If we are going to be successful in transforming the economy from one obsessed with growth to one seeking sustainability and equity, we will need a new assortment of students, professors, and practicing economists who understand the concepts of ecological economics and the steady state economy. It’s an exciting time to be involved in the field of ecological economics. Citizens and policy makers are searching for a more logical and more hopeful economic framework as we continue to bump up against the limits to growth.
College and university affiliates interested in developing courses and programs in ecological economics can find resources on this handout, part of a session CASSE presented at the 2010 NCSE New Green Economy Conference. Also feel free to download two related presentations:
- Brian Czech’s summary of how to teach a course in ecological economics, and
- Chris Stratton and Kevin Horan’s summary of how to establish an ecological economics course in a non-economics department.
And if you’re looking to build a syllabus for a course in ecological economics or steady state economics, here are some useful examples:
- Steady State Economics (Spring 2013), Virginia Tech, Brian Czech
- Steady State Economics (Generic), Virginia Tech, Brian Czech
- Seminar on Ecological Economics, Davidson College, Julianne Mills
- Ecological Economics, Virginia Tech, Brian Czech
- Ecology and the Economy, University of Oregon, Chris Stratton and Kevin Horan
- Ecological Economics in Historical Context, University of California, Berkeley, Richard Norgaard
- Green Growth, De-growth and Sustainability, Ph.D. course organized jointly by Oslo University College and Aalborg University
- Buddhist Economics, University of California, Berkeley, Clair Brown
A good place for students to begin exploring educational and career opportunities in ecological economics is this interview of Brian Czech. It contains answers to questions such as:
- Where are the leading ecological economics programs?
- Who are some of the leading ecological economics faculty?
- What types of activites, in and out of academia, might you expect to conduct?
The International Society for Ecological Economics maintains a listing of graduate programs at colleges and universities around the world. Many of these programs also cater to undergraduates. Programs range in scope from offering a course or two to providing a full range of degree choices (from B.A. to Ph.D.).
Places to find information on job opportunities include:
- Job board at the International Society for Ecological Economics
- Employment postings of the U.S. Society for Ecological Economics
- Job postings of the European Society for Ecological Economics
For more ideas, visit CASSE’s web page on organizations with related missions. These organizations sometimes have job listings of their own or links to additional resources.