Sustainability

The sustainability graduate certificate is a 12-credit program combining coursework and applied learning experiences. Students build expertise while gaining hands-on experience in the field.

Program format

• 12-credit certificate
• Designed to stack with any graduate program
• Available as a stand-alone micro-credential after a bachelor’s degree
• Flexible course selection across multiple disciplines

What you’ll study

The sustainability graduate certificate includes one required course, combined with flexible coursework totaling 12 credits you can tailor to your interests and career goals:

• Environmental systems and climate change
• Resource economics and policy
• Renewable energy and infrastructure
• Social and cultural dimensions of sustainability
• Global development and environmental ethics

This structure allows you to diversify your perspective or focus deeply on a specific facet of sustainability.

Curriculum and courses

You’ll complete one required experiential sustainability course, then choose three additional courses from a wide range of disciplines.

That flexibility lets you build depth in areas that matter to you, including:

• Ecological sustainability: climate systems, biodiversity, soil science  
• Economic sustainability: resource economics, energy systems, industrial analysis
• Social sustainability: ethics, history, culture, policy

Explore program courses in the University Catalog

Students pursuing a graduate certificate as a standalone program are not eligible for financial aid. However, students enrolled in a separate U of I graduate degree program may apply their financial aid or graduate funding toward a graduate certificate if they are pursuing both simultaneously.

For more information or to explore funding options, visit Financial Aid or contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid@uidaho.edu or call 208-885-6312.

For questions related to admissions, application materials, transcripts or enrollment steps, contact Graduate Admissions:

Graduate Admissions:
graduateadmissions@uidaho.edu
208-885-4001

Interested in research areas or finding a faculty mentor? Explore faculty expertise, research interests and advising opportunities on the department’s faculty page.

Find sustainability program faculty advisors

Program availability

• Semester intake: Spring, Summer, Fall
  • Not eligible for international applicants who require F-1 status
• Deadlines: General application deadlines
• Start dates:
  • View the academic calendar to see start and end dates

University requirements

• Education level: Bachelor's degree in a similar or related field from an accredited or recognized institution (earned or expected before the start of the graduate program)
  • Transcript Requirements: Bachelor’s degree transcript, along with any graduate-level transcripts, are required. Unofficial transcripts may be used for the initial admission review and admission offer. Official transcripts will be required upon admission.  View more information on the Graduate Admissions page.
• GPA: 3.0 (Applicants with a lower undergraduate GPA who have relevant professional experience in the field, have already earned a graduate degree, or have completed graduate-level credits may still be considered for admission with approval from the academic program.)
• Resume
• Statement of Purpose: A Statement of Purpose may be required for applicants whose undergraduate GPA is below 3.0 or whose undergraduate degree is in a significantly different field from the graduate program to which they are applying
• Valid picture ID (required to verify students’ identity and will be kept confidential)
• English proficiency (for applicants whose education was completed in countries where English is not an official language).  
  • Accepted tests: TOEFL: 4.5, IELTS: 6.5, Duolingo: 115, PTE-A: 58. Learn what qualifies as proof of English proficiency.
• Application fee: $30

Application and admission process

Applications are submitted online and are specific to the program and term selected. Applicants seeking admission to multiple programs must submit a separate application for each program.

Before submitting an application, applicants must provide personal and academic information from all post-secondary institutions attended, and their intended program and start term.

For new international graduate certificate applicants:

• International applicants must meet University of Idaho’s English proficiency language requirement.
• International students may pursue graduate certificate programs either as standalone degrees or as part of a concurrent curriculum with another graduate program. Students enrolled in a certificate program as a standalone option are not eligible for F-1 or J-1 visa status.

For current University of Idaho graduate students:

• Fill out a change of curriculum form to add the certificate to your current course of study.
• Obtain department approval and return the form to the College of Graduate Studies.

For current U of I undergraduate students:

• Must have senior standing and a 3.0 GPA to take graduate-level courses.
• To reserve credits for the graduate transcript, please submit a Credit Reservation Form to the College of Graduate Studies. This form must be signed by your academic advisor.
• After earning a bachelor’s degree, apply as a graduate certificate-seeking student to complete the program.

Visit Graduate Admissions to learn more and start your application.