Who can enroll in the Certificate program?

• Any student enrolled in a graduate degree program at the University of Utah
• Non-degree-seeking students with a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university

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. (Matriculated, Non-matriculated)
• Applications will be reviewed twice each year.
• Applications for Spring semester are due no later than October 30.
• Applications for Fall semester are due no later than April 1.
• 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.

Curriculum Requirements

(16 credit hours total)

2 core courses (4 credits)

• Global Change & Sustainability Seminar (1 credit, Fall and Spring, SUST 6800)
• Global Changes and Society (3 credits, offered each Spring, SUST 6000)

4 elective courses (12 credits)

One course from each elective component from the approved list of courses

• Elective 1: Earth and Ecological Systems selection
• Elective 2: Social Justice selection
• Elective 3: Economics/Policy selection
• Elective 4: One additional course from any of the above 3 categories

Of the 4 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.)

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

Electives

The Certificate requires four electives, including one course from each of the following elective components. Of the four electives, no more than two courses 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.

• Earth and Ecological Systems = explicit focus on the dynamics within the physical or ecological sciences
• Social Justice = explicit focus on society and social issues (especially equity, justice, and human well-being)
• Economic / Policy = explicit focus on economic and/or policy issues

(Please see class schedule to see when elective courses are scheduled.)

Other Electives

Flexibility will exist to allow students to gain approval to substitute courses that meet the learning objectives of the certificate program, but which have not yet been identified as electives. For example, while the elective list represents courses appropriate to fulfill certificate requirements, some students may have taken or may wish to take courses not listed that might also qualify. Given the diversity of graduate student backgrounds and interests, students will have the opportunity to customize their selected electives through an approval process with the Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Sustainability Advisory Committee.

To request approval of a new elective course, please complete this form. Send the form along with a copy of the class syllabus to Karren Nichols.

Learning Objectives

Students completing the requirements of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Sustainability will be able to:

1. Demonstrate both depth in a particular thematic area of expertise and breadth in sustainability literacy and key concepts
2. Utilize systems thinking, life cycle analysis, and other concepts and tools to analyze the complex interconnections among social, economic, and environmental systems
3. Communicate and collaborate across disciplinary boundaries
4. 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).
5. Imagine, evaluate, and implement visions of sustainable practices and values through the translation of knowledge of sustainability into actions for sustainability.

Application for degree-seeking graduate students

Application for non-matriculated students

Frequently Asked Questions

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. When is the application period?
A. Applications will be accepted throughout the year and reviewed as follows:

• Applications for Spring semester are due no later than October 30.
• Applications for Fall semester are due no later than April 1.
• Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed in the following application 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.

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. If the class is not listed with the electives on this page, please request approval of a new elective course by completing this form. Send the form along with a copy of the class syllabus to Karren Nichols.

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 on October 6, 2017 and April 6, 2018. 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. I have more questions. Who should I contact?
A. Please contact Karren Nichols at karren.nichols@utah.edu or 801-587-9036