Course syllabus for Sustainability transitions

The course syllabus contains changes
See changes

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-08 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameHållbarhetsomställning
  • CodeTEK940
  • Credits6 Credits
  • OwnerTKIEK
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyIndustrial Engineering and Management
  • ThemeEnvironment 6 c
  • DepartmentTECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 51130
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0121 Examination 6 c
Grading: TH		 3 c3 c
  • 07 Jun 2025 am J DIG
  • 11 Okt 2024 pm J DIG
  • 18 Aug 2025 pm J DIG

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Aim

The aim of the course is that the students, after fulfilling the course, should be able to contribute to sustainability transitions by participating in and developing sustainability work in companies and other organizations.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

1. Explain the concept of sustainable development and compare different definitions.
2. Analyse causes and effects of current environmental problems.
3. Explain the depletion of natural resources as well as propose strategies for a circular economy and a sustainable energy system.
4. Explain the environmental impacts of products in a life cycle perspective and interpret life cycle assessments.
5. Explain the role of individuals in sustainability transitions and propose individual actions that contribute to such transitions.
6. Explain the role of companies in sustainability transitions and propose company initiatives that contribute to such transitions.
7. Explain the role of politics in sustainability transitions and propose policy measures that contribute to such transitions.

Content

The course gives a broad overview of environmental science, sustainable development and sustainability transitions. The focus is on products’ sustainability and sustainability transitions through company initiatives. The following topics are mainly covered in the course:
• Sustainable development
• Current environmental problems
• Depletion of natural resources
• Sustainable energy systems and circular economy
• Life cycle thinking and life cycle assessment
• Sustainability transitions through individual actions
• Sustainability transitions through company initiatives
• Sustainability transitions through policy measures

Organisation

The course builds on a number of lectures, exercises and project tasks.

Literature

The main literature of the course is the book Gröndahl och Svanström (2010) Hållbar utveckling – en introduktion för ingenjörer och andra problemlösare, Liber: Stockholm. In addition to that, there are a number of complementary texts.

Examination including compulsory elements

The main examination of the course is a final written exam. In addition, other activities throughout the course may grant extra credits. The grade of the course is based on the result of the exam and the extra credits.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers about disability study support.

The course syllabus contains changes

  • Changes to examination:
    • 2025-02-13: Examination datetime Examination datetime changed from 2025-06-02 Morning to 2025-06-07 Morning by Schemagruppen
      [2025-06-02 6,0 hec, 0121]