Is there a sustainability canon? An exploration and aggregation of expert opinions

Abstract

This paper identifies one possible set of appropriate disciplinary content for undergraduate programs in sustainability, based on a survey instrument employed at two international sustainability events in 2005. Undertaken to supplement the focus in the sustainability education literature on generic skills and pedagogical method via case-based or broadly conceptual work, it seeks to assist curriculum developers with planning disciplinary content. Findings indicate that a sustainability canon of sorts exists. A surprising amount of agreement existed from the two different specialist groups about core concepts, notably in ecology and-less unanimously-policy, economics and ethics. Studies about society were preferred as elective content. A 10-subject core was nominated, suggesting the need for broad foundational underpinnings.