Maricopa Community Colleges

Official Course Description:  MCCCD Approval:  6-22-2010

SSH111  2012 Fall - 9999

LEC  3.0 Credit(s)  3.0 Period(s)  3.0 Load  Acad

 

Sustainable Cities

Introduction to the field of sustainability and exploration of the practices leading to the development of sustainable cities.  Explores the concept of sustainable development of cities within local, regional, and global contexts.

Prerequisites: None.

 

Course Attribute(s):

General Education Designation: Global Awareness - [G]

General Education Designation: Humanities and Fine Arts - [HU]

General Education Designation: Social and Behavioral Sciences - [SB]

 

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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

 

 

SSH111  2012 Fall - 9999

Sustainable Cities

 

1.         Identify current and future issues in sustainability for urban locations (I, II)

2.         Describe the urban ecological footprint and explain its relevance to sustainability (I, III)

3.         Explain linkages between local and global cities relating to sustainability (I, IV)

4.         Identify the causes, effects, and mitigation of the urban heat island (V)

5.         Outline the basis of urban issues including water, waste, pollution, food, and health (V)

6.         Define what constitutes sustainable urban development (VI)

7.         Identify urban transportation issues relating to sustainability and describe alternative solutions (VII)

8.         Discuss sustainable business practices and products (VIII)

 

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MCCCD Official Course Outline:

 

 

SSH111  2012 Fall - 9999

Sustainable Cities

 

I.          Introduction to sustainability

            A.     Domains (i.e. economics, socio-cultural, environmental, technological)

            B.     Carrying capacity (e.g. population, resource limitations)

            C.     Life-cycle assessment (e.g. evaluation of environmental impacts of cities)

II.         Urban structure

            A.     Historical, contemporary, future (e.g. comparison of past cities to modern cities, settlement patterns)

            B.     Major issues (e.g. exploration of urban population trends)

III.       Urban ecological footprint (i.e. determination of a city’s footprint)

            A.     Carbon

            B.     Food

            C.     Housing

            D.     Goods and services

IV.       Local to global context

            A.     Socio-economics (e.g. consideration of developing vs. developed regions)

            B.     Infrastructure (e.g. policy, construction materials)

V.        Energy, water, and food

            A.     Heat island (i.e. urban energy balance)

            B.     Waste, pollution, health (e.g. storm runoff, disposal procedures, impacts to the health of the population)

            C.     Urban farming (e.g. policy and practices)

VI.       Development practices

            A.     Planning

            B.     Green space

            C.     LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

VII.      Transportation

            A.     Impact of sprawl, climate, preferences on transportation techniques and availability

            B.     Alternative techniques (e.g. hybrid, diesel-electric, biodiesel)

VIII.     Business

            A.     Sustainable products (e.g..production, usage of sustainable materials)

            B.     Sustainable practices (e.g. mission statement, in-house accountability)

 

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