Sustainability Advanced Certificate

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One of the fundamental societal issues of the 21st century is understanding the environment, how human interactions affect it, and how those interactions can be modulated to generate sustainable outcomes. Fundamental environmental and sustainability issues include: the ecological and evolutionary processes that control populations, species and communities; anthropogenic effects on the physical, chemical and biotic environments; and the cultural values and societal actions necessary to foster sustainable interactions with the natural world. Addressing these issues requires a transdisciplinary approach that spans the natural and social sciences. This advanced certificate will offer students a basic understanding of sustainability, including the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of the field.

Required Core (6 credits)

SSN 501SEM - Fundamentals of Sustainability Credits: 3
SSN 601TUT - Sustainability Professional Skills Capstone Credits: 3

Elective Courses (9 credits)

Environmental/Ecology Elective

Select 1 from:

ARC 541LEC - Introduction to Environmental Systems Credits: 3
ARC 573LEC - Environmental Systems 2 Credits: 3
ARC 575LEC - Environmental Systems 3 Credits: 3
ARC 566LEC - Urban Design: Case Studies Credits: 3
or
URP 566LEC - Urban Design: Built Environment Case Studies Credits: 3
BIO 507LEC - Advanced Ecology Credits: 3
CE 512LEC - Special Topics Credits: 3
CE 512 Course title: Petroleum Engineering (when offered)
CIE 563LEC - Air Pollution Credits: 3
CIE 569LEC - Brownfield Restoration Credits: 3
EVS 509LEC - Advanced Ecology Credits: 3
EVS 511LEC - Marine Ecology Credits: 3
or
BIO 511LEC - Marine Ecology Credits: 3
GEO 515LEC - Conservation Biogeography Credits: 3
GEO 545SEM - Restoration Ecology Credits: 3
GEO 547LEC - Adv Earth Systems Science Credits: 3
GEO 548LEC - Stream Restoration Credits: 3
GEO 549LEC - Fluvial Geomorphology Credits: 3
GEO 570LEC - Integr Environment Mgmt Credits: 3
GLY 514LLB - Hydrogeology Credits: 3
GLY 528LEC - Geologic Hazards & Risk Credits: 3
IE 521LEC - Sustainable Manufacturing Credits: 3
MAE 500LEC - Special Topics Credits: 1 - 6
MAE 500 Course title: Renewable Energy (when offered)
URP 573SEM - Environmental Land Use and Physical Planning Credits: 3
URP 578SEM - Environmental Planning Methods for Sustainability Credits: 3

Social/Cultural/Human Elective

Select 1 from:

APY 619SEM - Political Ecology: Nature, Capital and Climate Change Credits: 3
CIE 500LEC - Special Topics Credits: 3
CIE 500 Course Title: Ethical Perspectives on Engineering Sustainability (when offered)
EEH 521LEC - Global Health Credits: 3
EEH 550LEC - Environmental Health Credits: 3
EVS 517LEC - Sustainability and American Culture Credits: 3
PSC 666SEM - Environmental Politics Credits: 3
SOC 546SEM - Environmental Sociology Credits: 3
URP 604SEM - Food Systems Planning Credits: 3
URP 605SEM - Built Environment and Health Credits: 3
URP 568SEM - Environmental Planning and Policy Credits: 3

Economics/Business Elective

Select 1 from:

ARC 545SEM - Technical Methods in Ecological Practices Credits: 3
or
ARC 546SEM - Technical Methods: Ecological Practice II Credits: 3
CIE 500LEC - Special Topics Credits: 3
CIE 500 Course Title: Ethical Perspectives on Engineering Sustainability (when offered and if not used in above core)
ECO 512LEC - Environmental Economics Credits: 3
EVS 543SEM - Business, Sustainability, and Society Credits: 3
MGG 637LEC - Business Mgt Implications for Sustainable Dev Credits: 3
URP 522SEM - Economic Development Planning Credits: 3
URP 538SEM - Economic Concepts and Contexts for Planning Credits: 3
URP 568SEM - Environmental Planning and Policy Credits: 3

Total Credit Hours: 15

3.0 GPA required

Instruction Method

In Person (100 percent of courses offered in person)

Full/Part Time Options

Part Time

Credits Required

15 Hours

Time-To-Degree

Up to 1 Year

Application Fee

$75

Program Contact

Gabrielle Jaquays
834 Clemens Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260
Email: gjaquays@buffalo.edu
Phone: 716-645-3350

SED Statement

This program is officially registered with the New York State Education Department (SED).

Online programs/courses may require students to come to campus on occasion. Time-to-degree and number of credit hours may vary based on full/part time status, degree, track and/or certification option chosen. Time-to-degree is based on calendar year(s). Contact the department for details.