This course focuses on the multiple theoretical and analytical approaches to understanding coupled human-environment systems in the context of achieving sustainable development in the Global South. The course traces the historical development in understandings of coupled human-environment systems in order to understand contemporary approaches to and debates on sustainable development. Examples of how development efforts have addressed globalization and global change processes will be discussed as will the responses of agro-ecosystem management to environmental pressures. The theoretical knowledge will be complemented by methodological exercises aimed at understanding the data needs and methodological approaches that are relevant for designing interdisciplinary research on the topics discussed. The students will work with quantitative and qualitative datasets from both social and natural sciences to obtain an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches. The theoretical and methodological knowledge will be put into practice in interdisciplinary group projects in which students, with different disciplinary backgrounds, will develop a solutions-oriented research project for understanding an interdisciplinary problem related to coupled human-environment systems, development and management of agro-ecosystems.