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Campus Resources
New! Graduate Level Emphasis: Leaders in Sustainability
Student Groups
Research Centers
Courses
Leaders in Sustainability Emphasis
Intended audience
The emphasis is aimed at graduate students who will become decision-makers in various types of
organizations (businesses, non-profits, governmental, etc) and who will have to address the three
dimensions of sustainability. The emphasis is open to all graduate students at UCLA; we have
received significant interest from students at the Anderson School of Management, the School of
Law, the School of Public Affairs, the School of Public Health, the Henry Samueli School of
Engineering and Applied Science, Geography, Economics, and others. With an average of 3-5
students per school per year, the emphasis could attract 15-50 students per year. For 2006-2007, the
emphasis will be in test mode; students participating in the emphasis in 2006-2007 should expect to
be actively involved in designing and managing the emphasis.
Structure
The program is intended as an “emphasis” within the existing graduate school programs. No
separate degree program is proposed, although an official certificate of completion of the emphasis
requirements will be provided by the UCLA Institute of the Environment. The emphasis
requirements for 2006-2007 are:
• All students must take at least 4 quarter courses (at least 16 units, or the equivalent in semester
units) on topics closely related to sustainability. At least 2 of these courses must be outside their “home” department. Each student will submit a study plan for approval to the Coordinator of
the emphasis. Ideally these courses will be graduate courses and apply towards students’
graduation requirements; however, relevant courses (such as certain undergraduate courses)
may be applied towards the emphasis even if they do not count towards a student’s graduation
requirements.
• All students will participate in a new course on sustainability offered by the Institute of the
Environment during Winter 2007. This course is currently being planned; if it is indeed offered,
this course will count as one of the 4 courses required for the emphasis.
• All students will participate actively in relevant events organized by the Institute of the
Environment, including seminars, conferences, etc.
• All students will work on a project related to sustainability in teams that include students from
at least 2 different departments. These projects will ideally be part of the students’ regular graduation requirements. The faculty will try to identify suitable projects but teams may also
identify their own projects, subject to the Coordinator’s approval.
Students who are interested in sustainability but unable to complete all the requirements, for
instance due to restrictions from their home departments on the number of out-of-department
courses they can take, are welcome to participate in as much of the Leaders in Sustainability
emphasis as they can.
Administration of the emphasis
The emphasis will be formally based at the UCLA Institute of the Environment. For 2006-2007, the
Coordinator of the emphasis will be Professor Charles Corbett, until a more permanent
administrative structure is determined.
Registering for the emphasis
To participate in the emphasis in 2006-2007, students should send a resume, with a 1-page essay on
why they want to participate in the emphasis and what they expect to get out of it, to the
Coordinator.
Schedule for the emphasis
The emphasis will be “formally” launched in January 2007,1 but students can register and start
taking courses towards the emphasis during Fall 2006. Past relevant coursework as a graduate
student at UCLA will also count towards the requirements of the emphasis.
Comparable programs at other institutions
Our understanding is that existing programs tend to be joint degree programs, e.g. between business
schools and schools of natural resources, and are usually 3 years instead of 2. Our proposal would
not extend students’ total stay at UCLA beyond what is usual for their chosen graduate program.
Why now?
In Fall 2005 the former UC-wide MBA emphasis on corporate environmental management was
suspended. We propose to replace this former multi-campus business-school-focused emphasis
with a one-campus multi-disciplinary emphasis, starting in Fall 2006. Discussions are ongoing with
other campuses about joint courses, workshops, etc.
The advantage of this approach is that it will test the market for interdisciplinary studies in sustainability, create a group of post-graduate and professional students with a unique experience
and a focus on sustainability that should enhance their careers, and provide the IoE with a basis to
evaluate future graduate degree options.
Current needs: how can you help?
The academic year 2006-2007 will be the “beta” year during which the emphasis is further defined.
We need help with:
• Program design: selecting (or designing) appropriate courses, and defining project requirement and seminar series.
• Outside sponsorship: we welcome support and advice from interested organizations, including for-profits, non-profits, and government agencies.
• Funding: we will need financial support for several aspects of this program.
Students in the emphasis are strongly encouraged to participate in all of these efforts.
For more information, contact the Coordinator of the emphasis:
Charles J. Corbett
charles.corbett@anderson.ucla.edu; tel. 310-825-1651
Student Groups
California Student Sustainability Coalition
Through Collaboration and community building on all levels, the CSSC aims to improve the quality of life for all. Join us this fall for our regular potluck dinners to build community and meet other UCLA folks who care about people and planet. Contact us for more info!
www.sustainabilitycoalition.org
cssc_info@yahoo.com
Social Justice Alliance
The UCLA Social Justice Alliance is committed to using student power within the university to work for environmental, labor and social justice goals. Join us Tuesdays in Ackerman 2408 at 5pm.
sjalliance@gmail.com
Calpirg-The California Public Interest Research Group
Calpirg is a student run group that directly addresses the interests of students on a local, statewide and national level.
calpirg@ucla.edu
Environmental Bruins
Our club works to enhance understanding and appreciation of the Environment at a local level- and we have fun doing it!
www.environmentalbruins.org
nature@ucla.edu
Engineers Without Borders
We promote sustainable technology, responsible engineering, and environmental awareness. Our goal is to outreach on a local and international level through simple technical design, humanitarian services, and cultural sensitivity.
www.ewb-ucla.org
ewb_ucla@yahoogroups.com
Net Impact
Net Impact is a dynamic and rapidly expanding network of MBAs and alumni-one of the most progressive and influential in existence today. Members share a passion for exploring the interdependence of business and social responsibility while in business school and throughout their professional careers.
Anderson Chapter
www.anderson.ucla.edu/zone/clubs/netimpact
National Organization
Sustainable Urban Network (SUN)
The Sustainable Urban Network promotes awareness and minimization of the ecological impact caused by humans. Organized through the Urban Planning Department.
www.spa.ucla.edu/up/sun
More coming soon!!
Research Centers
Urban Sustainability Center
www.ioe.ucla.edu/sustainabilityCTR.htm
Center for Globalization and Policy Research
www.sppsr.ucla.edu/cgpr
Institute of Transportation Studies
www.its.ucla.edu/about.html
The Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
lewis.spa.ucla.edu
Center for Civil Society
www.spa.ucla.edu/ccs
More coming soon!!
Courses
Coming soon!!
Transportation
UCLA Commuting Guide for Students
Info on Ridesharing, Biking, Public Transit, etc.