Increasingly, human and ecosystem challenges require sustainable solutions that recognize the interconnection between environmental limits and human values and well-being. The Certificate in Sustainability enhances opportunities for integrative, applied learning in interdisciplinary settings and prepares students to address difficult global sustainability issues. The certificate also works towards the University's goal of incorporating sustainability into formal educational opportunities. Students across campus benefit from an understanding of the framework of sustainability and an opportunity to apply skills and learning to real-world solutions.
The certificate is awarded to students who successfully complete at least 17 hours of course work, including an anchor course (3 credit hours) which provides a foundation in sustainability and challenges students to evaluate their behavior as citizens and consumers and consider interdisciplinary challenges associated with a sustainable future; one course from each of the three spheres of sustainability–ecological, economic, and social (9 credit hours); two semesters of a sustainability seminar (2 credit hours), including presentations from UGA and local sustainability experts; a capstone course/project (3 credit hours) applying knowledge gained through hands-on solutions to sustainability challenges; and a portfolio of written reflections.