Advanced Certificate in Sustainability

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 sciences, social sciences and the humanities.

This advanced certificate consisting of 15 graduate credit hours will serve as a locus for interactions among a diverse array of students and faculty throughout the university and initiate transdisciplinary scholarly activities. The curriculum consists of five courses: one environmental, one social, and one economic as well as two core courses in fundamentals of sustainability. Completion of this certificate will apply directly to the MS in Social Sciences Interdisciplinary. 

Any student already enrolled in a graduate program at the University at Buffalo may be granted admission to the Advanced Certificate upon completing the online application and have the option of submitting a resume/CV. Students must retain a 3.0 GPA overall to confer the certificate.

• ​Study alongside professors and students from different academic backgrounds;
• Strengthen competencies in the ecological, social and economic dimensions of sustainability as they relate to your own academic specialty;
• Gain broad exposure to integrative systems thinking and practice, and relevant techniques in your chosen field;
• Graduate as a well-rounded candidate for professional opportunities or additional academic study;
• Lead your company, non-profit or governmental organization toward adopting more sustainable practices and affect local-to-global change.