MasterTrack Certificate

A MasterTrack Certificate is an online graduate certificate made up of selected portions of a master’s degree program from the University of Michigan. After successful completion of this program, students get a university-issued certificate, and can earn credits if admitted to the master’s degree program at SEAS under the Sustainability and Development specialization. 

The Sustainability and Development MTC, a globally recognized credential co-branded by the University of Michigan and Coursera,  offers a world-class education from a top-tier university. The MTC program offers learners an excellent introduction to the main theoretical currents in sustainability and development as a field of study with an in-depth understanding of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the methods and skills necessary for designing innovative solutions to sustainability and development problems. However, it does not reach the same depth of study as a full master’s degree program. 

A formal certificate will be issued to learners upon completion of the program. The certificate will be issued as a digital credential signed by the faculty members who teach the courses as well as by university leadership.

No. Completing the Sustainability and Development MTC itself does not guarantee admission to the on-campus programs in any way. A learner must meet all the admissions criteria for those degree programs in order to be admitted. 

The Sustainability and Development MTC is a fee-based certificate program which is facilitated directly with Coursera. For up-to-date fees and payment plans, visit the Coursera website. The fee covers the entire online program and provides access to all the courses. 

Unfortunately, at this time there are no scholarships or financial aid of any type available from U-M to support applicants to this online certificate. However, Coursera provides an installment plan when you enroll.

The full structure of the course is provided in the MTC Coursera page. While we suggest learners proceed in the sequence of the cohort that they are enrolled in, most of the courses in the MTC program may be taken in any order, with the following exception. 

Learners must first take the Beyond Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) course, which will unlock other courses. Additionally, the Capstone Projects course should be completed after all other courses are completed. 

The MTC is currently offered only as a full program. The MTC certificate is issued to learners only after completion of all required courses.  An informal milestone certificate is issued upon completion of each of the courses. 

Yes, outlines of the course topics are provided on the MTC Coursera page. 

All classes are pre-recorded and can be viewed by learners at their convenience. Virtual office hours with teaching assistants are available upon request.

The Sustainability and Development MTC can be completed in approximately four to six months, but learners have two years upon initial enrollment to complete the MTC.

The Sustainability and Development MTC does not have any admissions requirements; however, we recommend that learners have some familiarity in engaging with scholarly texts and critically discussing their implications in written form, with an understanding that the majority of content is presented in English. Although a basic understanding is expected, you will learn strategies for developing these skills throughout the program. An undergraduate degree is not required for enrolling in this program.

Completion of the MTC does not guarantee admission to the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability residential master’s degree program. Information about the admissions requirements for the full degree programs offered by the School for Environment and Sustainability can be found on this webpage.
If you have questions about any part of the application process, please contact our admissions coaches at [email protected].

If you are admitted to the SEAS residential master’s degree program in the Sustainability and Development specialization, you will receive 6 credits to count towards the Core or Elective course requirement if you have completed the MTC. 

The cost of tuition per semester for international and domestic students can be found at the U-M Registrar’s website.

You can register for the next cohort in the Sustainability and Development MTC by visiting this website and clicking “Enroll Now.”

No. Sustainability and Development specialization students can add additional specializations. If SusDev students drop the SusDev specialization, they will lose the 6 transferred credits.

For more information, contact the SEAS MasterTrack Team at [email protected]. 

No. Students who are already enrolled or admitted into the SEAS master’s program cannot begin the MTC program and get course credits.