Program overview
The Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Development (GCSD) is a fully-online post- baccalaureate program designed to enable professionals and students from around the globe to identify, explore and formulate best practices in Sustainable Development. The practice-oriented certificate provides a multi-disciplinary method for students to become scholar practitioners and to understand sustainable development practices, processes, methods and measurements.
Students will complete a core course in Sustainable Development and a capstone Leadership course. Electives include courses on Carbon, Energy, Renewable Energy, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental Law, and the Environmental Consequences of Globalization.
The certificate is designed to meet the needs of professionals who are already working in industry and those who plan to transition to clean energy careers, as well as entrepreneurs. It also enables students to transition into a higher-level graduate degree in related topics. MBA students in the UMass Dartmouth Charlton College of Business may choose to elect Sustainable Development as their program of study, earning both an MBA with a concentration in Sustainable Development and the Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Development concurrently.
Faculty and principal area of expertise
- D. Steven White, DBA Cleveland State University - Director Sustainability Studies, Social Media and Marketing
- Anne Stephenson, PhD University of Chicago - Carbon Management
- Garry Clayton, DPhil University of Waikato - Sustainable Development Theory and Practice, Leadership
- Adam Sulkowski, MBA, JD Boston College - Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Law
- Chad McGuire, JD, LLM University of San Diego - Environmental Policy
- Tom Flanagan, PhD Wesleyan University - Biology
- David Wilson, MS Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Energy Management and Renewables
- Kaisa Holloway Cripps, MBA University of Massachusetts Dartmouth - Sustainable Development Theory and Practice
Degree and Certificate Options
Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Development (Spring 2011)
Application Requirements
Earned Baccalaureate Degree
All applicants to the Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Development (GCSD) must have an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited 4-year college or university in the United States or comparable non-U.S. degree/diploma from a recognized foreign institution of higher education at the time of matriculation. A copy of official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, undergraduate and graduate, must be submitted as part of the application process. Applicants may hold a degree in any field.
Graduate School Application for US Citizens/International Applicants
All applicants to the GCSD must complete and submit UMass Dartmouth’s Graduate School Application and fee online.
Statement of Purpose (Essay)
The GCSD at UMass Dartmouth requires an essay of 400-500 words explaining the applicant’s interest in the program and purpose for applying to the program. The essay should include the applicant’s previous sustainable development experience in theory and practice.
Current resume or curriculum vitae
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth does not require a TOEFL from U.S. citizens or citizens of countries where English is the official language. Applicants whose native language in not English must demonstrate that they are proficient in English. English proficiency can be demonstrated by taking the TOEFL. TOEFL scores are valid for five years from the date of anticipated matriculation in the GCSD. A minimum TOEFL score of 213 is required on the computer-based test, and a minimum score of 550 is required for the paper version of the test.
Graduation Requirements
12 credits (4 courses) - see course descriptions
Required:
- Sustainable Development Theory and Practice
- Strategic Sustainability Leadership
Electives (2):
- Carbon Management
- Energy Management
- Renewables
- Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Law
- Environmental Law
- Environmental Consequences of Globalization
- Internship
Program Highlights
The Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Development is one of the few programs worldwide offering professional credentials at the graduate level in sustainability and sustainable development.
The University of Massachusetts is one of the top universities in the world according to the Times of London, and our faculty comprise top researchers in the field of sustainability as well as Fulbright Scholars.
UMass Dartmouth has a nationally-recognized sustainability office and is the first university in the world to post an A-Level Sustainability Report utilizing the international GRI G3 standard framework.
Students in the program will learn both theoretical and practical applications of Sustainable Development and be prepared for Sustainability Auditing, Carbon Management and Energy Management.
The GCSD is multi-disciplinary, preparing professionals and students from a variety of disciplines, including private business, public organizations, municipalities, government service, community development, policy, engineering and education. Students may also use the program within the scope of the Charlton College of Business MBA program.
Faculty Highlights
D. Steven White
D. Steven White, DBA, has a wide array of research interests, including green business, social media marketing, mobile marketing, international marketing, services marketing, global and social entrepreneurship, international business, global e-commerce, open source applications in global business and international business education. He is an active blogger and business consultant specializing in social media marketing, inbound marketing, integrated marketing communications, search engine marketing, marketing research, sustainability and strategic marketing.
Anne Stephenson
Anne Stephenson, Ph.D., is a LEED AP, BPI Building Analyst, and HERS Rater. She was trained as an architectural historian at the University of Chicago and worked as a green building consultant before joining Clean Air-Cool Planet as a Campus Outreach and Climate Fellows Coordinator working with colleges and universities to measure and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by supporting the use of on-site reduction measures and clean energy installations as research and learning opportunities for students and faculty. Anne is particularly interested in the energy management issues unique to older and historic buildings. In addition to teacing at UMass Dartmouth she is the co-facilitator of the South Berwick (Maine) Sustainability Committee and the Vice-Chair of the South Berwick Democratic Committee. In her spare time she enjoys knitting and surfing.
Student Acheivements
Sustainability Studies undergraduate students have gone on to work in sustainability-related occupations including Solar Firm marketing, Bio Diesel firms, CSR Social Media and more.
Contact information
Graduate Program in Sustainable Development
Sustainability Studies
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
285 Old Westport Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747
http://www.umassd.edu/sustainability/sustainabilitystudies/
susinquiry@umassd.edu
Please forward all credentials to:
Office of Graduate Studies & Admissions
UMass Dartmouth
285 Old Westport Road
North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300
Questions?
graduate@umassd.edu
508.999.8604 voice
508.999.8183 fax
umassd.edu/graduate
