'Sustainability' is a word encountered with increasing frequency in many different settings and with many different meanings. What does it mean? In this course, we will examine a number of perspectives on the question, including environmental, economic, and social views. Through lectures, readings, discussions and simulations, you will acquire interdisciplinary knowledge necessary to analyze specific problems in sustainability, as well as more comprehensive dilemmas. The course begins with global perspectives on climate change and patterns of human population and consumption, and then moves toward more focused case studies of agriculture intensification in the Yaqui Valley of Mexico and a hypothetical state in Amazonia. The final section of the course will explore some specific challenges faced in implementing sustainable practices through innovative design and technology transfer. Active participation is essential as we explore topics through discussions, simulations and presentations. You will negotiate a climate change treaty, design a land management plan, present a case study of a sustainable technology and create a Powerpoint presentation about innovations for the 21st century. By the end of the course, you will have useful foundation in several fields of study to analyze the potential for a transition to sustainability.