ECON 4362 – Development Economics
- ENVR 2302/GEOL 1305 – The Global Environment
- GEOG 3372 – Population and Development
- GEOG/PA 3377 – Urban Planning and Policy
- GEOG/IPEC 4309 – Urban Development
- GISC/IPEC 4384 – Health and Environmental Policy: A Global Perspective
- GISC 4386 – Global Change and Its Challenges
- IPEC 3349 – World Resources and Development
- IPEC 4305 – Topics in Science, Technology, and Institutions
- PA/SOC 3382 – Sustainable Communities
- PPOL/PSCI 4301 – Law, Science, and Policy
- PSCI 4304 – Energy and Environmental Politics and Policy
- PSCI 4329 – Global Politics
Graduate
- ECON/PPPE 6352 – World Political Economy
- ECON/SOC 6371 – Urban Economics
- GEOS/GISC 5314 – Climate Change Resilience and Adaptation
- PPPE 6321 – Economics for Public Policy
- PPPE/PSCI 6322 – U.S. Energy Policy and Regulation
- PPPE 6329 – Ethics, Culture, and Public Policy
- PPPE/PSCI 6335 – Institutions and Development
- PPPE 6343 – Global Health Policy
- PPPE/SOC 6350 – Social Stratification
- PPPE 6367 – Environmental Economics and Policy
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Zoya Burney
The key to my success has been making sure to maintain a balance in my life. Everyone at this school is very focused and driven but being able to know when to stop studying and enjoy myself has helped me maintain my physical and mental health while still allowing me to achieve my academic goals.