Sustainability

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.

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.

Competitively Priced

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

Fall 2020 Through Summer 2021

  • $559 for one course
  • $1,008 for two courses taken in the same academic semester
  • $1,457 for three courses taken in the same academic semester

Fall 2020 through Summer 2021

  • $771 for one course
  • $1,432 for two courses taken in the same academic semester
  • $2,093 for three courses taken in the same academic semester

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 the 5-week course schedule.

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 Schedule  View Course Catalog

Sustainability Focus Areas

  • SUST 510 Atmosphere (1 credit)
  • SUST 511 Ecological Systems (1 credit)
  • SUST 512 Soil Resources (1 credit)
  • SUST 513 Material Resources and Waste (1 credit)
  • SUST 514 Water Resources (1 credit)
  • SUST 515 Food Systems (1 credit)
  • SUST 516 Energy Resources (1 credit)
  • SUST 519 Environmental Law (1 credit)
  • SUST 520 Environmental Ethics (1 credit)
  • SUST 521 Human Health and Well Being (1 credit)
  • SUST 523 Population (1 credit)
  • SUST 524 Social/Environmental Justice (1 credit)
  • SUST 528 Waste/Human Health (1 credit)
  • SUST 529 Business Ethics/Environment (1 credit)
  • SUST 530 Analytics for Business (1 credit)
  • SUST 531 Modeling for Business (1 credit)
  • SUST 532 Reporting for Business (1 credit)
  • SUST 535 Internal Communications (1 credit)
  • SUST 536 Ecological Economics (1 credit)
  • SUST 537 Media Relations (1 credit)

Program Faculty

Program Advisors

Casey Schultz, Advisor

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

More about Online Learning

How Online Learning Works

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Tuition and Fees

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Funding Your Education

Ready to Apply?

You will first want to check if you meet the admission requirements for the Ball State Graduate School. Then you may apply.

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Want to Learn More?

Do you have questions about this graduate certificate program or online learning? We’re here to help! You can request more information using our online form or reach out directly to our staff.

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