Sustainability

With climate, food, water, and energy crises on the rise, there is a strong need for individuals and organizations to design and implement effective and sustainable management solutions. At SEAS, sustainability is considered across all scales and sectors, including human behavior as it relates to conservation efforts, environmental education, access to information and critical resources for sustainable management, and state and federal policies that enable or constrain sustainability. If you find the emerging global green economy intriguing and seek a position in the private for-profit, public, or non-profit sectors, this program may be a good fit.

The Sustainability Certificate program consists of 12 credit hours and is offered in person only. Please be aware that while all SEAS graduate certificate programs can be pursued by current University of Michigan graduate students in conjunction with a degree-seeking program, the Sustainability Graduate Certificate program is a free-standing certificate open to anyone who has earned at least a bachelor degree within the previous five years.

The Sustainability Graduate Certificate is designed to accommodate the diverse skillsets and disciplinary backgrounds of potential applicants, yet provide sufficient structure to deliver a cohesive learning experience. 

The certificate requires completion of: 

• 6 credits of coursework in fundamental knowledge 
• 6 credits of coursework in skillset development 
• 3 credits equivalent experiential learning capstone experience. 

Below is a detailed list of pre-approved courses categorized as either Sustainability Knowledge Fundamentals or Skillset Development, along with information on the Capstone Experience.

Graduate Certificate Program in Sustainability Coursework

If you have questions about the Sustainability Graduate Certificate Program, including application and completion requirements, please email :

• Student Services: [email protected] 
• Program Director, Dr. Jennifer Blesh: [email protected]

The Sustainability Graduate Certificate is also available to prospective students who have successfully completed a bachelor's program and are currently not enrolled in any graduate program at the University of Michigan.