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Sustainability Certificate

The certificate program provides an interdisciplinary combination of courses in a liberal arts setting that will prepare students for careers in environmental and sustainability education, advocacy, and management. The Brundtland Commission (formerly, the World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987) envisioned the concept: sustainable development is development that “meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The logical components of a sustainable development strategy encompass environmental, economic, social, and political elements. Students attracted to the environmental and sustainability management certificate are expected to work for governments, private businesses, and special interest organizations that seek to sustain and improve both current and future conditions for life on earth. The interdisciplinary certificate program seeks to provide them with skills and perspectives that will serve the development of their own rewarding careers in this field. The strengths of the certificate program are: Offers a holistic interdisciplinary approach; Engages students in relevant civic engagement opportunities in the Southern Indiana - Louisville metropolitan region; Provides an alternative program for students interested in environmental issues but less interested in scientific occupations; Enhances the liberal arts experience with courses in the social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, education and business.

Student Learning Goals

  • Comprehend the three pillars of sustainability: Environmental, Social and Economic.
  • Explain their inter-relationships Environmental, Social and Economic sustainability.
  • Identify sustainability principles within their academic specialty.
  • Be able to begin to analyze local, national and global problems using sustainability principles
  • Be able to begin to apply principles of sustainability to propose solution local, national and global problems.
  • Document how sustainability principles have influenced personal and professional values.

University Residency Requirement

Students must complete 50% of the required credit hours for a certificate in residence at IU Southeast. Some departments may have additional Residency requirements.

Sustainability Residency Requirement

No additional residency requirement for the Sustainability Certificate.

Sustainability Certificate Requirements

All courses listed below require a grade of C or better.

  • Primary Courses - All courses required
  • Secondary Courses - Complete one course from each discipline
    • Environmental Science
    • Social Sustainability
    • Economic Sustainability
  • Specialization Area - Choose one area and complete a minimum of 8 credit hours in that area
    • Environmental Sustainability
    • Social Sustainability
    • Economic Sustainability
    • Internship - A maximum of 2 credits of Internship may be applied toward specialization area
Primary Courses (Complete each of the following)
Dept. Course Number Title Credit Hours Minimum Grade
PHYS-P 120 Energy & Technology 3 C
PHIL-P 237 Environmental Ethics 3 C
SOC-S 309 The Community 3 C
Secondary Courses - Environmental Science (Choose one)
Dept. Course Number Title Credit Hours Minimum Grade
EDUC-Q 450 & 550 Science Technology & Society in a Changing World 3 C
BIOL-L 200 Environmental Biology 3 C
Secondary Courses - Social Sustainability (Choose one)
Dept. Course Number Title Credit Hours Minimum Grade
SOC-S 305 Populations & Human Ecology 3 C
SOC-S 308 Global Society 3 C
Secondary Courses - Economic Sustainability (Choose one)
Dept. Course Number Title Credit Hours Minimum Grade
ECON-E 363 Environmental & Natural Resources 3 C
POLS-Y 376 International Political Economy 3 C
Specialization Area - Environmental Sustainability Courses
Dept. Course Number Title Credit Hours Minimum Grade
BIOL-L 303 Field Biology 3 C
BIOL-L 343 Applied Conservation Biology 5 C
BIOL-L &
BIOL-L
473 &
474
Ecology &
Ecology Lab
3/2 C
BIOL-L 579 Community Ecology 3 C
CHEM-C 303 Environmental Chemistry 3 C
CHEM-C 305 Environmental Chemistry Seminar 1 C
CHEM-C 318 Spectrochemistry & Separations 3 C
CHEM-C 333 Experimental Environmental Chemistry 2 C
GEOG-G 213 Introduction to Economic Geography 3 C
GEOG-G 307 Biogeography 3 C
GEOG-G 315 Environmental Conservation 3 C
GEOG-G 338 Geographic Information Science 3 C
GEOG-G 432 Current Issues in Environmental Conservation 3 C
GEOG-G 438 Advanced Geographic Information Systems 3 C
GEOG-G 439 Seminar in Geographic Information 3 C
GEOL-G 400 Energy: Sources and Needs 3 C
MICR-M 420 Environmental Microbiology 5-6 C
PHYS-P 310 Environmental Physics 3 C
Specialization Area - Social Sustainability Courses
Dept. Course Number Title Credit Hours Minimum Grade
REL-R 371 Religion, Ethics, and the Environment 3 C
POLS-Y 303 Formation of Public Policy 3 C
SOC-S 457 Topics in Psychology: Environmental Psychology & Sustainable Living 3 C
SOC-S 305 Populations & Human Ecology 3 C
SOC-S 308 Global Society 3 C
Specialization Area - Economic Sustainability Courses
Dept. Course Number Title Credit Hours Minimum Grade
ECON-E 363 Environmental & Natural Resources 3 C
POLS-Y 376 International Political Economy 3 C
SOC-S 360 Topics in Social Policy 3 C
SOC-S 419 Social Movements and Collective Action 3 C
SOC-S 403 Industry, Labor, & Community 3 C
Internship
Dept. Course Number Title Credit Hours Minimum Grade
COAS-S 399 Internship 1-2 C

Financial Aid

Students may not receive Financial Aid for the Sustainability Certificate.

Campus Events

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March 29th, 2024

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March 29th, 2024

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March 29th, 2024

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March 30th, 2024

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Indiana University Southeast

4201 Grant Line Rd.
New Albany, IN 47150
(812) 941-2333

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