In Spring 2013, the Sustainable Campus Committee (SCC) approved UM's definitions of sustainability-focused and sustainability-related courses in response to students' requests that sustainability courses at UM be labeled. While collecting data on research and curricula for UM's first STARS (Sustainability Tracking Assessment & Rating System) submission, interns realized that courses at UM that address sustainability concepts or focus on issues of sustainability were not necessarily being promoted to students. UM faculty were surveyed and interviewed to determine which courses meet these two categories. Courses are identified as sustainability-focused or -related by the faculty who teach them.

Sustainability-focused courses at UM concentrate on the concept of sustainability, including its social, environmental, and economic dimensions, or examine an issue or topic using sustainability as a lens. To be a sustainability-focused course, students must be able to fulfill at least one of the learning objectives below:

1. Understand and be able to effectively communicate the concept of sustainability.

2. Develop and use an ethical perspective in which they view themselves as embedded in the fabric of an interconnected world.

3. Become aware of and explore the connections between their chosen course of study and sustainability.

4. Develop a greater understanding of various sustainability challenges (such as climate change or poverty).

5. Develop technical skills or expertise necessary to implement sustainable solutions.

6. Understand the way in which sustainable thinking and decision-making contribute to the process of creating solutions for current and emerging social, environmental, and economic challenges.

7. Contribute practical solutions to real-world sustainability challenges.

8. Synthesize understanding of social, economic, and environmental systems and reason holistically.

See a full list of courses by clicking on the links to the left.

If you teach sustainability-focused or -related courses at the University of Montana but do not see your courses listed on these pages, please contact the ASUM Sustainability Coordinator so that we may add them!

Sustainability-Focused Courses

Accounting

Sustainability Reporting (BFIN 491)

African American Studies

The Black Radical Tradition (AAS 415)

Prayer and Civil Rights (AAS 417)

Business Management

Business & Sustainability (BMGT 491)

Carpentry

Green Construction 1 (CNST 282)

Green Construction 2 (CNST 283)

Chemistry

Environmental Chemistry (CHMY 541)

Climate Change Studies

Climate Change Field Studies (CCS 352)

Intro to Climate Change (CCS 103X)

Science & Society (CCS 103X)

Communication Studies

Communication & Conflict (COMM 412) Greg Larson

Communication, Consumption, & Climate (COMM 379)

Computer Science

Issues in Sustainability (BGEN/CS 160S)

Economics

Economics of the Environment (ECON 433)

International Environmental Economics & Climate Change (ECNS 445)

Energy Technology

Alternative Fuels (NRGY 241)

Solar & Wind Energy Systems (NRGY 242)

Fundamentals of Photovoltaic Design and Installation (NRGY 243)

Bioenergy (NRGY 244)

Fuel Cells (NRGY 245)

Undergraduate Research (NRGY 290)

Independent Study (NRGY 292)

Special Topics (NRGY 295)

Energy Capstone (NRGY 299)

Energy Internship (NRGY 298)

Energy Storage & Distribution (NRGY 214)

Power Systems & Technology (NRGY 213)

Energy Practicum (NRGY 195)

Building Energy Efficiency (NRGY 235)

Intro to Sustainable Energy 1 (NRGY 101)

Intro to Sustainable Energy II (NRGY 102)

Issues in Sustainability (BGEN 160)

Environmental Science

Intro to Environmental Science (ENSC 105)

Scientific Approaches to Environmental Problems (ENSC 501)

Environmental Studies

Environmental Citizenship (ENST 476)

Environmental Justice Issues & Solutions (ENST 489)

Environmental Vision (ENST 335)

Intro to UM FLAT (Forum for Living with Appropriate Technology) (ENST 391)

Local Solutions to Climate Change (ENST 594)

Transboundary Environmental Issues (ENST 542)

Geography

Green Cities for the 21st Century (GPHY 191X)

History

The Black Radical Tradition (HSTA 415)

Law

Renewable Energy Law (LAW 678)

Indian Water Law (LAW 595)

Water Law (LAW 663)

Land Use (LAW 654)

Wildlife Law (LAW 635)

Renewable Energy Development & Finance (LAW 595)

Environmental Law (LAW 687)

Agricultural Law (LAW 656)

American Indian Natural Resource Law (LAW 619)

Natural Resources Development (LAW 633)

Native American Studies

Introduction to Native American Studies (NAS 105)

Indigenous Community Development (NAS 260)

Ecological Perspectives in Native American Traditions (NAS 303)

Natural Resource Management

Climate Change Ethics & Policy (NRSM 449E)

Climate & Society (NRSM 426)

Community Forestry & Conservation (NRSM 424)

Environment & Development (NRSM 475)

Global Cycles & Climate Change (NRSM 408)

Nature of Montana (NRSM 121)

Society, Economy, & Environment of the Mekong Delta (NRSM 391)

Philosophy

Environmental Ethics (PHIL 112e)

Ethics & Animals (PHIL 504)

History of Moral & Political Philosophy (PHIL 422)

Political Science

Sustainable Climate Policy: China & USA (PSCI 324)

Recreation Management

Tourism & Sustainability (PTRM 451W)

Russian Studies

Introduction to Russian Culture (RUSS 105)

Gender & Global Development (SOCI 371)

Sustainability-Related Courses

Anthropology

Food & Culture (ANTH 133)

African American Studies

Black: Africa to Hip-Hop (AAS 141)

African American History (AAS 343)

Problems in African American History (AAS 562)

Business Administration

Topics in Sustainability (MBA 645)

Business Management

Business Ethics & Social Responsibility (BGEN 320E)

Classical Civilization

Roman Culture & Civilization (CLAS 392)

Climate Change Studies

Climate Change Internship (CCS 398)

Communications

Communication & Technology (COMM 422)

Communicative Science & Disorders

Language & Learning Disorders in Young Children (CSD 550)

Language Disorder (CSD 360)

Counselor Education

Ethics & Professional Development (COUN 615)

Culinary Arts

Baking & Pastry (CULA 165)

Culinary Arts Capstone (CULA 299)

Dining Room Procedures (CULA 156)

Introduction to Food Service (CULA 101)

Meats and Vegetables (CULA 161)

Nutritional Cooking (CULA 210)

Pantry and Garde-Manager (CULA 157)

Patisserie (CULA 275)

Purchasing & Cost Controls (CULA 270)

Short Order Cookery (CULA 158)

Soups, Stocks, and Sauces (CULA 160)

Environmental Science

Applied Ecology (ENSC 360)

Environmental Impact Analysis (ENSC 560)

Pollution Ecology (ENSC 550)

Watershed Conservation Ecology (ENSC 540)

Environmental Studies

Environmental Law (ENST 382)

Environmental Law for Non-Lawyers (ENST 502)

Environmental Politics & Policy (ENST 367)

Literature of Nature Writing (ENST 505)

Philosophy of Ecology (ENST/PHIL 504)

Geography

Africa (GPHY 243X)

Cultural Ecology (GPHY 433)

Environmental Planning (GPHY 466)

Environmental Hazards & Planning (GPHY 435)

Exploration & Discovery (GPHY 432)

Field Techniques (GPHY 385)

Food & Famine (GPHY 434)

Gender & International Development (GPHY 500)

Geography of World Regions (GPHY 141S)

High Asia (GPHY 444)

Introduction to Human Geography (GPHY 121S)

Montana's Mountains (GPHY 144)

Mountains & Society (GPHY 338)

Planning Design (GPHY 564)

Planning Principles & Processes (GPHY 465)

Sustainable Cities (GPHY 421)

The Middle East (GPHY 336)

The Human Role in Environmental Change (GPHY 432)

Water Policy (GPHY 335)

History

Regionalism & the Rocky Mountain West (HSTR 462)

American History I (HIST 101)

Foreign Relations of the Great (HISTR 380)

Law

Land Use Planning (LAW 687)

Water Law (LAW 663)

Constitutional Law (LAW 558)

Legislation (LAW 595)

Montana Constitutional Law (LAW 618)

Literature

Imagining Sustainability in American Culture (LIT 494)

Literature & the Environment (LIT 373)

Marketing

Principles of Marketing (BMKT 325)

Native American Studies

History of Native American Affairs in the 19th Century (NAS 465)

History of Indian Affairs from 1890 (NAS 466)

Native American Beliefs & Philosophy (NAS 304)

Natural Resource Management

Climate & Society

Philosophy

History of Ancient & Medieval Philosophy (PHIL 261)

History of Modern Philosophy (PHIL 263)

Philosophy of Ecology (EVST/PHIL 504)

Philosophy of Forum Colloquium (PHIL 510)

Philosophy of Language (PHIL 471)

Philosophy of Society & Culture (PHIL 477)

Political Science

Development Administration (PSCI 463)

Politics of Latin America (PSCI 325)

International Relations (PSCI 230)

Globalization (PSCI 521)

Recreation Management

Recreation Planning (PTRM 485)

Tourism Livelihoods & Sustainability in the Himalayas (PTRM 353)

Sociology

Environmental Sociology (SOCI 470)

Introduction to Development (SOCI 270)

Population & Society (SOCI 355)

Spanish

Advanced Conversations (SPNS 321)

Elementary Spanish I (SPNS 101)

Elementary Spanish II (SPNS 102)

Writing

Introduction to Writing (WRIT 101)

College Writing I (WRIT 101)

College Writing II (WRIT 201)

Scholarships

Sustainability is an integral part of many programs at the University of Montana. The skills and perspective developed through sustainability work are adaptable and applicable to most facets of life. Opportunities to explore sustainability are available from a variety of sources in the form of scholarships and fellowships.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS

Sonny Kless Clean Energy and Climate Change Student Scholarship

The Sonny Kless Scholarship was established in honor of Sonny Kless, a late UM alumn who spearheaded environmental activism. His family continues to support the environmental studies program at UM both through this scholarship and KRELF, the Kless Revolving Energy Loan Fund, a revolving fund supported by the student sustainability fee that allows students to pursue conservation projects and initiatives.

Who Can Apply: Undergraduate students enrolled in, or planning to enroll in, the Environmental Studies Program.
Award Amount: Varies
Applicants Should: Have promising leadership potential and an interest in making positive change in areas of energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and/or climate change.

W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation Sustainability Fellowship Program

The Franke Sustainability Fellowship Program (FSFP) is a prestigious opportunity that allows students to spearhead sustainability work outside of the classroom. Selected candidates will have their projects supported by college faculty as they develop skills, experience, and real-life application of green practices. The two types of fellowships are: 1. An off-campus education program exchange, particularly international, or 2. Internationally-based field study and research with faculty.

Who Can Apply: Undergraduate students enrolled in the College of Forestry. Encouraged to discuss this fellowship with mentor faculty before or during their sophomore/junior year.
Award Amount: $3,000 - $15,000 based on project proposal.
Applicants Should: Have a proposal for a program, field study, or project that contributes to sustainability, will earn credits, and ideally last at least three months.

Len and Sandy Sargent Environmental Activism & Advocacy Fellowship Award

The Sargent family and Cinnabar Foundation are philanthropists with a strong interest in land conservation and the Montana environmental legacy. The purpose of the fellowship is to bring the cost of tuition down to a TARA resident rate.

Who Can Apply: Graduate students enrolled in the Environmental Studies Program.
Award Amount: $5,000 for one student a year.
Applicants Should: Be actively involved in environmental activism and use this fellowship to further graduate studies in renewable resources and conservation.

Find additional resources at the following locations:

The UM Scholarship Portal

The CFC Scholarship Website

The Open Education Database

The UDALL Foundation

The Montana Wildlife Federation Scholarship Page

The Western Institute for Higher Education (WUE) Program

Cappex Scholarship Search Engine

A WARNING ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS

The University of Montana and the Office of Sustainability want to provide as many opportunities for students as possible for pursuing their interests.

Financial Aid, scholarships, and fellowships are most trustworthy when they come internally from a university or accredited education program.

When using large scholarship search engines, do your research and be careful.

If a scholarship application requires a fee or a deposit, then it is a SCAM.
If you receive a scholarship that you did not apply to, it is a SCAM.
Do not ever give out your bank information or social security number to a scholarship; if the application asks for that information then it is a SCAM.

Always do your research, fill out the entirety of applications, and work hard with your award. Good luck!

Research

This page is designed to track current and past research endeavors seeking knowledge and technologies for sustainability. We hope that this site will be used as a networking tool for students and faculty interested in researching solutions to local and global issues of sustainability.

MONTANA FOREST CONSERVATION EXPERIMENT STATION

The Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station (MFCES) is a state-wide agency and the research unit of the College of Forestry and Conservation. It was founded in 1937 and is responsible for administering a very active research and outreach program across Montana and the World.

The MFCES owns and manages two properties for research and outreach-Lubrecht Experimental Forest, a 28,000 forest approximately 30 miles from Missoula and Bandy Experimental Ranch, a 3600 acre mountain ranch about 50 miles from Missoula, both within the Blackfoot River drainage. MFCES scientists also have access to a wide variety of lands owned by others in western and central Montana.

LUBRECHT EXPERIMENTAL FOREST

The Lubrecht Experimental Forest is a 28,000 acre outdoor classroom and laboratory located 30 miles northeast of Missoula, Montana in the Blackfoot River drainage. The Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station of the University of Montana owns and operates 21,000 acres of the Forest.

As part of its duel function of research and training, the Lubrecht Experimental Forest serves as a field laboratory for the education of foresters. Students from the School of Forestry spend two weeks in a residential camp where they receive field-oriented instruction in mensuration, ecology, wildlife and water measurements, and forest protection. In addition, both undergraduate and graduate students use the forest to further their education in forestry and the related fields of range, wildlife, fire management and watershed management.

To learn more visit Lubrecht Forest

BANDY RANCH

Bandy Ranch is a 3,436-acre working cattle ranch operated by the School of Forestry. Both University of Montana and the Montana State University Agricultural Experiment Station conduct research on the ranch. The ranch, located 18 miles northeast of the Lubrecht Forest, was the bequest of Edward Bandy, Jr. in 1989.

BIOLOGICAL STATION ON FLATHEAD LAKE

The Flathead Lake Biological Station is a state-of-the-art ecological research and education center located in the Rocky Mountains near Glacier National Park. We conduct public workshops, college courses, graduate programs and research focused on the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem. To learn more visit: Biological Station on Flathead Lake

CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES

The primary research mission of the Center is to advance knowledge of environmental impacts on human health. The Center brings together a critical mass of researchers to investigate mechanisms of pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, immune and autoimmune disorders, developmental defects, neurodegenerative diseases, genetic susceptibility, and the impacts that environmental factors have in causing or exacerbating these conditions. To learn more visit: The Center for Environmental Health Sciences

CLANCY GORDON ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE LABORATORY

The Clancy Gordon Environmental Science Laboratory is the only teaching and research laboratory available to the Environmental Studies Program (EVST). Many EVST graduate students have used it during their thesis research, and undergraduate classes that conduct environmental science research use the lab. To learn more visit: Clancy Gordon Environmental Science Laboratory

THE NUMERICAL TERRADYNAMIC SIMULATION GROUP

The Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group is a lab pioneering new approaches for addressing regional ecological problems. The mission of NTSG is "to develop capabilities to quantitatively describe the structure and function of ecosystems, from regional to global scales, using emerging technologies in satellites, geographic information systems, computer simulation and visualization, and biophysical theory." To learn more visit: The Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group

RIVER CENTER

CRSSR is an interdisciplinary research group advancing our knowledge of natural stream function and developing methods and procedures to mitigate impacted stream systems. Based at The University of Montana, CRSSR is involved with a number of fluvial and hydrogeologic research programs. To learn more visit: River Center

WATERSHED HEALTH CLINIC

The UM Watershed Health Clinic focused on cooperation and problem solving, with a particular focus on Clark Fork Basin watersheds. Your watershed needs CPR: Conservation, Preservation and Restoration. Let them help you create a Watershed CPR plan for your watershed.

To learn more visit Watershed Health Clinic

UM FLAT

The UM FLAT is an experiential live-in resource (house) for UM students demonstrating the practicality of sustainable living. By experimenting with and educating others about the social, ethical, and environmental benefits of appropriate technology, the UM FLAT will help to establish the University of Montana as a model for exhibiting efficient building practices. The ultimate goal of the UM FLAT is to encourage the development of efficient and affordable homes for a sustainable society. By retro-fitting an existing home the utility of the UM FLAT demonstration resources could be easily applied to the Missoula community.

To learn more about the FLAT visit UM FLAT

Research Centers & Institutes

Montana Forest & Conservation Experiment Station

Lubrecht Experimental Forest

Bandy Ranch

Biological Station on Flathead Lake

Center for Environmental Health Sciences

Clancy Gordon Environmental Science Laboratory

The Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group

The River Center

The Watershed Health Clinic

Center for Integrated Research on the Environment

Center for Natural Resources & Environmental Policy

Montana Institute on Ecosystems

O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West

Rural Institute on Disabilities

Bolle Center

Center for Ethics

Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research

Montana Avian Science Center

Wilderness Institute

Living & Learning

The programs listed below provide the opportunity for students to earn academic credit and professional skills while engaging with and applying sustainability principles. These programs range from study abroad opportunities and alternative spring break trips to living/learning communities on the main campus.

UM Forum for Living with Appropriate Technology (UM FLAT)

Global Leadership Initiative (GLI)

Wild Rockies Field Institute

Residence Life Sustainability Quality Circles (contact the Office of Sustainability or your RA)

Alternative Spring Break

UM offers a variety of sustainability-focused study abroad programs that can be found here, including a course that explores the impacts of climate change in Vietnam and sustainable development in Nicaragua.