Syllabus
BUS/ZOO 494/594

Sustainability Perspectives in Resources and Business
MWF, 10:00-10:50 a.m., Upham 127
Professors: Steve Elliott (208D, Laws) and Orie L. Loucks (134 Pearson)

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This capstone course addresses the development of interdisciplinary answers to the prospect of declining quantities of critical resources and growing public awareness of environmental and related health risks. Another goal is to bridge the disparities between business and scientific views of resource use, waste disposal, risk and the consumer society. The course requires participants to think critically about (1) how the best scientific knowledge can be used in evaluating resource use options; (2) the parameters of business planning, ethics and profitability, and (3) the role and impact of citizens, human values and government or corporate institutions in policymaking.

The course is team-taught in a mixed lecture/discussion format. Each student will be asked to write two reaction papers and one larger team project report, working in interdisciplinary groups that link business majors with non-business majors to solve crosscutting problems. Graduate students will be required to complete an additional integrative paper during mid-semester. Learning appreciation for, and communication among, the diversity of worldviews from different fields of study is a secondary goal of the course.

LECTURE: The course meets three times a week, for 50-minute periods. Some class sessions are divided between the two faculty representing different disciplines within the one class period, while other periods will be centered on group discussion of specific case studies or other material.

EVALUATION: Overall evaluation will be based on five components:

Two Reaction Papers 20% (10% each)
Final Exam 20%
Mid-term Exam 15%
Team Project 25%
Class Participation 20%

The 20% of the grade based on your class participation, assigned as follows: A - Exceptional contribution and excellent preparation; B - Demonstrated command of materials and good preparation; C - Ability to respond modestly to issues raised in class; D - Attended class regularly, but with little or no oral participation; F - Systematic absences from class (more than three unexcused absences). Being prepared for class each day can only enhance your learning, classroom performance, and final grade.

Textbooks and Readings: The textbook for the course is Sustainability Perspectives for Resources and Business, Loucks, et al., Lewis Publishers, January 1999.

In addition, other readings and course materials are placed on electronic reserve or handed out in class. The reserve readings are available on Miami’s Library Web page in the Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). The necessary software is being supplied with the most recent edition of the MUNet software and is also available as a free download from: http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html. You will be able to access the Electronic Reserve from MiamiLINK. The password is SUREAD.