Sustainability Certificate Student Resource Guide

What is the purpose of the Certificate?

The interdisciplinary Certificate in Sustainability is a competency-based educational program that links knowledge, skills, values, aptitudes, and attitudes necessary to address complex sustainability problems. Through courses, seminars, capstones and portfolios, Certificate students develop key competencies necessary for innovating sustainable solutions in a wide range of disciplines. The ultimate goal is to supplement your primary degree with a sustainability framework and provide you with tools to develop creative solutions to complex local and global challenges.

What are the key competencies of the Certificate?

The Sustainability Certificate emphasizes  seven key competencies  (Integrated Problem Solving; Systems Thinking; Anticipatory; Normative; Strategic; Collaboration; Interpersonal; Intrapersonal) to link knowledge, skills, values, aptitudes, and attitudes necessary to address complex sustainability challenges in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

What are the academic requirements of the Certificate?

The Certificate requires 17 Credit Hours. The  requirements  consist of an Anchor course in Sustainability (3 credits), one course from each of three “spheres” Ecological, Economic, Social (3 credits each), two semesters of the Sustainability Seminar (total of 2 credits), a Sustainability  Capstone  course (3 credits), and a  Portfolio . All these are explained below.

An ideal pathway starts with the Anchor Course and your first Sustainability Seminar, continues through the Sphere courses and your second Sustainability Seminar, and finishes with the Sustainability Capstone. Anchor Course:

These courses provide a foundation in sustainability, including its history, components, and application. Courses which qualify as anchor courses for this certificate explore the social, environmental, and economic dimensions of sustainability challenges from an interdisciplinary perspective. There are a minimal number of courses from different departments from which students can choose that may serve as anchor courses.

Coursework from three spheres:

• Ecological Sustainability: Courses in the ecological sustainability sphere will build upon a baseline understanding of ecology and address issues concerning ecosystem services, system limits, and climate change.
• Economic Sustainability: Courses in this sphere will build upon a baseline understanding of economics and address the bottom-line, as well as decision-making principles, business practices, and equity principles that ensure all people can thrive now and in the future.
• Social Sustainability: Courses in the social sustainability sphere will build upon a basic understanding of social science and/or the humanities and will address the social aspects of sustainability, including issues of diversity, social justice, policy and law, communication, the built environment, behavior change, and community.

Note about spheres: We require that at least one of the spheres come from courses outside your major and highly recommended that two of the three spheres come from courses outside of your major to develop the broadest perspective on sustainability. As always, make sure to check prerequisite requirements!

Sustainability Seminar:

The sustainability seminar (SUST 4200/6200) introduces students to the many ways UGA faculty and businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies in the community are implementing sustainability. The Sustainability Competencies are introduced and reinforced through collaborative activities, providing students with hands-on tools to innovate solutions. Students take SUST 4200 or 6200 twice, and it is recommended that one of these seminars be in the fall and the other in the spring. Undergraduates sign up for SUST 4200 both semesters. Graduate students sign up for SUST 6200 both semesters. (Undergraduates should not sign up for SUST 6200 without permission from the SC Director).

Sustainability Capstone:

The Sustainability Capstone course (SUST 4500/6500) provides students with an opportunity to apply what they have learned to hands-on sustainability challenges. Students work in interdisciplinary teams on problems identified by partners on campus and in Georgia communities to offer creative, sustainable solutions. The  Capstone  tab provides more details.

Portfolio:

A collection of documents presented at the completion of the certificate that ties together the courses, seminar, and capstone project completed by the student. This portfolio will provide students with an opportunity to reflect on the integration of disciplines, systems thinking, analysis of complex problems, and their ongoing commitment to sustainability. The  Portfolio  tab provides more details.

How do I... Apply? Undergrads: 1. Visit our program website at  https://sustain.uga.edu  and select "Apply Today" 2. Add the Sustainability Certificate to your program in Athena Grads: 1. Visit our program website at  https://sustain.uga.edu  and select "Apply Today" 2. Our office staff will contact the Registrar's Office to request the Certificate be added We will reach out to you by email to notify you once you are accepted. Begin? Upon admittance into the certificate program, you are required to complete the  Sustainability Certificate Pre Survey Assessment.  You will receive this link in the email officially welcoming you into the certificate program.

The purpose of this survey is to measure your baseline sustainability attitudes and knowledge. These assessments are for internal use only (primarily to measure the effectiveness of the program), and responses will not have bearing on your approval to receive the certificate.

Track and update my progress with course requirements? Visit the program website at  https://sustain.uga.edu  and select "Update Checklist"

Request a course substitution? Visit the  program website  and select "Apply for a Substitution" A written rationale for the substitution should be included in the Checklist under Substitution. The director, in consultation with the Advisory Board, will review the petition and let the student know the results.  A syllabus for the course substitution request may be required.

Receive guidance?

Orientation: There will be an information session for new and continuing students in the program early each semester.

Peer Mentoring:  Sustainability Certificate Ambassadors  serve as peer mentors for the program. You can reach out to them at any point to ask questions about the program, courses, or ways to get involved.

Advising: The Certificate Director and Graduate Assistant are available to meet with students after an application has been approved to plan a program of study and then periodically after as needed. Send an email to scdirector@uga.edu to set up a meeting.

Graduate with the certificate?

1. Ensure checklist is completed in program website
2. Publish portfolio and provide a link in your program website profile
3. Apply to graduate in Athena. This will be done the semester you graduate.
4. Complete the  Post Survey Assessment . This link will be emailed to you near your graduation date. We use these survey data in combination with the Pre Survey Assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of the certificate program. Your responses bear no impact on your approval to receive the certificate.

Capstone Overview: Capstone projects provide an opportunity for students to apply classroom learning to hands-on sustainability challenges working with an organization, agency, business, or nonprofit on campus or in the community. 

Capstone projects can occur during fall or spring semester and may extend over more than one semester. You do not need to wait until your last semester at UGA to complete your capstone, but you do need to have taken at least one seminar and at least three of your sphere or anchor classes. Capstones are typically team projects (2-5 students on average). Undergraduate students must register for SUST 4500 Sustainability Capstone. Graduate students can take SUST 6500 or complete an alternate capstone after consulting with the program director. Capstone Process: The semester before the capstone class, the program director meets with potential business, non profit, or agency partners to discuss their needs and identify sustainability projects that support their work. The projects are compiled into a capstone project ranking survey that is sent out to enrolled students prior to the start of the semester when the capstone will be completed. Teams are formed and set before the start of classes.

Students who are interested in developing their own project must meet with the Program Director at least 2 months before the start of the capstone semester. A project partner must be identified, and a project developed that meets this partner's needs. This project is then added to the ranking survey so that a collaborative team is formed before the start of the semester. It is highly recommended that all students attend the Capstone Workshop the semester prior to their capstone semester. The workshop will be the starting point for understanding the structure, process, and expectations of the capstone. Capstone Registration:

Students must register for a minimum of 3 credit hours for their capstone course (SUST 4500) prior to drop/add deadline

Reflect on Capstone Learning:

At the end of the capstone, students will be expected to develop a reflection (essay or video essay) on their project to be included in their certificate portfolio. The reflection should communicate how the capstone experience influenced their sustainability learning and their ability to approach sustainability challenges. Ideally it will also reference application of the Sustainability Certificate Competencies.

Written reflections should be 3-5 pages in length. See the  Portfolio  tab for more details.

Present Capstone Work

Prior to graduation, the student must deliver a presentation about their capstone experience. Typically, this occurs at the Capstone Final Presentation event. Alternatives, particularly for graduate students, include the Semester in Review or the Sustainability Seminar course. Students must indicate their presentation venue in their certificate checklist on the Certificate website.

List of Previous Capstone Projects:

Your portfolio will be written towards the end of the program during the capstone project.

You will reflect on your sustainability certificate education and how that has led you to your current knowledge and career goals.

Portfolios are developed on a publicly viewable Google Site. These websites are a creative way to showcase your sustainability certificate learning and work to potential employers.

We highly recommend you save your syllabi from each of your Sustainability Certificate Courses and take some notes at the end on key learning and take aways. In addition, please save a key artifact or example of your work from each class.

Your portfolio can include additional information from any other courses, internships, experiential learning, and extracurricular activities.

Your portfolio will include the following:

• a brief academic biography
• an introductory reflective essay that serves as the central document for synthesizing your sustainability education. This is typically written last.
• a reflection on your learning in your certificate coursework with a particular emphasis on integrating the various aspects of sustainability you have studied & the application of the Sustainability Certificate Competencies.
• a reflection on your sustainability learning in your capstone project, particularly how your project involves all of the spheres of sustainability and application of the sustainability competencies.
• representative artifacts (papers, projects, etc.) of the work you did in the anchor course, the three spheres of sustainability, and your capstone.
• Any of your reflections may also be presented in multi-media (photo, video, ppt, etc.).

The Portfolio is due on the last day of the semester.

List of past Portfolios:

The flexibility of the Certificate allows each student to customize their curriculum to match their interests and career goals.

 Click here  for a full list of approved courses.

Below are some examples of different conceptual specializations with approved classes across the three spheres.

Climate Change (Undergraduate)

• ECOL 2100: Global Climate Change: Past, Present, and Future [Ecological Sphere]
• ENVE 4540: Economics of Energy and Sustainable Development [Economic Sphere]
• GEOG 4160/6160: Applied Climatology in the Urban Environment [Social Sphere]

Climate Change (Graduate)

• MARS 8050: Climate, Oceans, and the Marine Biosphere [Ecological Sphere]
• MIST 4550/6550: Energy Informatics [Economic Sphere]
• PADP 7200: Climate and Environmental Policy [Social Sphere]

Environmental Justice (Undergraduate)

• EHSC 4610: Water Pollution and Human Health [Ecological Sphere]
• FANR(ANTH)(ECOL)(GEOG)(INTL) 4271/6271: People, Planet, and Profit [Economic Sphere]
• WMST 4170/6170: Environment, Gender, Race, and Class [Social Sphere]

Environmental Justice (Graduate)

• HORT 4030/6030: Sustainable Community Food Production [Ecological Sphere]
• FANR(ANTH)(ECOL)(GEOG)(INTL) 4271/6271: People, Planet, and Profit [Economic Sphere]
• SOWK 7110E: Environmental Justice [Social Sphere]

Green Design (Undergraduate/Graduate)

• Ecological Sphere
  • EDES 4650/6650: City Planning
  • LAND 1500: Design and the Environment
  • LAND 4730/6730: Issues and Practices in Sustainable Design

• Economic Sphere
  • DMAN 3200: Disaster Policy (prereqs can be waived)
  • ANTH 3150: Water Worlds (no prereqs)
  • MIST 4550/6550: Energy Informatics

• Social Sphere
  • INTL 4610: Environmental Politics
  • FHCE 3300: Housing in Contemporary Society
  • LAND 4095: Sustainability in Design

Food Systems (Undergraduate/Graduate)

• HORT 4030/6030: Sustainable Community Food Production [Ecological Sphere]
• AAEC 4730: The World Food Economy [Economic Sphere]
• CRSS 4020/6020: Social Sustainability in Agricultural and Food Systems [Social Sphere]

Additional examples of pathways can be found  here 

If you start in your first year:

If you start in your second year:

If you start in your third year:

If you start in your fourth year:

Sustainability Certificate Ambassadors engage faculty, students and alumni, build community within the program, mentor other students, lead events and activities, and promote personal and professional opportunities.

Fall 2024 Ambassadors:

Feel free to reach out to any ambassador using their email address below: Sarah Adams - sarah.adams1@uga.edu

Susanna Berg - susanna.berg@uga.edu

Courtney Combs - courtney.combs@uga.edu

Jordan Cutts - sarah.cutts@uga.edu

Matthew Davidorf - matthew.davidorf@uga.edu

Isabel Finnerty - isabel.finnerty@uga.edu

Melanie Frick - melanie.frick@uga.edu

Emmeline McCumiskey - emmeline.mccumiskey@uga.edu

Sam Olvey - samantha.olvey@uga.edu

Jordan Smith - jordan.smith1@uga.edu

 Sustainability Certificate Official Website 

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If you would like to learn more, please send an email to scdirector@uga.edu