Field Studies in the Environment & Sustainability: CFS 387-0: Chicago Field Studies

Field Studies in the Environment & Sustainability: CFS 387-0

"I'm loving my CFS class! We've had really interesting readings that fit really well with the theme while also exploring other interesting topics, like the idea of what is a city and how does sustainability fit into that city model. It's what I expected in a good way - lots of interesting discussion topics on sustainability. The three hour class time goes by really quickly too - it seems like each week we have a new activity planned so the class doesn't get stale, so that's awesome." -Kathe Braun, Spring 2017 FSES intern at Delta Institute

Course Type: Variable Credit (1-4 units)

For Weinberg students who started at Northwestern before Summer 2023, this course will count one credit toward Weinberg Distribution Requirement for Area III: Social and Behavioral Sciences.

For Weinberg students who started at Northwestern in or after Summer 2023 (including transfer students), this course currently does not count toward any Foundational Disciplines or WCAS requirements. For students in other NU schools, please talk with your academic advisor to see if this or other CFS classes count towards any requirements for you.

Course Description

With Chicago as the field, FSES will focus in particular on questions of science and sustainability within urban landscapes and beyond. We will explore how conflicting political, economic, and social interests and values contend for influence and exert power in the realm of environmental governance. We will look at how the local, regional, national, and international institutions, non-governmental organizations, experts, interest groups, and the public interact in defining environmental problems, and formulating and implementing solutions. Drawing on students' internship experiences, we will also discuss how concepts such the environment, sustainability, and green technology are defined and constructed in practice. Field Studies in Environment, Science, and Sustainability should be especially appealing to anyone interested in exploring the big issues facing the environment, understanding the environmental policy process, and doing something about the planet's changing environments.

Instructor: Robin Bayes

Types of Internships that relate to the Field Studies in the Environment & Sustainability course:

Environment, Sustainability & Renewable Energy