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Sustainability

For decades, world leaders have defined sustainability as the implementation of policies, processes, and practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Achievement of sustainability requires an understanding of human and environmental systems and the complex interactions between them.

The Certificate in Sustainability provides students with the knowledge and skills they will need in order to contribute to sustainable systems and their interactions, especially those related to energy, society, culture, economics, the built environment, health, and public policy. The program helps students become effective leaders and agents of change for sustainability in a wide range of vocations, such as academic researcher, teacher, corporate officer, technology specialist, farmer, grassroots advocate, or government official.

The Certificate in Sustainability is offered by University College.

Undergraduate Program

• Certificate in Sustainability

Certificate

The Certificate in Sustainability requires 24 s.h. of credit. The certificate program is open to current University of Iowa undergraduate students and to all individual who hold a bachelor's degree and are not enrolled in a graduate or professional degree program. Students must maintain a g.pa. of at least 2.00 in work for the certificate. Completion of the certificate is noted on the student's transcript.

Individuals must declare their intent to earn the certificate; see the Certificate in Sustainability web site for details.

Sustainability embraces many disciplines, methodologies, and institutional practices. Certificate students must have knowledge of the multidisciplinary breadth of the field, which is represented by the program's four areas of breadth electives: changing environments and human health; energy, climate, and built environments; ethics, economics, and public policy; and the power of culture and society. They also must have experience with analyzing real-life problems in and outside of the classroom and with working collaboratively to solve such problems. 

Work for the certificate includes three introductory course courses; four breadth electives—one from each of the program's four elective areas; and one project course. Students may be able to count some certificate courses toward requirements for their majors or minors. They may count a maximum of three courses in a single department or program toward the certificate. A maximum of 6 s.h. of approved transfer credit may be counted toward the certificate. Certificate courses may not be taken pass/nonpass. A single course may be used to satisfy only one certificate requirement.

The Certificate in Sustainability requires the following course work.

Introductory Core

Students complete the following three introductory core courses.

Breadth Electives

Students complete at least 3 s.h. in each of the following four breadth areas, choosing from the courses in each list below.

Changing Environments and Human Health

Energy, Climate, and Built Environments

Ethics, Economics, and Public Policy

Power of Culture and Society

Project Courses

Students complete 3 s.h. from these.