How many courses do I need to take to complete this program?

To complete this MasterTrack® Certificate, you must complete 5 out of the 12 courses. Among these 5 courses, the following are required:Addressing the Greatest Sustainability and Development ChallengesMethods & Skills in Sustainability and Development: Program Evaluation

How can I get started?

The deadline to enroll in the next cohort can be found at the top of this page. Enroll before then and you will gain access to the onboarding course and any available materials right away.You can also get started with this course and apply your progress toward the MasterTrack® Certificate: Beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Addressing Sustainability and Development

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

You will have access to your onboarding course and all available self-paced content for this MasterTrack® Certificate immediately after you enroll and pay. Once the first course officially begins, you’ll be able to ask questions from the teaching team, get feedback on your projects, and work with other peers on group assignments.

What will I get if I pay for this program?

You will get access to all MasterTrack® Certificate courses. You will also get feedback from the teaching team on your projects. You’ll be working with an elite network of peers towards meeting your goals.

Can I take this program for free?

No. The MasterTrack® Certificate is available only to learners who have paid for the program.

What is the refund policy?

You will have 2 weeks after the start of the first course session to refund your payment.

Is financial assistance available?

Financial assistance is not available at this time for the MasterTrack® Certificate.

From the University of Michigan Master of Science in Environment and Sustainability

Sustainability and Development MasterTrack® Certificate

Design innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing sustainability and development challenges using core frameworks to assess evidence and implement effective solutions with the top-ranking School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS).

Earn a powerful university-issued career credential in as little as four months.

Earn Degree Credit

If you're admitted to the full Master's program, the credit from your MasterTrack® Certificate counts towards your degree.

About this MasterTrack® Certificate

Learn how to design innovative solutions to core sustainability and development challenges.

Sustainability and development pose unprecedented challenges as human societies grow and seek to ensure future well-being and prosperity. In this program, you will complete courses that will earn you credit towards the University of Michigan’s Master of Science in Environment and Sustainability, if admitted to the program. Through these courses, you'll learn how to address sustainability and development challenges with actionable knowledge that empowers you to develop solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.

You'll be introduced to the main theoretical currents in Sustainability and Development as a field of study with an in-depth understanding of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the methods and skills necessary for designing innovative solutions to sustainability and development problems.

In addition to committing 6-8 hours of weekly study over a period of four months, you’ll complete the certificate with a course consisting of two projects. In the first project, you will analyze three Michigan Sustainability Cases and synthesize their lessons for sustainability and development. In the second project, you will create your own Michigan Sustainability Case on the Gala case creation interface and develop an instructional component for the case of your choosing with a faculty member. You can use your Sustainability and Development MasterTrack Certificate as a pathway to the associated Master of Science in Environment and Sustainability in the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) at the University of Michigan.

Want to learn more about this program? Visit the University of Michigan website.

Watch the Informational Webinar

Informational webinar recording now available! Watch it today.

What you will learn

Understand and explain the world’s most pressing sustainability and development challenges.
Critically analyze the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they relate to these pressing global challenges.
Use core frameworks and evidence to assess and develop effective solutions.

Skills you will gain

Critical thinking
Evaluating evidence
Assessing solutions
Applying theories and methods
Collaboration with cross-functional teams
Translating knowledge

100% online courses
Four payments of $525
Or pay all at once and save 5%
4-6 months to complete
Enroll today or get started with this course and count your progress toward the MasterTrack Certificate
Intermediate Level
You should have some familiarity with engaging with scholarly texts and critically discussing their implications in written form. Although a basic understanding is expected, you will learn strategies for developing these skills throughout the program.
2 real-world projects
Additional projects will be added soon.
Questions?
Contact an enrollment counselor at seas-sd-mtc@umich.edu.
Earn degree credit
If you are admitted to the full Master’s program, your MasterTrack® Certificate counts towards your degree.

What is a MasterTrack® Certificate?

With MasterTrack® Certificates, portions of Master’s programs have been split into online modules, so you can earn a high quality university-issued career credential at a breakthrough price in a flexible, interactive format. Benefit from a deeply engaging learning experience with real-world projects and live, expert instruction. If you are accepted to the full Master's program, your MasterTrack® coursework counts towards your degree.

Master’s Degree Learning

Take an online module of a Master's degree program that features live expert instruction and feedback combined with interactive team-based learning.

Boost Your Career

Receive a university-issued MasterTrack® Certificate from a top university that you can add to your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Build Your Portfolio

Demonstrate your skills through real-world projects and create work samples that help you stand out in your job search.

Start Your Degree

If you are accepted to the full Master’s program, your completed coursework counts towards your degree.

Interactive Learning Experience

You'll learn through readings, videos, graded assignments, real-world applied projects, and live global classroom sessions.

Live Global Webinars

Feedback from Instructors and Experts

Real-World Projects

5 Required Courses in this MasterTrack® Certificate

Take 5 out of the 14 courses and complete the projects listed to earn your certificate.

Courses include:

Pre-recorded videos
Live sessions and office hours
Real-world projects
Peer collaboration
Web and mobile access

Please note: This program is actively being developed. Courses and projects are subject to change.

Beyond the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Addressing Sustainability and Development

Sustainability and development pose unprecedented challenges as human societies grow and seek to ensure future wellbeing and prosperity. In this course we will focus on addressing the twin challenges of achieving sustainability and development through actionable knowledge. Rather than sustainability being a qualifier of development (e.g. sustainable development), Sustainability and Development as a field of study views the two concepts as co-equal fields of inquiry and action. You will receive an introduction to some of the world’s most pressing problems along with understanding applicable theories, assessing relevant evidence, and employing skills necessary for innovating solutions.

This course is required for all students.

See all 14 Courses

Industry-relevant hands-on projects to build your portfolio

Synthesize Lessons From 3 Michigan Sustainability Cases

In this project, you will (i) re-read 3 Michigan Sustainability Cases that you have analyzed in the courses, (ii) prepare a 500-word essay synthesizing their lessons for sustainability and development, and (iii) assess two essays prepared by your peers using an assessment rubric.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

You will learn synthesis, writing, and reviewing skills.

Prepare a Michigan Sustainability Case

In this project, you will (i) work through the Michigan Sustainability Cases on the Gala case creation interface to (ii) create a new case using detailed guidelines for its preparation, (iii) develop an instruction note for the case, and (iv) assess two cases created by your peers using an assessment rubric.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

You will learn how to design an interactive sustainability case, develop instructional learning components for the case, and provide peer-review.