Environmental education focuses on the exploration of environmental issues, problem solving, critical thinking, and taking action to improve the environment. Furthermore, education for sustainability is a transformative process that prepares individuals to lead an informed citizenry whereby responsible individual and collaborative actions result in an ecologically sound, economically prosperous, and equitable society for present and future generations. This certificate program combines salient features of each of these approaches to investigate interdisciplinary content and relationships that promote sustainable communities.
The rationale for this certificate, which is appropriate for students interested in both formal and non-formal education, is grounded in a UC core principle - educating students in ways that transform their lives so they are poised for "ongoing discovery and full engagement as they shape an evolving world." More specifically, the responsibility for making progress toward an ecologically sustainable future lies in the hands of today's students. As a forward thinking institution of higher education, UC offers this certificate to interested students so they can cultivate environmentally and civically responsible orientations. The certificate coursework will educate our students about environmental literacy and ecological sustainability, essential for 21st century global citizenship. It will foster critical and creative thinking skills within an eco-pedagogy that promotes learning and stimulates individual and collective action towards enhancing the human–earth relationship.