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MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative
Sustainability Courses
Build your knowledge and grow your skills
Below is a collection of MIT graduate level sustainability courses that count towards the Sustainability Certificate elective requirements. While course details are provided, please be sure to verify course dates, times, and credits in the MIT course registration system, as updates may occur that are not immediately reflected on this page.
Course Title
1.076
Carbon Management
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Carbon Management
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2023 | Introduces the carbon cycle and "climate solutions" + provides specialized knowledge to manage and offset carbon emissions for government entities and large corporations through nature-based solutions and technology.
Faculty: C Terrer
MW1-2.30 + Lab: F2-4
1.147
Startup Sustainable Tech
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Startup Sustainable Tech
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2021 | Provides a practical introduction to key innovations in the fields of civil and environmental engineering that are currently having an impact.
Professor: B. Marelli
MWF 9:00
1.579
Materials in Agriculture, Food Security, and Food Safety
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Materials in Agriculture, Food Security, and Food Safety
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2021 | Offers a unique perspective on the interplay between advanced materials, agriculture and food. Illustrates the impact that advanced materials-based innovation is imparting to four key areas of agriculture: management of plant diseases, mitigation of saline soil, enhancement of crop yield and productivity, and food safety and food security.
Faculty: B. Marelli
1.74
Land, Water, Food and Climate
Fall
| 6 Cr.
Land, Water, Food and Climate
Fall
6 Cr.
Fall 2023 | Seminar examines food production in a changing world, with an emphasis on key scientific questions about the connections between natural resources, climate, and agriculture.
Faculty: McLaughlin
TR 2:30-4:00
1.800
Environmental Chemistry
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Environmental Chemistry
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2024 |*Pre-Req of Chemistry* Introduction to environmental chemistry, focusing on the fate of chemicals in both natural and engineered systems. Covers equilibrium reactions (e.g., partitioning, dissolution/precipitation, acid-base, redox, metal complexation), and kinetically-controlled reactions (e.g., photolysis, free radical oxidation). Specific environmental topics covered include heavy metals in natural waters, drinking water, and soils; biogeochemical cycles; radioactivity in the environment; smog formation; greenhouse gases and climate change; and engineering for the prevention and remediation of pollution.
Faculty: STAFF TBA
MF 2:30PM - 4:00PM, LAB W 1:00PM - 3:00PM
1.845
Introduction to the Terrestrial Carbon Cycle and Ecosystem Ecology
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Introduction to the Terrestrial Carbon Cycle and Ecosystem Ecology
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Introduces the terrestrial carbon cycle in a climate change context, with a focus on ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry. Discussion-based seminars followed by practical classes to solve climate-related questions.
Faculty: C. Terrer
MF 2:30PM - 4:00PM, LAB 1:00PM - 3:00PM
1.C51
1.C01
Machine Learning for Sustainable Systems
Spring
| 6 Cr.
Machine Learning for Sustainable Systems
Spring
6 Cr.
1.C01
Spring 2024 | Students learn to leverage heterogeneous data from urban services, cities, and the environment, and apply machine learning methods to evaluate and/or improve sustainability solutions.
Professor: S. Amin
F 11:00 AM, F 12:00PM
10.986
Seminar in Energy Systems
Fall
| 6 Cr.
Seminar in Energy Systems
Fall
6 Cr.
Fall 2023 | Seminar series on current research on energy systems modeling and analysis.
11.165
1.286
Urban Energy Systems and Policy
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Urban Energy Systems and Policy
Fall
12 Cr.
1.286
Fall 2023 | Examines key issues in the current and future development of urban energy systems, such as technology, use, behavior, regulation, climate change, and lack of access or energy poverty.
Faculty: Hsu
TR 11:00-12:30
11.169
11.269
Global Climate Policy and Sustainability
Spring
| 9 Cr.
Global Climate Policy and Sustainability
Spring
9 Cr.
11.269
Spring 2023 | Addresses economic growth, environmental preservation, and social equity through the lens of sustainability.
Faculty: Knox-Hayes
T 2:00-5:00
11.171
Indigenous Environmental Planning
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Indigenous Environmental Planning
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Examines how Indigenous peoples' relationships to their homelands and local environments has been adversely affected by Western planning.
J. Knox-Hayes
W 2:00PM - 5:00PM
11.255
Negotiation and Dispute Resolution in the Public Sector
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Negotiation and Dispute Resolution in the Public Sector
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Builds insight and skills about multi-party negotiation and consensus building. Relevant to all multi-sectoral work.
Faculty: Susskind
Th 3:30-5:30PM
11.308J
4.213J
Ecological Urbanism Seminar
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Ecological Urbanism Seminar
Spring
12 Cr.
4.213J
Spring 2024 |Examines the urban environment as a natural phenomenon, human habitat, medium of expression, and forum for action
Spirn
M 2:00PM-5:00PM
11.350
Sustainable Real Estate: Economics and Business
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Sustainable Real Estate: Economics and Business
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Designed for students who wish to gain deep insights into the tension and synergy between sustainability and the real estate industry.
Faculty: Palacios
Th 9:00AM - 10:30AM, W 6:30PM - 8:00PM
11.368
Environmental Justice: Law and Policy
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Environmental Justice: Law and Policy
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2023 | Introduces frameworks for analyzing and addressing inequalities in the distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, particularly by race and by class.
Faculty: Steil
Th 2-5
11.371J
1.818J
Sustainable Energy
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Sustainable Energy
Fall
12 Cr.
1.818J
Fall 2023 | Assessment of current and potential future energy systems. Covers resources, extraction, conversion, and end-use technologies, with emphasis on meeting 21st-century regional and global energy needs in a sustainable manner.
Faculty: Golay, Friedberg
11.382
Water Diplomacy - The Science, Policy, and Politics of Managing Shared Resources
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Water Diplomacy - The Science, Policy, and Politics of Managing Shared Resources
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2021 | Examines the history and dynamics of international environmental treaty-making, or what is called environmental diplomacy.
Professor: L. Susskind
T 3:30-5:30PM
11.401
Introduction to Housing, Community, and Economic Development
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Introduction to Housing, Community, and Economic Development
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2021 | Provides a critical introduction to the shape and determinants of political, social, and economic inequality in America, with a focus on racial and economic justice.
Faculty: Steil
TR 9:30-11:00
11.449
Decarbonizing Urban Mobility
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Decarbonizing Urban Mobility
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Focus on measuring and reducing emissions from passenger transportation, primarily in urban areas, using multidisciplinary approaches.
Faculty: Salzberg
W 2:00PM-5:00PM
11.474
EC.715
D-Lab: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Spring
| 12 Cr.
D-Lab: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Spring
12 Cr.
EC.715
Spring 2024 | Technology and policy options for improving access to clean water and sanitation globally.
Faculty: S. Murcott, S. Hsu
11.474
EC.715
D-Lab: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
Spring
| 12 Cr.
D-Lab: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
Spring
12 Cr.
EC.715
Spring 2024 | Focuses on disseminating Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) innovations in low-income countries and underserved communities worldwide. Structured around project-based learning, lectures, discussions, and student-led tutorials. Emphasizes core WASH principles, appropriate and sustainable technologies at household and community scales, urban challenges worldwide, culture-specific solutions, lessons from start-ups, collaborative partnerships, and social marketing. Mentored term project entails finding and implementing a viable solution focused on education/training; a technology, policy or plan; a marketing approach; and/or behavior change. Guest lecturers present case studies, emphasizing those developed and disseminated by MIT faculty, practitioners, students, and alumni. Field trips scheduled during class time, with optional field trips on weekends. Limited to 20.
Faculty: S. E. Murcott, S. L. Hsu
T 12:00PM - 3:00PM
11.475
Navigating Politics & Power in Water & Sanitation Planning
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Navigating Politics & Power in Water & Sanitation Planning
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2021 |Informs and prepares students to navigate the explicit and implicit power dynamics among stakeholders in decision-making processes that govern the planning and delivery of water and sanitation systems.
Carolini
F 10-1
11.526
1.251
Comparative Land Use and Transportation Planning
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Comparative Land Use and Transportation Planning
Spring
12 Cr.
1.251
Spring 2024 | Focuses on the integration of land use and transportation planning, drawing from cases in both industrialized and developing countries. Highlights how land use and transportation influence the social organization of cities, assigning privileges to certain groups and segregating or negating access to the city to other groups. Covers topics such as accessibility; the use of data, algorithms, and bias; travel demand and travel behavior; governance; transit-oriented development; autonomous vehicles; transportation and real estate; and social, environmental, and health implications of land use and transportation. Develops students' skills to assess relevant policies, interventions, and impacts.
Faculty: F. Duarte
M 9:00AM - 12:00PM
11.540
Urban Transportation Planning and Policy
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Urban Transportation Planning and Policy
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2023 | Examines the tensions and potential synergies among traditional transportation policy values of individual mobility, system efficiency and “sustainability”
J. Aloisi
F 2-5 pm
11.547J
SCM.287J
Global Aging & the Built Environment
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Global Aging & the Built Environment
Spring
12 Cr.
SCM.287J
Spring 2024 | Combines classroom lectures/discussion, readings, site visits, and field study to provide students with experience in various research techniques including stakeholder analysis, interviewing, photography and image analysis, focus groups, etc. Students examine the impacts of global demographic transition, when there are more older than younger people in a population, and explore emerging challenges in the built environment (e.g., age-friendly community planning, public transportation access, acceptance of driverless cars, social wellbeing and connectivity, housing and community design, design and use of public and private spaces, and the public health implications of climate change and aging).
Faculty: J. Coughlin
F 2:00PM - 5:00PM
11.592
11.092
Renewable Energy Facility Siting Clinic
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Renewable Energy Facility Siting Clinic
Spring
12 Cr.
11.092
Spring 2024 | Presents methods for resolving facility siting disputes, particularly those involving renewable energy. After completing four modules and a competency exam for MITx certification, students work in teams to help client communities in various cities around the United States. Through direct interactions with the proponents and opponents of facilities subject to local opposition, students complete a stakeholder assessment and offer joint fact-finding and collaborative problem-solving assistance. The political, legal, financial, and regulatory aspects of facility siting, particularly for renewable energy, are reviewed along with key infrastructure planning principles. Students taking the graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 15.
Faculty: L. Susskind, J. Chun
F 3:00PM - 5:00PM
11.601
Intro to Environmental Policy and Planning
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Intro to Environmental Policy and Planning
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2023 | Basics of international development from planning perspective. Integrated socio-economic and environmental approach.
Faculty: Susskind
TR 3:00 - 4:30
11.701
Intro to International Development Planning
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Intro to International Development Planning
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2023 | Studies interactions between planners and institutions at different scales, from local to global/transnational. Emphasizes historical and institutional approaches to development planning.
B. Rajagopal
T, Th 2:30 - 4:00
11.S952
Socially Responsible Real Estate Development
Fall
| 6 Cr.
Socially Responsible Real Estate Development
Fall
6 Cr.
Fall 2023 | Will teach you how to evaluate a development project and practice socially responsible real estate yourself by applying SIA, EIA, and consultation methods.
Faculty: Susskind
TR - 12:30
12.586
Modeling Environmental Complexity
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Modeling Environmental Complexity
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2023 | This course provides an introduction to the study of environmental phenomena that exhibit both organized structure and wide variability.
DH Rothman
TR 11-12:30 pm
12.740
Paleoceanography
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Paleoceanography
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Studies the basic principles of techniques for reconstructing the history of ocean climate from marine sediment cores, corals, ice cores, and other paleoclimate archives. Examines this data in the light of proposed climate change mechanisms. Micropaleontological, isotopic, geochemical, and mineralogical changes are used to infer changes in seawater composition, atmospheric chemistry, and climate. Observations are interpreted as consequences of changes in ocean temperature, circulation, and chemistry, and are used to evaluate theories proposed to account for glacial/interglacial cycles. Focuses on the past two million years, but major processes and events from the past 100 million years are also included.
Faculty: E. Boyle
MWF 2:00PM
12.860
Climate Variability and Diagnostics
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Climate Variability and Diagnostics
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Explores climate variability and change, focusing on the atmosphere and ocean, while building experience applying diagnostic analyses to a range of modern observations and models. Provides practical insight, from regional to global scale, with applications to past and future climates. Emphasizes salient features of the mean climate system and modes of natural variability, as well as observed and projected manifestations of anthropogenic climate change. Students gain experience accessing, analyzing, and visualizing a wide range of gridded observational-based datasets, as well as output from global climate model simulations. Develops the tools necessary to apply climate diagnostic analysis to one's own research, as well as the interdisciplinary edge to critically assess and interpret the observational and model results underpinning the Fifth Assessment Reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Faculty: M. Bittrich
Time TBA
12.885
11.373
Science, Politics and Environmental Policy
Fall
| 9 Cr.
Science, Politics and Environmental Policy
Fall
9 Cr.
11.373
Fall 2023 | Examines the role of science in US and international environmental policymaking.
Faculty: Solomon, Knox-Hayes
F 1:00-4:00
14.003
Microeconomic Theory and Public Policy
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Microeconomic Theory and Public Policy
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2023 | This course applies microeconomic theory to analysis of public policy. It builds from the microeconomic model of consumer behavior and extends to operations.
Faculty D.Autor
MW 10:30-12 pm Rec: F9
14.420
Environmental Policy and Economics
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Environmental Policy and Economics
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2021 | Investigates the proper role of government in the regulation of the environment. Presents tools necessary to estimate the costs and benefits of a variety of environmental policies.
Professor: C. Balboni
TR 9:00-10:30, F 3:00
14.475
Environmental Economics
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Environmental Economics
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2022 | Discusses theory and evidence on environmental externalities and regulatory, tax, and other government responses to problems of market failure.
Professor: C Balboni
TR 10:30 - 12:00, F 10:30 - 12:00
15.014
Applied Macro- and International Economics II
Spring
| 6 Cr.
Applied Macro- and International Economics II
Spring
6 Cr.
Spring 2024 | 15.014 focuses on using case studies to investigate the macro-environment in which firms operate. The course is divided in five parts.
Faculty: Rigobon
MW 10:00AM-11:30AM
15.018
Current Debates of Macroeconomics and Public Policy
Spring
| 6 Cr.
Current Debates of Macroeconomics and Public Policy
Spring
6 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Concentrates on debates about current policy challenges. Students debate and vote on policy actions on current issues in developed and developing nations. Subjects include industrial policy, macroeconomics, poverty, social safety net, labor practices, immigration and labor markets, international economics, human rights, civil rights, democracy, environmental policy, regulation, and crypto assets. Topics change from year to year.
Faculty: Roberto Rigobon
M 4:00PM - 7:00PM
15.020
Economics of Energy, Innovation, and Sustainability
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Economics of Energy, Innovation, and Sustainability
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2022 | Covers energy and environmental market organization and regulation. Explores economic challenges and solutions to transforming energy markets to be more efficient, accessible, affordable, and sustainable.
MW 8:30-10AM
15.027
Opportunities in Developing Economies
Spring
| 6 Cr.
Opportunities in Developing Economies
Spring
6 Cr.
Spring 2021 | Investigates the role of the private sector in developing economies, highlighting how solving market failures can improve overall welfare
Suri
TR 2:30PM-4:00PM
15.029J
United States Energy Policy: Lessons Learned for the Future
Fall
| 6 Cr.
United States Energy Policy: Lessons Learned for the Future
Fall
6 Cr.
Fall 2023 | Students will have the opportunity to compare the working of U.S. policies confronting a wide range of energy issues.
Faculty: J. Deutch
TF 9:30 am - 11:00 am
15.032
Engineering, Economics and Regulation of the Electric Power Sector
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Engineering, Economics and Regulation of the Electric Power Sector
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2023 | The course presents an in-depth interdisciplinary perspective of electric power systems, with regulation providing the link among the engineering, economic, legal and environmental viewpoints.
Fall 2020 | Familiarizes students with the potential contributions and risks of using geoengineering technologies to control climate damage from global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
Zuber
15.038
14.444
Energy Economics and Policy
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Energy Economics and Policy
Spring
12 Cr.
14.444
Spring 2024 | Theoretical and empirical perspectives on individual and industrial demand for energy, energy supply, energy markets, and public policies affecting energy markets.
Knittel
T;Th 2:30PM-4:00PM
15.219
Global Energy: Politics, Markets, and Policy
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Global Energy: Politics, Markets, and Policy
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2020 | The course focuses heavily on accelerating the transition to cleaner forms of energy, as well as on the management of climate change, air quality, and other environmental challenges around the world.
Faculty: Karplus
TR 1:00-2:30
15.225
Modern Business in China: China Lab
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Modern Business in China: China Lab
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2021 | The purpose of this course is to analyze these two countries within a coherent analytical framework (must be a sustainability-related project).
Faculty: Grant, Huang
MW 10:00AM-11:30AM
15.226
Modern Business in Southeast Asia: ASEAN Lab
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Modern Business in Southeast Asia: ASEAN Lab
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2024 | This class explores current issues in Southeast Asia’s political economy and business with a focus on key challenges that global managers need to consider as they define strategies and navigate their relationships with the local environment and the broader issue of China’s influence in the region (must be a sustainability-oriented project).
Faculty: Grant, Huang
MW 8:30AM - 10:00AM
15.232
Breakthrough Ventures: Effective Business Models in Frontier Markets
Spring
| 6 Cr.
Breakthrough Ventures: Effective Business Models in Frontier Markets
Spring
6 Cr.
Spring 2023 | Examines how new approaches to operations, revenue, marketing, finance, and strategy enable improved social outcomes in resource-limited settings across Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
Faculty: Sastry
T/Th 1:00PM-2:30PM
15.270
Ethical Practice: Leading Through Professionalism, Social Responsibility, and System Design
Spring
| 6 Cr.
Ethical Practice: Leading Through Professionalism, Social Responsibility, and System Design
Spring
6 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Introduction to ethics in business, with a focus on business management. Students explore theoretical concepts in business ethics, and cases representing the challenges they will likely face as managers.
Faculty: Hafrey
M;W 1:00PM-2:30PM
15.308
Leading the Way: Individual and Organizational Strategies for Advancing DE&I
Spring
| 9 Cr.
Leading the Way: Individual and Organizational Strategies for Advancing DE&I
Spring
9 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Opportunity to address both individual skills and organizational strategies for advancing equity and inclusion.
Faculty: Blackburn, Kelly
T 4:00PM-7:00PM
15.335
Organizations Lab: Leading with Impact
Spring
| 9 Cr.
Organizations Lab: Leading with Impact
Spring
9 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Experiential study of the organizational change process within the larger context of the community in which the organization resides. Exposes students to leadership exemplars in the for-profit, nonprofit, and public sectors. Examines cases of complex social dynamics in areas of housing, employment, credit, education, and criminal justice. Centers around a semester-long action learning project in which students assist a local nonprofit organization in achieving sustainable social justice objectives. Through a project identified with the nonprofit leaders, students apply their knowledge of systems and their practice of leadership to recommend an operational change that advances the mission of the organization
Faculty: Bridget Akinc
M 4:00PM - 7:00PM
15.366
Climate and Energy Ventures
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Climate and Energy Ventures
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2023 | Project-based approach to innovation and venture creation in the energy sector and sectors that can mitigate climate change. Explores how innovation and entrepreneurial concepts apply (or do not apply) to the significant opportunities in these industries. Working in teams, students create new ventures specifically for the energy sector or to address climate change. Lectures guide teams through key elements of their projects. 15.390 is recommended as a prerequisite.
Faculty: Hynes, O'Sullivan
Th 5:30-8:00pm
15.375
EC.731
Global Ventures
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Global Ventures
Fall
12 Cr.
EC.731
Fall 2023 | Seminar on founding, financing, and building entrepreneurial ventures in developing nations. Challenges students to craft enduring and economically viable solutions to the problems faced by these countries. Cases illustrate examples of both successful and failed businesses, and the difficulties in deploying and diffusing products and services through entrepreneurial action. Explores a range of established and emerging business models, as well as new business opportunities enabled by innovations emerging from MIT labs and beyond. Students develop a business plan executive summary suitable for submission in the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition's Accelerate Contest or MIT IDEAS.
Faculty: Bonsen, Pentland
TR 10:00-12:00
15.385
Innovating for Impact
Fall
| 6 Cr.
Innovating for Impact
Fall
6 Cr.
Fall 2024 | Provides a structured approach to innovation and entrepreneurship that creates business value while solving social and environmental problems. Covers physical domains of sustainability, e.g., waste, water, food, energy, and mobility, as well as social and human capital domains, such as health and education. Students explore case studies of critical decisions made in the early stages of an enterprise that help determine its impact. Considers perspective and tools applicable to the startup context or to new lines of business in existing enterprises.
Faculty: J. Jay
WF 8:00-9:30
15.389
Global Entrepreneurship Lab
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Global Entrepreneurship Lab
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2022 | Experiential study of the climate for innovation and determinants of entrepreneurial success. Students work in teams of four with the top management of a company to address a real-world business challenge, gaining insight as to how companies build, run, and scale a new enterprise. Focuses primarily on start-ups operating in emerging markets. Restricted to graduate students. *Student's must petition, must be a sustainability-related project.
Faculty: Johnson
TR 2:30-4:00PM
15.499
Practice of Finance: Social Impact Investing
Spring
| 6 Cr.
Practice of Finance: Social Impact Investing
Spring
6 Cr.
Spring 2024 | This course provides an introduction to social impact investing – an investment approach intentionally seeking to create both financial return and positive social impact that is actively measured.
Faculty: Rao
T;Th 4:00PM-5:30PM
15.655
IDS.435
Law, Technology and Public Policy
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Law, Technology and Public Policy
Fall
12 Cr.
IDS.435
Fall 2023 | Examines the relationship between law and the development of science and technology, the ways in which law, economics, and technological change shape public policy, and compares law and economics as alternative paradigms for encouraging sustainability, growth, and employment.
Faculty: Ashford, Caldart
T/Th 4:00-6:00
15.657
SCM.137
Technology, Globalization & Sustainable Development
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Technology, Globalization & Sustainable Development
Fall
12 Cr.
SCM.137
Fall 2023 | Lecture course on governmental policies for encouraging sustainable growth, improving the environment, and advancing employment in developed and developing countries.
Faculty: Ashford, Hall
W 4:00-6:30
15.662
People and Profits: Shaping the Future of Work
Spring
| 12 Cr.
People and Profits: Shaping the Future of Work
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2023 | Examines the role of business, alongside government and labor, in creating good quality jobs in a vibrant, equitable economy.
Faculty: Stansbury
T;Th 8:30AM-10:00AM
15.663
1.811J
Environmental Law, Policy, and Economics
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Environmental Law, Policy, and Economics
Spring
12 Cr.
1.811J
Spring 2024 |Reviews and analyzes federal and state regulation of air and water pollution, hazardous waste, green-house gas emissions, and the production and use of toxic chemicals.
Ashford, Caldart
T;Th 3:30PM - 5:00PM
15.671
U-Lab: Transforming Business, Society and Self
Fall
| 6 Cr.
U-Lab: Transforming Business, Society and Self
Fall
6 Cr.
Fall 2023 | Experiential opportunity to practice new leadership skills, such as deep listening, being present (mindfulness), and generative dialogue. In weekly coaching circles, each student has one full session to present their current leadership edge and receive feedback from peer coaches. Includes an additional action learning project.
Faculty: Scharmer
Th 5:30-9pm
15.677
11.427J
Urban Labor Markets and Employment Policy
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Urban Labor Markets and Employment Policy
Spring
12 Cr.
11.427J
Spring 2024 | Discusses the broader trends in the labor market, how urban labor markets function, public and private training policy, other labor market programs, the link between labor market policy and economic development, and the organization of work within firms.
Faculty: Anna Stansbury
Th 1:00PM-4:00PM
15.679
USA Lab: Bridging the American Divides: Work, Community and Culture
Spring
| 9 Cr.
USA Lab: Bridging the American Divides: Work, Community and Culture
Spring
9 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Practical exploration of community revitalization in America's small towns and rural regions. Focuses on work, community, and culture. Consists of rigorous classroom discussions, research, and team projects with community development organizations. Site visit over SIP week and spring break required for project fieldwork
Faculty: McDowell, Hafrey
W 2:30PM - 5:30PM
15.768
Management of Services: Concepts, Design and Delivery
Fall
| 9 Cr.
Management of Services: Concepts, Design and Delivery
Fall
9 Cr.
Fall 2023 | Explores the use of operations tools and perspectives in the service sector, including both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Builds on conceptual frameworks and cases from a wide range of service operations, selected from health care, hospitality, internet services, supply chain, transportation, retailing, food service, entertainment, financial services, humanitarian services, government services, and others
Faculty: Ton
15.769
Operations Strategy
Spring
| 9 Cr.
Operations Strategy
Spring
9 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Provides unifying framework for analyzing strategic issues in manufacturing and service operations.
Faculty: Zheng
T;Th 8:30AM-10:00AM/2:30PM-4:00PM
15.783
2.739
Product Design and Development
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Product Design and Development
Spring
12 Cr.
2.739
Spring 2023 | Project-based course on product design; teaches design for environment.
Faculty: Eppinger
T;Th 1:00PM-2:30PM
15.847
15.8471
Consumer Behavior
Fall
| 9 Cr.
Consumer Behavior
Fall
9 Cr.
15.8471
Fall 2023 | Examines the behavior of consumers through the lens of behavioral economics, cognitive science, and social psychology (Also offered in Spring)
Faculty: David Rand
15.871
Introduction to System Dynamics
Spring
| 6 Cr.
Introduction to System Dynamics
Spring
6 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Introduction to systems thinking and system dynamics modeling applied to strategy, organizational change, and policy design. (Also offered in Spring).
Sustainability Certificate Requirement
Faculty: Multiple
15.873
System Dynamics for Business and Policy
Spring
| 9 Cr.
System Dynamics for Business and Policy
Spring
9 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Focuses on developing the skills and tools needed to successfully apply systems thinking and simulation modeling in diverse real-world settings. Also offered in Spring.
Faculty: Johan Chu
Counts towards Sustainability Certificate requirements
15.874
12.387
Environmental Governance and Science
Fall
| 9 Cr.
Environmental Governance and Science
Fall
9 Cr.
12.387
Fall 2023 | Introduces governance and science aspects of complex environmental problems and approaches to solutions. Introduces quantitative analyses and methodological tools to analyze environmental issues that have human and natural components. Demonstrates concepts through a series of in-depth case studies of environmental governance and science problems.
Faculty: Selin
F 10:00-1:00
15.878
Sustainable Business Lab (S-Lab)
Spring
| 9 Cr.
Sustainable Business Lab (S-Lab)
Spring
9 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Drawing on academic and practical experiences, students will engage in a semester-long project focused on a host organization's sustainability challenge.
Faculty: Patten, J Repenning
W 4:00PM-7:00PM
Sustainability Certificate requirement | Co-req:15.915: Business Strategies for a Sustainable Future
15.915
Business Strategies for a Sustainable Future
Spring
| 9 Cr.
Business Strategies for a Sustainable Future
Spring
9 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Learn how businesses and organizations can play their part in tackling sustainability challenges ranging from over-fishing, labor rights, and supply chain resiliency.
Faculty: Jay, Patten, Sterman
T;Th 10:00AM-11:30AM
T;Th 4:00PM-5:30PM
Sustainability Certificate requirement | Required for 15.878: Sustainable Business Lab (S-Lab), can be taken concurrently.
15.S05
SSIM: Energy Efficiency and Smart Grid Strategies for a Sustainable Future
Spring
| 6 Cr.
SSIM: Energy Efficiency and Smart Grid Strategies for a Sustainable Future
Spring
6 Cr.
Spring 2023 | Discusses emerging energy opportunities at building, sub-national (city/state), and national scale for developing and deploying efficient grids.
Faculty: Michaels
T;Th 1:00PM-2:30PM
15.S08
SSIM: Optimization of Energy Systems
Spring
| 12 Cr.
SSIM: Optimization of Energy Systems
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Opportunity for group study by graduate students on current topics related to management not otherwise included in curriculum.
Faculty: Andy Sun
MW 2:30PM - 4:00PM
15.S19
SSIM: Climate and Energy in the Global Economy
Spring
| 6 Cr.
SSIM: Climate and Energy in the Global Economy
Spring
6 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Opportunity for group study by graduate students on current topics related to management not otherwise included in curriculum.
Faculty: Cathrine Wolfram
MW 1:00PM - 2:30PM
15.S22
SSIM: Pursuing Happiness and a Meaningful Life
Spring
| 6 Cr.
SSIM: Pursuing Happiness and a Meaningful Life
Spring
6 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Opportunity for group study by graduate students on current topics related to management not otherwise included in curriculum.
Faculty: Neal, Pozen
T 4:00PM - 7:00PM
15.S70
Impact Ventures
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Impact Ventures
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2023 | A practical perspective - must be an effort linked to sustainability. (Only available to Legatum Fellows)
Faculty: Mitchell
Th 5:30-8pm
15.S9
SSIM: Managing Crucial Conversations About & Across Difference
Fall
| 6 Cr.
SSIM: Managing Crucial Conversations About & Across Difference
Fall
6 Cr.
Fall 2020 | This course gives us an opportunity to understand why it can be so hard to talk about and across our different identities (with a particular focus on race and gender).
Faculty: Blackburn
WF 8:00-9:00AM
2.760
Global Engineering
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Global Engineering
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2023 | Combines rigorous engineering theory and user-centered product design to create technologies for developing and emerging markets.
Faculty: Winter
MW 1-2.30
2.83
2.13
Energy, Materials and Manufacturing
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Energy, Materials and Manufacturing
Spring
12 Cr.
2.13
Spring 2024 | Introduction to the major dilemma that faces manufacturing and society for the 21st century: how to support economic development while protecting the environment. Subject addresses industrial ecology, materials flows, life-cycle analysis, thermodynamic analysis and exergy accounting, manufacturing process performance, product design analysis, design for the environment, recycling and ecological economics. Combines lectures and group discussions of journal articles and selected literature, often with opposing views.
Faculty: T. G. Gutowski
MW 1:00PM - 2:30PM
2.832
Solving for Carbon Neutrality at MIT
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Solving for Carbon Neutrality at MIT
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2023 | Working in teams, students address the problem of reducing MIT's greenhouse gas emissions in a manner consistent with the climate goals of maintaining our planet in a suitable regime to support human society and the environment.
Professor: T. Gutowski, J. Newman
MW9.30-11
2.871
D-Lab: Supply Chains
Spring
| 12 Cr.
D-Lab: Supply Chains
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2023 | Introduces concepts of supply chain design and planning with a focus on supply chains for products destined to improve quality of life in developing countries.
Professor: S. C. Graves
MW 9:30-11:00 AM
2.965[J]
Global Supply Chain Management
Spring
| 6 Cr.
Global Supply Chain Management
Spring
6 Cr.
Focuses on the planning, processes, and activities of supply chain management for companies involved in international commerce. Not regularly offered.
2.S985
Exploring Sustainability at Different Scales
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Exploring Sustainability at Different Scales
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2023 | Provides an introduction to the concept of sustainability from various perspectives using the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the MIT campus and research.
Faculty: Gutowski, Newman
MW 1:00-2:30PM
21A.155
Food, Culture, and Politics
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Food, Culture, and Politics
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2023 | This course explores connections between what we eat and who we are through cross-cultural study of how personal and collective identities, social relations.
Faculty: H. Paxson
TR2.30-4
21A.429
STS.320J
Environmental Conflict and Social Change
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Environmental Conflict and Social Change
Fall
12 Cr.
STS.320J
Fall 2022 | Explores the complex interrelationships among humans and natural environments, focusing on non-western parts of the world in addition to Europe and the United States.
C. Walley
W 1-4
22.780
Nuclear Waste Management
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Nuclear Waste Management
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2023 | Examines nonproliferation aspects, disposal of excess weapons plutonium, and transmutation of long lived radiation.
MW 1-2:30 pm
24.634
Global Justice, Gender, and Development
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Global Justice, Gender, and Development
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2023 | Interdisciplinary subject that examines questions of feminism, international women's issues, and globalization.
S. Haslanger, L. McDonald
W 9:30-12:30 pm
3.088
EC.988
Social Life of Materials
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Social Life of Materials
Spring
12 Cr.
EC.988
Spring 2024 | This course focuses on the social and historical context of materials science design decisions with an emphasis on both regrettable and beneficial materials substitutions, learning from the past to foster more equitable and sustainable materials futures. This course will explore the scientific and sociotechnical context of applied and industrial case studies of critical materials replacements such as bisphenol A (BPA), poly(vinyl chloride (PVC), asbestos, lead-free brass, and per- and polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS). Course assignments will be customized to students' areas of interest and have potential for development into dissertation/thesis chapters and peer-reviewed publications.
Faculty: C. Ortiz and E.F. Spero
MW 12pm-1:30pm (RM 16-275)
3.70
Materials Science and Engineering of Clean Energy
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Materials Science and Engineering of Clean Energy
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2023 | Develops the materials principles, limitations and challenges in clean energy technologies, including solar, energy storage, thermoelectrics, fuel cells, and novel fuels.
Faculty: H. Tuller
TR 1:30 - 3:00
4.227
Landscapes of Energy
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Landscapes of Energy
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Spatializes large technological systems of energy, analyzes existing and speculative energy visions, and imagines energy futures in relation to concerns of ecology, politics, and aesthetics. Identifies different scales of thinking about the territory of energy from that of environmental systems, to cities, regions, and global landscapes. Readings and students' research projects draw on critical geography, history of technology, environmental history to synthesize energy attributes within the design disciplines. Limited to 10.
Faculty: R. Ghosn
M 1:00PM - 4:00PM
4.228
Contemporary Urbanism Proseminar: Theory and Representation
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Contemporary Urbanism Proseminar: Theory and Representation
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2023 | 12 Units Critical introduction to key contemporary positions in urbanism to the ends of researching, representing, and designing territories that respond to the challenges of the 21st century.
Faculty: R. Ghosn
W 2-5 pm
4.464
4.401
Environmental Technologies in Buildings
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Environmental Technologies in Buildings
Fall
12 Cr.
4.401
Fall 2023 | Introduction to the study of the thermal and luminous behavior of buildings. Examines the basic scientific principles underlying these phenomena and introduces students to a range of technologies and analysis techniques for designing comfortable indoor environments. Challenges students to apply these techniques and explore the role energy and light can play in shaping architecture. Additional work required of students taking the graduate version.
Faculty: Reinhart
MW 11:00-12:30
5.00
Energy Technology and Policy: From Principles to Practice
Fall
| 9 Cr.
Energy Technology and Policy: From Principles to Practice
Fall
9 Cr.
Develops analytical skills to lead a successful technology implementation with an integrated approach that combines technical, economical and social perspectives.
Professor: Zuber
5.811
Fifty Years of U.S. Energy Policy – Lessons for the Future
Fall
| 6 Cr.
Fifty Years of U.S. Energy Policy – Lessons for the Future
Fall
6 Cr.
Fall 2022 | Students will have the opportunity to compare the working of U.S. policies in confronting a wide range of energy issues, from oil import dependence, climate policy, nuclear proliferation, in a domestic and an international context.
Faculty: John Deutch
6.712
Principles of Modeling, Computing and Control for Decarbonized Electric Energy Systems
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Principles of Modeling, Computing and Control for Decarbonized Electric Energy Systems
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2023 | Apply a dynamic systems-level approach and engage emerging research on efficient, sustainable, and physically and economically feasible electric power systems.
MW 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm RECITATION: R 11
CMS.875
Reading Climate Through Media
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Reading Climate Through Media
Spring
12 Cr.
Fall 2021 | Explores how climate is construed in the contemporary media in order to gain a better understanding of how views of climate change are shaped and received in the public sphere.
Professor: J. Paradis
T 7:00-10:00PM
EC.701
EC.781
D-Lab: Development
Fall
| 12 Cr.
D-Lab: Development
Fall
12 Cr.
EC.781
Fall 2023 | Issues in international development, appropriate technology and project implementation addressed through lectures, case studies, guest speakers and laboratory exercises. Enrollment limited by lottery; must attend first class session.
Faculty: S. L. Hsu, B. Sanyal
MW3.30-5, F 3:30-5
EC.750
EC.785
Humanitarian Innovation: Design for Relief, Rebuilding, and Recovery
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Humanitarian Innovation: Design for Relief, Rebuilding, and Recovery
Spring
12 Cr.
EC.785
Spring 2020 | This course pilots a new approach to humanitarian innovation, focusing on how to teach refugees and displaced the design process so that they can create technologies and tools to improve their lives.
Faculty: Smith, Thompson
MW 1:00-3:00
EC.782
2.652J
D-Lab: Applications of Energy in Global Development
Fall
| 12 Cr.
D-Lab: Applications of Energy in Global Development
Fall
12 Cr.
2.652J
Fall 2020 | Issues in international development, appropriate technology and project implementation addressed through lectures, case studies, guest speakers and laboratory exercises. Enrollment limited by lottery; must attend first class session.
Faculty: Frey, Verploegen
TR 3-5
EC.782
EC.712
Applications of Energy in Global Development
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Applications of Energy in Global Development
Fall
12 Cr.
EC.712
Fall 2023 | Engages students through practical, project-focused and community-based approaches to advance the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 7, which seeks to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy.
EC.783
Entrepreneurship for the Idealist
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Entrepreneurship for the Idealist
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2023 | The mission of this class is to inspire and prepare students to undertake the work of making the world just. You start by exploring the nature of a just world – what ideals must you commit yourself to, and why? How are those ideals reconciled with the constraints the world ‘as it is’ imposes?
Faculty: Manish Bhardwaj
W 10-1
EC.787
D-Lab: Education and Learning
Spring
| 9 Cr.
D-Lab: Education and Learning
Spring
9 Cr.
Spring 2022 | Using innovative and proven best-practice models to create curriculum and implement instruction about design thinking, science, engineering, global learning, community activism, and more.
Faculty: Nam
R 7:00-9:00 PM
EC.789
D-Lab: Water, Climate Change and Planetary Health
Spring
| 12 Cr.
D-Lab: Water, Climate Change and Planetary Health
Spring
12 Cr.
Spring 2024 | This course addresses mitigation and adaptation to climate change as it pertains to water and health.
Faculty: Murcott
Th 12:00PM-3:00PM, LAB Time TBA
EC.791
EC.711
D-Lab: Introduction to Energy in Global Development
Spring
| 12 Cr.
D-Lab: Introduction to Energy in Global Development
Spring
12 Cr.
EC.711
Spring 2024 | Provides a project-based approach that engages students in understanding and addressing the applications of alternative energy technology in developing countries. Focuses on compact, robust, low-cost systems for generating electrical power.
Faculty: Sweeney
MW 1:00PM-2:30PM, F 1:00PM-3:00PM
EC.988
3.088
Social Life of Materials
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Social Life of Materials
Spring
12 Cr.
3.088
Spring 2023 | This class focuses on historically and socially-informed sustainable and equitable materials design.
Faculty: C. Ortiz, E.F. Spero
MW 12:30P-2:00P
IDS.521
Energy Systems for Climate Change Mitigation
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Energy Systems for Climate Change Mitigation
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall2023| This class explores global greenhouse gas emissions from energy systems and potential levers for reducing emissions
Trancik
TR11-12.30
IDS.522
Mapping and Evaluating New Energy Technologies
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Mapping and Evaluating New Energy Technologies
Fall
12 Cr.
Fall 2023 | This graduate seminar reviews various energy conversion and storage technologies, and decision models for investors, policy-makers, and engineers.
Faculty: J. Trancik
W 2:30-5:30 pm
MAS.842
MAS.342
Safeguarding the Future
Spring
| 12 Cr.
Safeguarding the Future
Spring
12 Cr.
MAS.342
Spring 2024 | Leading experts guide discussions of how to safeguard the world against the greatest threats to our future. Topics range from the overt perils of pandemic and nuclear proliferation to the underlying coordination failures responsible for climate change, and from technological stagnation to transformative AI. Draws on the history of invention and science communication to explore which technologies are most likely to shape the future and how inventors and developers can influence outcomes, with the goal of determining how to accomplish as much good as possible. Emphasizes science writing and communication. Students write three op-eds on key issues and participate in a group project aiming to coordinate effective action. Students taking the graduate version complete additional work.
Faculty: K. Esvelt, M. Specter
Th 1:00PM - 2:30PM
SCM.124
IDS.521
Energy Systems and Climate Change
Fall
| 12 Cr.
Energy Systems and Climate Change
Fall
12 Cr.
IDS.521
Fall 2022 | Policy implications and basic understanding of energy technologies and their climate impacts.
Faculty: Trancik
TR 11:00-12:30
SCM.283
Humanitarian Logistics
Spring
| 6 Cr.
Humanitarian Logistics
Spring
6 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Explores how logistics management principles apply in dynamic, resource-constrained contexts, ranging from humanitarian crisis response to international development. Note: SCM.283/4 meet together - SCM.284 will also count for the certificate, though is not a requirement.
Faculty: Goentzel
MW 1-2:30PM
SCM.290
Sustainable Supply Chains
Spring
| 6 Cr.
Sustainable Supply Chains
Spring
6 Cr.
Spring 2024| Focus on the fundamental tools and techniques required to analyze and design environmentally sustainable supply chain systems.
Faculty: Velazquez
MW 10:00AM-11:30AM
SCM.291
Procurement Fundamentals
Spring
| 6 Cr.
Procurement Fundamentals
Spring
6 Cr.
Spring 2024 | Introduces strategic procurement fundamentals to enhance both competitive advantage and resilience to supply chains. Covers frameworks and tools that managers use to elevate purchasing from an operational function to a strategic one. Includes both classic resilience- and cost-based portfolios, as well as modern perspectives, which consider sustainability and power. Combines theoretical and applied perspectives and is designed for students with or without previous procurement experience. Assessment based on case analysis and a final project.