Introduction to Sustainability Science
Sustainability science is a problem focused trans-disciplinary research field. It draws from biology, the social sciences, economics, geology and atmospheric sciences. In this course you will learn the challenges of the Anthropocene, how humanity can reconnect to the biosphere, to understand complex adaptive systems and options for management and governance.
In this course we will view sustainability from many different perspectives to understand the challenges and opportunities of aligning objectives and opportunities for sustainable living. In order to achieve a diverse set of viewpoints your own insights and perspectives will be an important part.
Information for admitted students spring 2025
Congratulations! You have been admitted at Stockholm University and we hope that you will enjoy your studies with us.
In order to ensure that your studies begin as smoothly as possible we have compiled a short checklist for the beginning of the semester.
Follow the instructions on whether you have to reply to your offer or not.
universityadmissions.se
Checklist for admitted students
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Activate your university account
The first step in being able to register and gain access to all the university's IT services.
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Register at your department
Registration can be done in different ways. Read the instructions from your department below.
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Read all the information on this page
Here you will find what you need to know before your course or programme starts.
IMPORTANT
Your seat may be withdrawn if you do not register according to the instructions provided by your department.
Information from the department - courses
Welcome to spring term 2025 at BIG! Open here, read and let us know if you have any questions.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are registered on the correct course. If you do not register then your place can go to a reserve. However, it is important that you only register on courses that you do intend to take, or you are taking a place from another student.
Registration period for spring 2025
Note! In order for us to efficiently be able to help all students, before registering make sure to carefully read our information to admitted students.
- Registration for all courses opens 7th January and closes Sunday just over a week before the course starts.
- Traineeships, research traineeships and degree projects are open for registration throughout the semester (see more information in the link above).
If you have trouble registering, please contact our student office latest on the last registration day. Otherwise you will loose your place on the course.
Reserve place
If you have been given a reserve place you may be admitted if someone declines their place. In which case you must confirm that you want the place by attending the reserve roll call for each course. The exception is traineeships, research traineeships and degre projects where an apporved work plan is required to be admitted, for more information see the link below.
More information about your studies with us
On our website you will find more information about your studies with us.
Welcome activities
Stockholm University organises a series of welcome activities that stretch over a few weeks at the beginning of each semester. The programme is voluntary (attendance is optional) and includes Arrival Service at the airport and an Orientation Day, see more details about these events below.
Your department may also organise activities for welcoming international students. More information will be provided by your specific department.
Find your way on campus
Stockholm University's main campus is in the Frescati area, north of the city centre. While most of our departments and offices are located here, there are also campus areas in other parts of the city.
Read more
For new international students
In this course we will view sustainability from many different perspectives to understand the challenges and opportunities of aligning objectives and opportunities for sustainable living. In order to achieve a diverse set of viewpoints your own insights and perspectives will be an important part.
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Course structure
The course is given online.
Teaching format
This online course consists of a set of video and text-based lectures. A large part of the learning relies on the sharing of insights and reflections of each student during the reading of the course materials. The course allows you to organise your study time very flexibly. It has four parts that are released every two weeks in order to keep all students on a similar topic. This is to facilitate the discussions. But the required participation for each of the four parts can be done at any time within these two weeks time span. The course is a part-time course and should generally allow you to partake in it even if you have a full time job or studies, provided that you can sacrifice some evening time.
Learning outcomes
A list of the learning outcomes can be found in the syllabus. Please find the link to the syllabus on the right side of this page.
Assessment
After 4 weeks, there will a first home essay based on the topics released. You have one week to finish this home assignment.
After 7 weeks into the course you will get the last home essay assignment together with the last part of the course for which you have two weeks to finish.
For passing the course, one insight or reflection for each part of the course needs to be written and shared with the other students. The insights/reflections are shared on a course-dedicated forum.
Examiner
Juan Rocha Gordo
E-mail: juan.rocha@su.seRomina Martin
E-mail: romina.martin@su.se -
Schedule
The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.This course is an online self-study course. Written and video material will be released through Athena at set times, see schedule. It is up to you to organise your time to work through this material and complete the assignments. You will interact with other students through online discussion forums (compulsory) and live video discussion sessions (optional, timing to be discussed).
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Course literature
Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.
No mandatory course book.
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Course reports
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More information
In this course you will meet students from all walks of life, from business executives, researchers, students, practitioners, workers, and government employees. Also, while usually dominated by people from European countries, we often have students from other continents as well. The common characteristic is that most have studied some academic discipline in depth at some time, and bring, together with their work-experiences, many different perspectives to share and enrich our discussions.
After the course
If the introduction to sustainability science has wet your appetite for further studies, there are several ways forward. At the Stockholm resilience centre we have both a two-year Master's programme, as well as opportunities for people in government and business (http://executive.stockholmresilience.org/) to further their understanding of these complex but vital issues for future human welfare. You can also participate in several independent courses.
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Contact
Student office- Visiting address
Arrheniuslaboratory, room E315
Svante Arrhenius väg 20C
- Office hours
Mon-Thur: 13.00-15.00
- Irregular office hours
Closed Thursday November 21!
Study counsellor for advanced level
- Visiting address
Arrheniuslaboratoriet, room E315
Svante Arrhenius väg 20 C
- Office hours
By request
