SST 550 Transdisciplinary Methodologies
This course on transdisciplinary methodologies builds on the interdisciplinary methodologies course introduced in Semester I and consists of a weekly discussion seminar. It focuses on the principles and practices of transdisciplinary collaboration in sustainability contexts, equipping students with methodological approaches for engaging academic and societal actors in the processes of transformational change.
The course introduces key methods used in transdisciplinary research and practice, including stakeholder mapping, participatory facilitation, co-design processes, systems mapping, reflexive collaboration, and knowledge co-production. Students examine how these approaches extend interdisciplinary inquiry by enabling collaborative problem-solving across institutional, professional, and community contexts. Particular attention is given to the relationship between interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity and to the ways in which each contributes distinct forms of knowledge integration in sustainability work.
A central focus of the course is the integration of the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) as a framework for cultivating the reflective, relational, and leadership capacities necessary for transdisciplinary sustainability practice. Students critically examine how the IDGs complement and strengthen the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by supporting the personal and collective competencies required for transformative action.
The course is closely connected to the second-semester content modules and includes a practitioner lecture series featuring sustainability professionals from diverse sectors. These engagements provide applied perspectives on leadership models, legal and governance frameworks, communication strategies, and practical approaches to addressing sustainability challenges. Through collaborative exercises, case-based analysis, and engagement with practitioners, students develop the methodological, reflective, and facilitative capacities required to design and lead transdisciplinary processes of transformation.
Offered
Spring