Course Schedule and Catalog

Long Title: INTEGRATED APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Department: Global Health Technologies

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Language of Instruction: Taught in English

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Description: This is a multidisciplinary course in which students explore the origins, connections and consequence of social and political tensions arising from the expansion of commercial energy resources in unique and rapidly changing Arctic and sub-Artic environments. The challenge for the class will be to understand that in matters of sustainable development systemic complexities often give rise to a disconnect between analysis and decision-making. Topics will include the impacts of commercial energy development and drilling in rapidly changing Arctic environments, as well as strategies that can promote sustainable development and improved conditions for indigenous populations in the context of environmental challenges associated with the Arctic meltdown and drilling activities for oil and gas. Methodologies for structuring the analysis to be applied to enhance systemic resilience of the Alaska environment will be presented. Students will learn explore the barriers to sustainable development and discuss cost-effective, culturally appropriate solutions to energy related issues by integrating technical, organizational, and personal perspectives. Each class will have formal lectures(s) by Rice faculty or guest lecturer. Registered students are eligible to apply for a summer internship in Alaska. Recommended Prerequisite(s): POST 401 Mutually Exclusive: Cannot register for GLHT 411 if student has credit for POST 411. Repeatable for Credit.