PhD courses

PhD courses at LUCSUS

The past, present, and future of Sustainability Research

7.5 credits.
1 – 5 June 2026

Tackling the world’s sustainability challenges requires robust knowledge, interdisciplinary methodologies, and strong collaborative efforts. For decades sustainability researchers have worked across disciplinary boundaries experimenting with a range of methods and applying diverse theoretical perspectives to better understand and solve urgent and interconnected problems.

This PhD course focuses on how sustainability research has evolved, and continues to change, in light of global sustainability challenges and the social-ecological crisis.

The course covers different perspectives and methodological approaches. It is organised around 5 key themes: (1) the emergence of sustainability research and thinking in systems to understand the interconnectedness of the social ecological crisis; (2) how to bridge disciplinary methods and theories (3) addressing sustainability challenges across spatial and temporal scales; (4) how to create and impact research and knowledge beyond the academy; and (5) a vision for more sustainable futures.

The aim is for participants develop a more comprehensive understanding of the development of the field and how their own research connects to it.

Course coordinators: Bregje van Veelen and Karin Steen.

Syllabus, schedule & course literature will be made available this spring

Registration

Degrowth and sustainability pathways

Faculty of Social Sciences
NOTE: this course is not running during 2026.

In the context of a climate emergency, there is an increasing demand from society and students to learn about societal models (including welfare provision) that function without economic growth. In this context, degrowth aims for a multi-scalar transformation beyond the growth-oriented economic paradigm to achieve socio-ecological sustainability. It primarily emphasizes the downsizing aspects of production and consumption but also alludes to the pathways of a society that can thrive or manage without relying on growth. This course will inform these pathways by placing wellbeing for all species and natural systems at the center and rethinking our social systems independent of economic growth in fields such as work, culture, civil society, governance and decision-making.

PhD courses at the The Faculty of Social Sciences

The Faculty of Social Sciences offers a wide variety of faculty joint PhD courses ranging from methods courses, research ethics and courses in theory of science.

PHD courses at the Facullty of Social Sciences