Program Overview

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Sustainability (Graduate Certificate)

Program Description

The graduate certificate program in sustainability provides the foundational knowledge required to promote sustainable solutions in any professional field. The development and implementation of sustainable solutions depend on the development of core sustainability competencies, effective collaboration, and inspiring leadership. The skills developed in this program, like systems thinking and futures thinking, are essential to addressing sustainability challenges across many kinds of organizations.

At a Glance

• College/school: College of Global Futures
• Location: Downtown Phoenix, Polytechnic, Tempe, West Valley, or Online
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

Degree Requirements

15 credit hours

• Required Core (6 credit hours)
  • SOS 508 Pathways to Sustainability (3)
  • SOS 509 Leading Sustainability Transitions (3)
• Electives (9 credit hours)
  • Students select six credit hours of sustainability-focused electives from EMS, SFS, and SOS course prefixes.
  • Other coursework may be used with approval of the sustainability graduate committee.
  • In addition, students take three credit hours of other elective coursework related to sustainability.

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements: All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
• Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.
• Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
• Applicants are required to submit:
  • Graduate admission application and application fee
  • Official transcripts
  • Proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Attend Online

ASU Online offers this program in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year.

Application Deadlines

• Fall:
  • Session A/C: In Person, Rolling
  • Session A/C: Online, Rolling
• Spring:
  • Session A/C: In Person, Rolling
  • Session A/C: Online, Rolling

Global Opportunities

Study abroad is encouraged for graduate students. Nearly all of the College of Global Futures faculty-directed programs offer graduate credit.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this program can pair the certificate with a range of graduate degrees to enhance their expertise and career prospects related to sustainability. Career examples include:

• Chief sustainability officer
• Civil engineer
• Economist
• Energy engineer
• Environmental economist
• Environmental restoration planner
• Industrial ecologist
• Project coordinator
• Sustainability specialist
• Urban planner
• Water resource specialist

Program Details

The graduate certificate in sustainability is designed to be taken independently or as a supplement to another graduate degree program. If done independently, a graduate certificate does not meet the requirements for a student visa. Courses introduce students to the foundations of sustainability through a disciplinary overview and problem-solving methodology. With electives, students can explore specific areas that are of greatest interest to them. Students in the online graduate certificate program can take courses from the Master of Sustainability Leadership degree. Classes in that program focus on leadership, communication, sustainability strategy, and enterprise sustainability.