Social sustainability classes typically study the use of concepts from various disciplines to make evaluations about the sustainability of several different trends that are salient to humans. Classes often look at issues such as ethics, social movements, the environment, politics and land development.

Requirements for the PhD program often involve the student having already obtained a Master’s degree. Additionally, a thesis or dissertation primarily consisting of original academic research must be submitted. In some countries, this work may even need to be defended in front of a panel.