Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Communities

Certificate Description

Over the last hundred years, policy makers and citizens have become increasingly aware of the fragility of the global environment and of the finitude of natural resources. This awareness has motivated citizens, academics and policy makers to press for changes in social and environmental policies, and created public support for critical reflection. There exists a broad consensus that some kind of sustainable development is necessary and desirable; actors as diverse as regional planners, international development organizations, petrochemical companies, and environmental activists incorporate the concept of sustainability into their research, practices and missions. The certificate in sustainable communities offers students an introduction to the theoretical and methodological tools necessary to critique and conduct research on society/environment interactions.

Participants

While the Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Communities is administered through the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, the program, coursework and philosophy is truly interdisciplinary. Participating departments include Economics, Environmental Studies, International Relations, Parks and Recreational Management, Political Science, Religious Studies, Landscape Architecture, and the Latin American and Caribbean Center.

The objective of the certificate is to prepare students to participate in current environmental debates, whether through scholarship and teaching, non academic professional activities or activism. In particular, the certificate will aid students interested in natural resource management and conservation, regional and urban planning, as well as domestic and international development and policy issues. The certificate will serve students interested in pursuing careers in local, national and international government and non-governmental organizations, as well as academic careers.

Requirements

Following are the requirements for the Sustainable Communities Graduate Certificate:

  • Application to the Certificate Program Director.
  • Acceptance to and good standing in a graduate degree program at FIU.
  • Core Course: Seminar in Sustainable Communities (3 Credits).
  • Electives: 12 credit hours chosen from a list of electives . A 3 credit course can be substituted for any one of the listed electives with the approval of the Certificate Program Director.
  • Directed Research: In consultation with the Certificate Program Director, student will produce an independent research paper or comparable piece of work on sustainable communities (3 Credits).

 

For Additional Information or Questions, Contact:

Laura A. Ogden
Certificate Coordinator
Department of Sociology/Anthropology
Florida International University
Laura.Ogden@fiu.edu