The sustainability challenges facing communities locally and globally today underscore the need for interdisciplinary sustainability education that enables students to become informed citizens, engaged professionals and effective problem solvers. Sustainability education is an integral pillar of 21 st - century public, land grant, research and community-engaged institutions. Ohio State recognizes the importance of sustainability, including sustainability education, in its university-wide strategic sustainability goals.
CURRICULUM
Ohio State’s commitment to cultivating future sustainability leaders begins in the classroom, where we offer 74 undergraduate majors and minors and a variety of master’s and doctoral programs that identify one or more sustainability-related learning outcomes as well as over 1,245 courses that feature sustainability topics. The university delivers a curriculum that provides Ohio State students with opportunities to understand sustainability holistically, framed by the environment, science, technology, society, the economy, history, culture and politics.
View Ohio State sustainability courses and programs submitted in a survey of university units.
Check out some recently developed sustainability courses at Ohio State.
AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH
The Sustainability Education and Learning Committee (SELC), facilitated by the Sustainability Institute, provides a platform for faculty and academic units to develop a comprehensive and coordinated approach to interdisciplinary sustainability education programs for undergraduate and graduate students. SELC's May 2019 report on undergraduate sustainability education establishes a framework for sustainability education at Ohio State, strengthening existing academic programs and identifying opportunities for new ones. The group is currently providing guidance on the sustainability theme that is part of the university’s revised General Education requirements and developing tools to support new or expanded academic program opportunities for students. For more information, contact Gina Jaquet, director of sustainability education and learning.
STUDENT RESEARCH AWARDS
Ohio State rewards sustainability scholarship by providing incentives for students to make discoveries and stimulate creative efforts that promote and achieve sustainability. Each year, Ohio State undergraduate students gain research experience by participating in the Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum. The forum celebrates students’ research discoveries, innovation and passions. The Sustainability Institute provides awards to excellent undergraduate research in the area of sustainability as it encompasses many diverse disciplines and student interests. Sustainability Institute faculty and staff consider how the students’ projects connect to sustainability, the interdisciplinary connections in their research, and how well they can translate their research and findings to varied audiences when selecting awardees. Read about the 2020 Denman Forum sustainability awardees.

Student Project ECOAir selected as finalist for NASA competition
Learn more about Student Project ECOAir selected as finalist for NASA competition
2020 campus sustainability report now available
Learn more about 2020 campus sustainability report now available
2022 Sustainability Institute grants enable success for students
Learn more about 2022 Sustainability Institute grants enable success for students
CURA Summer Series | The Impacts of Intel
Learn more about CURA Summer Series | The Impacts of Intel
Ohio State, Wilberforce University to partner for EcoCAR EV Challenge
Learn more about Ohio State, Wilberforce University to partner for EcoCAR EV Challenge
Expanding affordable data collection: SENR subject pool now available to SI affiliated faculty
Learn more about Expanding affordable data collection: SENR subject pool now available to SI affiliated faculty
Sustainability faculty honored in PRE Grants
Learn more about Sustainability faculty honored in PRE Grants
WestFest, Ohio State faculty shine in Office of Outreach & Engagement’s awards
Learn more about WestFest, Ohio State faculty shine in Office of Outreach & Engagement’s awards
Ohio State selected to help develop low-Earth orbit space station research pipeline
Learn more about Ohio State selected to help develop low-Earth orbit space station research pipeline
Rural population trends may affect sustainable landscape management
Learn more about Rural population trends may affect sustainable landscape management
Rising to the challenge: Sustainable energy program gives students first research opportunities
Learn more about Rising to the challenge: Sustainable energy program gives students first research opportunities
Chemical looping: a clean energy milestone 30 years in the making
Learn more about Chemical looping: a clean energy milestone 30 years in the making
Ohio State awarded $1.6M from ARPA-E for transformational energy technology
Learn more about Ohio State awarded $1.6M from ARPA-E for transformational energy technology
Team to study combined effect of wolves and drought on human, plant and animal communities on rangeland
Learn more about Team to study combined effect of wolves and drought on human, plant and animal communities on rangeland
New project brings AI to environmental research in the field
Learn more about New project brings AI to environmental research in the field
Elena Irwin Appointed to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Scientific Advisory Board
Learn more about Elena Irwin Appointed to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Scientific Advisory Board
DOE Awards $1.5 Million To Multi-University Research Team Led By Dr. Justin North
Learn more about DOE Awards $1.5 Million To Multi-University Research Team Led By Dr. Justin North
Elmore looks at environmental history, our food future in new book
Learn more about Elmore looks at environmental history, our food future in new book
Mountaintop glacier ice disappearing in tropics around the world
Learn more about Mountaintop glacier ice disappearing in tropics around the world
Throwing shade: Measuring how much trees, buildings cool cities
Learn more about Throwing shade: Measuring how much trees, buildings cool cities
The Spirit of SUSTAINS: Carrying on the Legacy of Sarah Grossman
Learn more about The Spirit of SUSTAINS: Carrying on the Legacy of Sarah Grossman
Ohio State to Compete in SAE AutoDrive Challenge
Learn more about Ohio State to Compete in SAE AutoDrive Challenge
Next Generation of Sustainable Students Awarded 2021 Sustainability Institute Research Grants
Learn more about Next Generation of Sustainable Students Awarded 2021 Sustainability Institute Research Grants
Seeing climate change through an artistic lens
Learn more about Seeing climate change through an artistic lens
2021 Senior Spotlights
Learn more about 2021 Senior SpotlightsOhio State, IGS Energy Launch Public-Private Initiative on Sustainable Energy
Learn more about Ohio State, IGS Energy Launch Public-Private Initiative on Sustainable Energy
Professors Bakshi, Castro and Luo earn industrial sustainability research grants
Learn more about Professors Bakshi, Castro and Luo earn industrial sustainability research grants
Get sappy! Students research maple syrup sustainability practices
Learn more about Get sappy! Students research maple syrup sustainability practices
RECAP: Sustainability Institute Energy Symposium
Learn more about RECAP: Sustainability Institute Energy Symposium
Ohio State earns DOE funding to drive fuel economy improvements in nextgen vehicles
Learn more about Ohio State earns DOE funding to drive fuel economy improvements in nextgen vehicles
Ohio State Announces New Sustainable Design and Construction Policy
Learn more about Ohio State Announces New Sustainable Design and Construction Policy
New Interdisciplinary Major in Sustainable Agriculture to Launch Fall '21
Learn more about New Interdisciplinary Major in Sustainable Agriculture to Launch Fall '21
From superbugs to climate, new WOSU series highlights latest in science
Learn more about From superbugs to climate, new WOSU series highlights latest in science
Elena Irwin honored as Food Systems Leadership Institute Fellow
Learn more about Elena Irwin honored as Food Systems Leadership Institute Fellow
New Book Highlights Energy Research
Learn more about New Book Highlights Energy Research
Energized: Student Entrepreneurs Share Portable Battery Invention
Learn more about Energized: Student Entrepreneurs Share Portable Battery Invention
Sustainability Institute Student Funding Available
Learn more about Sustainability Institute Student Funding Available
Developing the Next Generation of Sustainable Energy Leaders
Learn more about Developing the Next Generation of Sustainable Energy Leaders
Survey Shows Students’ Sustainability Knowledge, Attitudes and Actions
Learn more about Survey Shows Students’ Sustainability Knowledge, Attitudes and Actions
Despite Challenges Ohio State EcoCAR Successfully Completes Year 2
Learn more about Despite Challenges Ohio State EcoCAR Successfully Completes Year 2
New fertilizer guide for field crops
Learn more about New fertilizer guide for field crops
Ohio State to Sign Sports for Climate Action Framework
Learn more about Ohio State to Sign Sports for Climate Action Framework
Solar-Powered Bus Stop at Ohio Union
Learn more about Solar-Powered Bus Stop at Ohio Union
New Program to Engage Student Athletes as Leaders in Sustainability
Learn more about New Program to Engage Student Athletes as Leaders in Sustainability
How the arts and humanities are confronting climate change
Learn more about How the arts and humanities are confronting climate change
Students Engineer Sustainable Water Solutions for Communities Across the Globe
Learn more about Students Engineer Sustainable Water Solutions for Communities Across the Globe
Sustainability Education Grant Program Supports University Curriculum
Learn more about Sustainability Education Grant Program Supports University Curriculum
Exploring new uses for plastic waste
Learn more about Exploring new uses for plastic waste
New Center of Microbiome Science is in the works at Ohio State
Learn more about New Center of Microbiome Science is in the works at Ohio State
Summer Course Features Risk and Decision Analysis
Learn more about Summer Course Features Risk and Decision Analysis
Dean Williams honored for contributions to microscopy, materials science
Learn more about Dean Williams honored for contributions to microscopy, materials science
Ohio State Newark Faculty Member Pursuing the Puzzles of Climate Change
Learn more about Ohio State Newark Faculty Member Pursuing the Puzzles of Climate Change