Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Sustainability
Program Mission, Goals and Description
The mission of the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (PBC) in Sustainability is to provide students with an interdisciplinary education in the three pillars of sustainability: people, planet and profit.
The goal of the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate (PBC) in Sustainability is to provide coursework to train students in areas that focuses on the endurance of the environment and the associated human and economic implications.
Description: The sustainability of the earth’s environment is crucial to the survival of all living organisms, including our human, social, and economic systems. Because of the breadth of this topic, the curriculum will consist of three core courses that address the three pillars of sustainability (people, planet, and profit). Thus, the core will address the sociological, ecological and economic aspects of sustainability. In addition, students will choose two sustainability elective courses that focus on the natural sciences, social sciences, or economics.
Benefits
This program is designed to provide a means for individuals with undergraduate degrees in either the natural sciences, social sciences, or business to gain a rounded understanding of the many issues concerning Sustainability. The program’s objectives are to present information from the three foundational pillars of sustainability: scientific, social and economic implications. Students can then chose to enhance their knowledge in one of the three specific fields as appropriate for their needs.
Candidates
Individuals who have completed a baccalaureate degree are eligible to apply to the Post-Baccalaureate Sustainability Certificate program. This program will provide a foundation of the scientific, socially and economic aspect of sustainability and will allow the individual to enhance their knowledge of a more targeted component. Examples include those with business degrees who wish to learn more about the scientific nature of sustainability, or a natural scientist who would like to learn how the science impacts the human or economic aspect of sustainability. Candidates are encouraged to work closely with advisors so as to customize the most appropriate menu of course that will best meet the students' needs.
Procedures for Enrolling
The following procedures are required for a new (prospective) student to enroll in the PBC.
- Apply on-line (www.southeastern.edu ) as a “New Graduate Student.” Select “Non Degree
Extended Studies.” - Submit Application Fee, Proof of Degree, and the Immunization or Waiver. No GRE scores are needed.
- Once student applies, the Dean of the College of Science and Technology approves student
to be added into the program. The university administration will make the needed changes
in
PeopleSoft system to classify student as a student in a PBC.
Program Requirements
The proposed curriculum consists of 15-17 semester credit hours (5 courses). Students will complete three core courses in environmental sustainability from a biological, sociological, and economics perspective each and two elective courses with direct relevance to sustainability.
Core (9 hours)
General Biology 281: Environmental Awareness – offered every spring (3 hours)
Sociology 360: Environmental Sociology – usually offered once/year (3 hours)
Economics 328: Environmental and Resource Economics – usually offered once/year (3 hours)
Electives (6-8 hours)
Sociology 455: Urban Sociology – (Course theme in urban environmental sustainability) – offered once every 3 semesters (3 hours)
Sociology 460: Special Topics: Food, Sustainability, and Society – offered once every two semesters (3 hours)
Sociology 400: Internship (in Environmental Sustainability) – offered every semester (3 hours)
Sociology 495: Sociology Study Abroad in Cuba and Environmental Sociology in Cuba (Visits and tours with officials and organizations in Cuba to gain firsthand experience with philosophies, practices and daily system applications. There is a concentration on sustainable agriculture in Cuba compared to sustainable and industrial scale agriculture in the US.) (3 hours)
Sociology 470: Vulnerable Populations and Disasters – offered every fall (3 hours)
Heath Studies 361: Environmental Health (3 hours)
Communication 467: Crisis Communication (Communication strategies involving natural disasters and resulting environmental concerns) (3 hours)
Communication 471: Organizational Communication (Leadership Initiatives and Implementation of Environmental Initiatives in the Business Setting) (3 hours)
General Biology 395 and General Biology 397: General Ecology and General Ecology Lab (4 hours)
General Biology 406: Wetlands Ecology (4 hours)
General Biology 439: Freshwater and Estuarine Biology (4 hours)
General Biology 485: Conservation Biology (4 hours)
General Biology 442: Marine Biology (4 hours)
Microbiology 423: Environmental Microbiology (4 hours)
Economics 305: Urban and Regional Economics (Sustainable grown and development of locations) (3 hours)
Economics 435: Energy Economics, Markets, and Policy (Use and sustainability of traditional and alternative energy sources) (3 hours)
Program Outcomes
Those who earn a Southeastern Post-Baccalaureate Sustainability Certificate will develop competencies in basic issues related to sustainability, including:
- Environmental Science
- Environmental and Resource Economics
- Environmental Sociology
Student will be allowed to focus on either the Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, or Economics.
For More Information:
Dean, College of Science and Technology
SLU Box 10829
Hammond, LA 70402
Tel: 985-549-2055
Fax: 985-549-3396
Email: science@southeastern.edu
