Experiential Sustainability

No; because the class includes a final project due in September, it is listed as a Fall semester class. Therefore, it only impacts your tuition costs if you are not registered as a full-time student in the Fall. Similarly, the class will apply toward Fall credit limits, rather than Summer.

We welcome applications from students all over the world and with all different schedules. Accommodating everyone’s schedules so that no one is excluded is a top priority for the class. We will consider a wide variety of discussion group times and do our very best to make sure that every student is assigned to a discussion group that fits their schedule.

The 2022 course will most likely be hybrid, with summer discussion sections taking place primarily on Zoom and fall final presentations taking place in person on campus. Pending public health circumstances and MIT guidelines, some in-person sections or events may be possible during the summer for participants in the Cambridge/Boston area. Enrolled students will receive information about how to connect to the class sessions prior to the start of the class. Though it will primarily be facilitated online, the course is built around a small group structure with dedicated group facilitators and is therefore highly interactive.

The class is set up for standard A-F grading. The grade will be computed based on attendance and participation (50%), short weekly assignments (25%), and a final project (25%).

The class (1.005) is listed in the Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering and can count toward general elective credit. We’re working to evaluate whether the class can count for other purposes, but we, unfortunately, can’t confirm other credit uses at this time. However, the class is a great opportunity to get a taste of sustainability material to help you consider future courses in this area.

The final project for this class is highly flexible, both in terms of format and in terms of topic. We will provide you with a variety of format options (e.g., a 2000-word essay, a website, an interview and commentary, a series of vlogs, etc.) You are also welcome to propose your own format. We encourage you to connect your final project to something you are working on or experiencing during the summer—an internship, UROP, or independent project, for example. However, the topic is ultimately up to you, pending approval by your teaching fellow. 

Due to the nature of the course, it is limited to MIT undergraduate students. In limited cases, exceptions may be made for undergraduate students at other institutions (e.g. a Wellesley student completing a UROP at MIT). Graduate students with an interest in sustainability are encourage to apply to become a Teaching Fellow for the course.

Because credit is awarded in the fall term, students must apply to join the course via the application form and formally register for 1.005 in the fall to earn credit.