Academics and Research

The goal of sustainability education at Laurier is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to improve the quality of human life within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems. Sustainability curriculum refers to courses and programs that focus on the economic, social and/or environmental areas of sustainability.

Courses and Programs

Our programs offer degrees, options, concentrations and over 200 sustainability courses that focus on sustainability concepts and practices.

Sustainability-focused courses are entirely dedicated to the concept of sustainability, including its cultural, economic, environmental and social dimensions. Alternatively, sustainability-focused courses may examine an issue or topic using sustainability as a lens.

Sustainability-related courses incorporate sustainability as a distinct course component or module, or concentrate on a single sustainability principle or issue. The principle or issue being discussed is connected to the larger concept of sustainability including its cultural, economic, environmental and social dimensions.

Research

Sustainability research concerns the scientific analysis, communication, creation and maintenance of conditions that enable societies to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability research considers ecological, economic, social, and cultural factors, as well as their interconnections. These conditions are necessary for creating conditions that are at once manageable, viable, and equitable.

Laurier is a leader in environmental research, with high-impact projects at the local, national and international level. Environmental and sustainability researchers are actively working on projects to:

• Address climate change in remote areas of the North.
• Close the performance gap in green buildings by cultivating a culture of sustainability.
• Connect with First Nations communities on facilitating cross-cultural water knowledge, research and monitoring.

To learn more, visit Research at Laurier.