The U’s graduate school introduced a new interdisciplinary graduate certificate in sustainability that students of all academic backgrounds can participate in.
Brenda Bowen, professor in geology and geophysics and director of the U’s Global Change and Sustainability Center, was one of the faculty who developed the certificate over the past six years. The interdisciplinary nature of the U’s program sets it apart from other colleges, which are typically confined to one department.
“I hope that this program will be an invitation to all students to engage in contributing to the solutions [for our environment],” Bowen said.
Karren Nichols, administrative officer for the Office of Sustainability, helps with academic advising for the certificate. She said because this semester marks the beginning of the program, they have only had a few students enrolled.
“[Last year] the sustainability program hadn’t expanded a lot past the undergraduate level, so this provides graduates a wonderful opportunity to continue with their education,” she said.
Nichols said this graduate-level program complements the undergraduate programs in sustainability that are already in place. The certificate is open to all students enrolled in a graduate program at the U and for non-degree seeking students pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Bowen said they are also working on making the course more available for non-matriculated graduate students with more evening and online courses.
Nichols said the certificate gives students a competitive edge on the job market.
“This is going to be something that gives a graduate student a step up,” Nichols said. “It’ll be the one thing that puts them above their peers, especially how sustainability is a top priority for job seekers and employers now-a-days.”
According to a 2013 UN Global Compact–Accenture CEO study, which surveys over 1,000 CEOs across the globe, 93 percent of company leaders rated sustainability as important to their future success, and 78 percent saw it as an opportunity for innovation. While the report also shows that many companies don’t prioritize environmentalism, CEOs do perceive that investors will increasingly pressure them to do so.
@Ehmannky