At our university, some of the elective courses offered that focus on sustainability themes are listed below, along with their content:
Ecology
The aim of this course is to scientifically research and understand the global challenges humanity faces today, such as global warming, pandemics, the increasing human population, the reduction of agricultural land, and natural disasters, in order to prevent them and maintain ecological balance. The course also aims to raise environmental awareness, understand ecosystems, protect populations, and comprehend various events, including population interactions, competition, and food chains, along with some ecological terms and methods.
Global Warming and Climate Change
Human activities are altering the structure of the biosphere related to food, energy flow, chemical cycles, and natural disturbances that affect all ecosystems we and other living beings depend on. Humans have physically altered nearly half of the Earth's land surface and use more than half of all available freshwater. Excessive consumption and unplanned human ecosystem movements lead to climate change, making life difficult for humans and all living beings. In response, humans must take necessary precautions against global warming and climate change. The course will cover the related measures and methods.
Sustainability in Design
This course will address ecology and sustainable design concepts through interdisciplinary perspectives, including sustainable design principles such as passive solar architecture, daylight usage, photovoltaic panels, wind energy, and zero carbon/emission strategies. Topics such as recycling, energy-efficient building examples, eco-villages, environmental impacts, and the sustainable use of energy and material resources in the design process, along with life cycle, certification of sustainable design, and current information about LEED green building operations and maintenance, will be covered.