Certificate Program

The Certificate in Sustainability Politics and Policy is administered by the Department of Political Science Graduate Program, though it can include course work from a number of other graduate programs. The Certificate is designed to give current graduate students, alumni and others in the community training and analysis on issues connecting environmental and social sustainability, politics and policy making initiatives. Such training is increasingly valuable for careers in the public sector, in non-profit organizations and in the private sector for both smaller and larger companies.

The Program of Study
The course requirements focus the debates, in both the global North and the global South, on exactly what sustainability politics should (and/or should not) include. The goal is to connect global sustainability policy debates to those occurring at the local and national levels in New England, the United States and other countries.

This certificate program requires 13 total credits.

Required courses:
POLT 995/996: Independent Study “Defining and Debating Sustainability” (1 credit)
The independent study will include a core list of readings on sustainability concepts and cases in wealthier and poorer societies – and methodological debates about how these concepts may be measured and assessed.

POLT 851: Comparative Environmental Politics and Policy (3 credits)

POLT 880: International Environmental Politics (3 credits)

Electives (any 2 of the courses listed below) (6 credits):
Students will be advised by the certificate program director and other participating faculty members about which electives might be most appropriate and consistent with their interests and career goals. The list of approved electives affords students opportunities to focus on particular areas of environmental or social policy, or to seek to acquire additional methodological skills and disciplinary approaches in areas such as policy analysis or economics.

POLT: 843, 862, 878, 912, 914, 918
ECON 807, 908
NR: 801, 818, 820, 824, 831, 838, 850, 884, 885
HIST: 818, 866
PHP: 907, 914, 930
RAM: 911
RECO: 856
SOC: 880, 894
 

How to apply for the Certificate Program: In accordance with Graduate School requirements, the Certificate in Sustainability Politics and Policy requires:
• Completed UNH Application for admission to a Graduate Certificate Program
• Personal statement on applicant’s interest, and goals regarding sustainability
• Current resume
• Official transcripts from previous undergraduate education, and graduate education (if applicant has received graduate degree)
• Three letters of recommendation

Discussions with Prof. Stacy VanDeveer, Associate Professor, are encouraged.

For more information contact:
Prof. Stacy VanDeveer, Associate Professor
stacy.vandeveer@unh.edu