The following courses are required:

• ECON 6641: Advanced Foundations of Sustainability
• ECON 6642: Global Eco- and Social-preneurship and Innovation
• ECON 6643: Advanced Ethical Problems in a Global Environment

Select one from the following:

• ECON 5440: Advanced Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
• ECON 5532/MIN ENG 5532: Advanced Mining Economics
• ECON 5540: Advanced Energy Economics
• ECON 5644: Creativity, Innovation and Sustainability
• ENG MGT 5320: Project Management
• ENG MGT 5513: Energy and Sustainability Management Engineering
• MIN ENG 5742: Advanced Environmental Aspects of Mining
• MIN ENG 6735: Sustainability in Mining

*Curriculum is subject to change. Other courses approved by the director and department chair may be substituted for any of the above listed courses on a case-by-case basis.

Successful completion with a B or better in all 4 courses is required for the certificate. These courses may be completed in one semester or over a number of semesters to accommodate your schedule.

Please check the semester wise Schedule of Classes for a current listing of the courses available for distance students.

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ECON 6641: Advanced Foundations of Sustainability
This interdisciplinary course is designed as an introduction to sustainability in commerce. It examines environmental, social and economic issues in an organized context. Principles, processes and practices in sustainability will be explored. Project or written case study required. 

ECON 6642: Global Eco- and Social-preneurship and Innovation
This interdisciplinary course applies an entrepreneurial mindset to the environmental and social opportunities and challenges facing the global community. Topics are examined from multiple perspectives; nonprofit, hybrid, and for-profit organizations. Written case studies required. Research projects required. Prerequisites: Econ 6641. 

ECON 6643: Advanced Ethical Problems in a Global Environment
Focuses on the international dimension of ethics including corporate responsibility from economic, social and environmental perspectives. It addresses the ethical challenges of decision-making stakeholder engagement, and governance at micro-(personal), and meso-(org.) and macro-(systems) levels. Case studies are included as part of the course. 

ECON 5440: Advanced Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
Optimum use of replenishable and non-replenishable resources, public goods and common resources, externalities, private vs. public costs, and quality of the environment; emphasis on public policy related to environmental and natural resource economics. This course is an advanced version of Econ 4440, and will include additional research and project assignments. Credit cannot be obtained for both Econ 4440 and Econ 5440. Prerequisite: Econ 2100.

ECON 5532/MIN ENG 5532: Advanced Mining Economics
Mining industry & national economics. Social & economics significance of mined commodities. Marketing of mined commodities. Innovation approaches to mine financing, project loans, and leasing. Mining feasibility studies, government influence & policy, mining industry foreign investment, investment strategies, mining taxation, cost predictions. Case Studies.

ECON 5540: Advanced Energy Economics
Market structures. World resource development. Supply and demand analysis on energy production and consumption within domestic and global settings. This course is an advanced version of Econ 4540, and will include additional research and project assignments. Credit cannot be obtained for both Econ 4540 and Econ 5540. Prerequisite: Econ 2100.

ECON 5644: Creativity, Innovation and Sustainability
This interdisciplinary course examines the use of innovation as a competitive technological strategy with a sustainability perspective. It explores ways in which individuals, groups, and organizations can become more creative and how leadership and a culture of change can be implemented.

ENG MGT 5320: Project Management
Organization structure and staffing; motivation, authority and influence; conflict management; project planning; network systems; pricing, estimating, and cost control; proposal preparation; project information systems; international project management. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing.

ENG MGT 5513: Energy and Sustainability Management Engineering
This course explores strategic processes and partnership required for the management of sustainable energy infrastructures and innovation in energy systems. Topics relate to renewable energy, energy efficiencies, energy conversion, energy technology, and economic efficiency of energy sources. Prerequisite: Senior or Graduate Standing.

MIN ENG 5742: Advanced Environmental Aspects of Mining
Applied and fundamental research issues pertaining to: permitting -- the legal environment of reclamation and environmental impact assessment; post-mining land-use selection and mine planning for optimum reclamation of all mines: metal, nonmetal, and coal; unit operations of reclamation: drainage, backfill, soil replacement, revegetation, maintenance, etc. Course project. Prerequisites: Min Eng 5932 and 5933 or instructor consent. 

MIN ENG 6735: Sustainability in Mining
Sustainability defined: social, economic and environmental impacts. Mining as sustainable development interventions. Mine planning for sustainability, sustainability assessment and reporting, sustainable mine closure and post-mining land use. Case studies. Prerequisite: Min Eng 4742.

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Admission to a graduate certificate program requires proof of completion of an undergraduate  degree. Students may apply for the Management of Sustainable Graduate Certificate by completing a Graduate Application for Admission and indicating the Sustainable Business Graduate Certificate option. The certificate application must be completed within the first two weeks of the student’s first course in the sequence. Successful completion with a B or better in all four courses is required for the certificate. These courses may be completed in one semester or over a number of semesters to accommodate the student’s schedule. The GMAT is not required for the Sustainable Business Graduate Certificate. Students considering graduate studies beyond this certificate program are encouraged to contact the Graduate Studies Office regarding these requirements.

Click here for more information on admissions.

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Gainful Employment Program Disclosure‌

Effective July 1, 2011, the Department of Education requires that all certificate programs must disclose particular Gainful Employment information to current and prospective students. The information that is provided in the disclosure includes the estimated cost of the certificate program as well as on-time graduation and job placement rates for this particular certificate program. The disclosure information is based on data from the 2014-15 school year (defined as the period between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2015)

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Graduate certificates were designed as a gateway to a master’s degree. If a student earns a B or better in each certificate course they may continue for the graduate degree (in the corresponding department), without needing to submit GRE/GMAT scores, or letters of recommendation*. A student does not need to continue on for the graduate degree, however most do. Graduate certificates were designed for working professionals who have real life work experience and may not have time to take the GRE/GMAT. Admission requirements for the graduate certificate program are also more relaxed than the graduate degree. This graduate certificate may act as a gateway to the following master’s programs:

Engineering Management (MS)

(Applicants must indicate which program they wish to use the certificate as a gateway for when initially applying for the certificate).

*Completion of a graduate certificate program does not automatically guarantee admission into a corresponding graduate degree program. To continue in a master’s degree program, you must apply. Click here for details and check with academic department for program specific details and requirements.

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