The Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Sustainability at the University of Utah is a collaborative, interdisciplinary program grounding students in science, society and policy in order to effectively address global change and sustainability challenges.
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The Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Sustainability program will train students to think and act across disciplinary boundaries. This transdisciplinary literacy will enhance graduate education by building on disciplinary expertise. Students will be provided opportunities to develop their capacities as transformational change agents within their communities and institutions. Earning the certificate demonstrates to future employers a student’s eagerness to learn beyond their core area of study.
This program is a collaboration between the Graduate School, Sustainability Office, and the Global Change and Sustainability Center.
To better serve students, significant changes to the graduate certificate program are underway. Watch this page for further developments.
For more information, see the FAQ below.
Who is eligible to apply for the Certificate program?
- Any student enrolled in a graduate degree program at the University of Utah
- Students who hold a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university, but who are not matriculated in a graduate degree program at the U
Application and Admission Process
- University of Utah students should apply for the Certificate program as soon as they decide to pursue it, and must apply to the program prior to the semester of graduation via the online application linked in the tab below.
- Applications will be reviewed twice each year.
- October 30 is the application deadline for admission to the program the following spring semester.
- April 1 is the application deadline for admission to the program the following fall semester.
- Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed in the following application cycle.
- Required for non-matriculated students: (1) confirmation of admission status as non-degree seeking student at the University of Utah, (2) transcripts confirming bachelors degree and GPA.
- For non-matriculated students, U of U admission dates are different from general admission dates. Please see the Admissions website for current information.
Policies
- Maximum of 4 years for completion
- Courses must be completed with a grade of B or better
- Courses used towards completion of the Certificate may also count towards matriculated graduate student Departmental degree requirements, if applicable
- 9 credits from the Certificate may be applied towards a future graduate degree (applies to non-matriculated students only)
- Non-matriculated students will need a permission code to enroll in graduate courses
Curriculum Requirements
Students will take two required courses and four elective course (16 credit hours total) that have sustainability course attributes. Such courses integrate fundamental concepts of sustainability including equity, economy, and environment.
2 core courses (4 credits)
- SUST 6800 – Global Change & Sustainability Seminar (1 credit)
- SUST 6000 – Global Changes and Society (3 credits)
4 elective courses – SUS attribute (12 credits)
See courses here. For the most up to date list of all courses with the SUS attribute, please see the class schedule for the semester. Navigate to the “other course attributes” link, then select “SUSC” or “SUSL”. These attributions are in the process of being simplified to only “SUS”.
Instructors (not students) may apply to the Sustainability Education Advisory Committee to have a course designated with the Sustainability attribute. Applications are due October 15 and February 27 . Details can be found here.
IGCS Total Program Credits: 16 CREDIT HOURS
Of the four electives, no more than two may be within the student’s home department. One may be within the student’s home college but outside of the student’s home department, and one must be from outside of the student’s home college. (Courses taken at the University of Utah prior to official admission to the program may count towards certificate.)
Learning Objectives
Students completing the requirements of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Sustainability will be able to:
- Demonstrate both depth in a particular thematic area of expertise and breadth in sustainability literacy and key concepts
- Utilize systems thinking, life cycle analysis, and other concepts and tools to analyze the complex interconnections among social, economic, and environmental systems
- Communicate and collaborate across disciplinary boundaries
- Reflect deeply about the ethical practice of sustainability (e.g., recognize inherent conflicts of interest, trade-offs, and moral dilemmas, and discuss them in a way that shows an ability to weigh the pros and cons of complex sustainability strategies, recognize different stakeholder perspectives, and understand that costs and benefits are not equally distributed).
- Evaluate and implement visions of sustainable practices and values through the translation of knowledge of sustainability into actions for sustainability.
Application and information for non-matriculated students
Q. I am a non-matriculated applicant. How do I obtain a uNID (University ID Number)
A. Once you have applied for admission as a non-matriculated student, you will receive a uNID.
Q. What is the tuition for a non-matriculated student?
A. It depends on the courses in which you enroll. Please go here for general graduate tuition information.
Q. When is the application period?
A. Applications will be accepted throughout the year and reviewed as follows:
- October 30 is the application deadline to begin the program the following spring semester.
- April 1 is the application deadline to begin the program the following fall semester.
- Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed in the next application review cycle.
Q. What semester does the program begin?
A. Students may start the program in fall or spring.
Q. I have already taken a course/courses that serve as Certificate electives. Does that credit apply to the Certificate?
A. Students who have previously taken and passed the GCSC seminar course (BIOL 6964/SUST 6800) or Global Changes and Society (BIOL 7961-002/SUST 6000) course may apply those towards completing the Certificate. Other courses may be approved as outlined here.
Q. How do I know if a class that I have taken or a class I want to take will count toward the certificate?
A. For the most up to date list of all SUSC or SUSL courses please see the class schedule for the semester. Under “Filter Classes” select “other course attributes” then select “SUSC” or “SUSL”. Instructors may apply to earn a sustainability attribute for their course.
Q: When will I know if my Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Sustainability Elective Proposal has been approved?
A: All proposals will be reviewed by the Sustainability Education Committee at their meetings in October and April. Notifications of course approvals will be sent out via email shortly thereafter.
Q. Where can I find the certificate completion plan form?
A. Click here to download the certificate completion plan form.
Q. Is there a handy checklist to keep track of my progress toward the certificate?
A. Yes, right here.
Q. I have more questions. Who should I contact?
A. Please contact Laurie Mecham at laurie.mecham@utah.edu.