Sustainability and Global Development Practice Case Study Capstone

Harvard Extension School

ENVR E-599C

Section 1

CRN 26994

View Course Details
Case studies are a cornerstone of sustainability scholarship and practice, grounding abstract theories and concepts in real-world examples. During this course, students produce a bounded case study—a narrative focusing on a community, organization, or field site—that illustrates and engages with one or more critical sustainability themes. This course provides support and guidance for students on their case study journey as they research, analyze, and write their sustainability case study project. To that end, the course instructs students regarding best practices in conducting research, organizing and analyzing results, and writing, with goal of informing the completion of the case study capstone. The course provides support throughout the capstone process, including project troubleshooting and draft workshopping. Students also submit progressive draft sections, designed to break the case study into manageable deliverables and to allow sufficient time for revision. We provide a community aspect to the capstone process in which students benefit from the diverse experiences and perspectives of their cohort, facilitating a more well-rounded and accessible project.

Instructor Info

Michaela J. Thompson, PhD

Lecturer in Anthropology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology


Meeting Info

SaSu 9:00am - 5:00pm (2/7 - 2/8)
T 6:00pm - 8:00pm (1/26 - 5/16)

Participation Option: On Campus or Online Synchronous

Deadlines

Last day to register: January 22, 2026

Prerequisites

Registration is limited to officially admitted degree candidates in the Master of Liberal Arts, sustainability or global development practice, capstone track. Candidates must be in good academic standing, ready to graduate in May with only the capstone left to complete (no other course registration is allowed simultaneously with the capstone), and have successfully completed the precapstone, ENVR E-597c, in the previous term. Candidates who do not meet these degree requirements are dropped from the course.

Notes

This course meets via web conference. Students must attend and participate at the scheduled meeting time. See minimum technology requirements. Along with the web-conference meetings, this course also includes an intensive—and mandatory—on-campus residency. Students must be present for the entire on-campus session to earn credit for the course. The course begins via web conference during the first week of the term and continues to meet throughout the term. Please see the syllabus for the specific course meeting dates. Tuition does not include hotel accommodations, transportation, or meals for the on-campus session. International students see important visa information.

All Sections of this Course

CRN Section # Participation Option(s) Instructor Section Status Meets Term Dates
26994 1 On Campus, Online Synchronous Michaela Thompson Open SaSu 9:00am - 5:00pm
T 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Jan 26 to May 16