Coordinator, Chris Keil

In a world filled with complex social and environmental challenges, the need for informed and technically prepared Christians able to speak into these issues is greater than ever. The goal of the Certificate in Environmental Sustainability is to equip students with the theoretical and technical skills needed to engage in the analysis of sustainability issues and develop practical, implementable solutions to the issues.

The certificate program is rooted in an eight week "Summer in Sustainability" at the Wheaton College Science Station (WCSS) in the Black Hills of South Dakota (offered odd numbered summers).  In this intensive program, students master the fundamental theories and principles of environmental sustainability while acquiring the needed technical skills to implement sustainability solutions. Extensive field studies, field trips and "real-world" implementation of a sustainability system at the Science Station connect theory and practice in a manner that uniquely prepares students to engage sustainability issues in a practical manner rooted in a Christian worldview.

The sustainability summer is enhanced with a series of elective courses to build on students' particular interests.

Certificate Requirements are 24 credits total:

Required Courses
ENVR 332Principles of Environmental Sustainability 14
ENVR 333Environmental Sustainability Practicum 14
Electives16
16 credits selected from the following. At least 8 credits must be from the Social Sciences and 4 credits from the Natural Sciences:
Social Sciences (Select at least 8 credits):
Food, Farms, and Culture
Development Economics
Environmental Law, Justice, and Development
Poverty, Justice and Transformation
Environmental Politics
Environmental Ethics
Social Life of Cities
Natural Sciences (Select at least 4 credits):
Economic Botany
The Dynamic Earth and Environment
Quantitative Methods for Environmental Analysis and Problem Solving
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
Environmental Pollution and Toxicology
Sustainable Agriculture
Introduction to Environmental Engineering
Water: the Essential Natural Resource
Energy & Climate Change
Experiential
Independent Studies in Environmental Science
Total Credits24
1

"Sustainability Summer" offered odd numbered summers during 8 weeks at WCSS. The courses are taught concurrently.