Graduate Certificate in Sustainability

Designed for Working Professionals

Build your credentials as a visionary and innovative leader in sustainability efforts. Whether you're advancing your current career or starting a new one, the graduate certificate in sustainability is designed to prepare you to guide businesses, organizations, and communities in anticipating, implementing, and celebrating the achievement of social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Because each course is just one credit and only five weeks long, you can easily balance your studies alongside your career.

Using knowledge and skills gained in critical thinking, ethics, data analysis, modeling practices, and more, graduates completing the certificate will be able to confidently develop, implement, and evaluate sustainability initiatives.

ISSP Education Partnership

As an International Society of Sustainability (ISSP) Education Partner, Ball State students earning their sustainability graduate certificate will automatically become an ISSP member for the duration of their enrollment in Ball State’s sustainability certificate program.

Student ISSP members will have access to an exclusive social network of sustainability professionals, invitations to local events and webinars, and a connection to various professional resources, including job postings. You’ll also be able to register for the Sustainability Excellence Associate (SEA) credentialing exam at a discounted price.

Competitively Priced

Check with your employer. Workplace tuition assistance is a common benefit.

Fall 2023 through Summer 2024

Indiana Residents

• $576 for one course
• $1,052 for two courses taken in the same academic semester
• $1,528 for three courses taken in the same academic semester

Out-of-State Residents

• $801 for one course
• $1,502 for two courses taken in the same academic semester
• $2,203 for three courses taken in the same academic semester

Costs are estimated to help you plan. Your final bill may be different. A few of our programs also have additional course or program fees, and this estimate does not include textbook or other course material charges. The Ball State University Board of Trustees reserves the right to change tuition, fees, and other charges for any semester or term.

Sample our 5-Week Courses

Each course is 1 credit, taught over a 5-week period. Even if the timing for pursuit of a full graduate certificate may not be right just yet, you can sample courses of interest to help you build skills in specific areas for your professional development goals.

View Course Schedule

Sustainability Focus Areas

Environmental Focus

You’ll choose two or more courses with an environmental sustainability focus like, Ecological Systems, Energy Resources, and Soil Resources. Visit the full list of environmental sustainability courses for more information.

Social Focus

You’ll choose two or more courses with a social sustainability focus like, Business Ethics/Environment, Human Health and Well Being, and Social/Environmental Justice. Visit the full list of social sustainability courses for more information.

Economic Focus

You’ll choose two or more courses with an economic sustainability focus like, Ecological Economics, Media Relations, and Reporting for Business. Visit the full list of environmental sustainability courses for more information.

Course Requirements

The 12-credit graduate certificate in sustainability program provides specialized training in the areas of environmental, social, and economic sustainability. You will choose a minimum of two courses from each focus area.

View Course Catalog

Program Faculty

Ball State Online faculty are experts in their subject matter. Not only have they dedicated their academic careers to the sustainability field, but they also have been a part of conservation and sustainability efforts on a personal level for years.

Meet Our Faculty

Program Advisors

Becky Druetzler, Advisor

Robert Koester, Director
Academy for Sustainability and Center for Energy Research/Education/Service
Professor of Architecture

More about Online Learning

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