Skip Navigation
 
School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)

Environmental Sustainability

Online Graduate Certificate in Environmental Sustainability

Apply Now Request Info
Program Requirements Related Programs Admission Requirements Paying for School

Save @ APU

$0 Application Fee
$0 Transfer Credit Evaluation
0 Entrance Exams
No GRE/GMAT Required

About This Program

The environmental sustainability certificate from American Public University (APU) considers sustainability from many perspectives, including scientific, environmental, societal, technological, economic, and governmental perspectives.

With this environmental sustainability certificate online certificate, you will study:

  • Sustainability fundamentals, energy and environmental policy, economics, and global resource allocation
  • Environmental policy impacts, national/global energy resources, and societal interaction with the environment
  • Public- and private-sector strategies for the implementation of sustainable practices and design in local, regional, national, and worldwide environments

In addition, you’ll participate in unique design projects that allow you to focus on multiple perspectives of sustainability, similar to real-world conditions. It is a great way to improve your knowledge of environmental sustainability without committing to a degree program.

What You Will Do

  1. Grow your knowledge of sustainability principles and the roles of multiple disciplines in their effective implementation to complex environmental problems
  2. Comprehend the complex and dynamic interactions between humans and their environment
  3. Understand the role of government policy at municipal, regional, national, and global levels in achieving sustainable development
  4. Learn about the political, regulatory, and economic barriers preventing full implementation of sustainable products, goods, and services
  5. Study the role of sustainability in meeting critical resource needs such as renewable energy and water quality and quantity on local, regional, national, and global scales

Program at a Glance

Number of Credits
18
Transfer up to 9 credits
Cost Per Credit
$425 | $250*
*with military grant
Save with one of our many grant options
Courses Start Monthly
Online
and vary from 8 to 16 weeks

  • Want to Learn More?

    Step One: Introduce Yourself
    Validation message here
    Validation message here
    Validation message here
    Validation message here
    Validation message here
    Validation message here
    Ready to apply? Start your application today.

    We value your privacy.

    By submitting this form, you agree to receive emails, texts, and phone calls and messages from American Public University System, Inc. which includes American Military University (AMU), American Public University (APU), and American Public Education, Inc.. This consent is not a condition of enrollment or purchase.

    You may withdraw your consent at any time. Please refer to our privacy policy, terms, or contact us for more details.

Program Requirements Printable Catalog Version

Must take all courses for this section.

Course ID: 2746

|
This course is a qualitative and quantitative study of the public and private economic costs and effects of environmental programs, industrialization, regulation, and international and national environmental policies, among other issues.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/26/22 - 06/02/23 06/05/23 - 07/30/23 Spring 2023 Session D 8 Week session
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 Summer 2023 Session B 8 Week session
02/27/23 - 08/04/23 08/07/23 - 10/01/23 Summer 2023 Session I 8 Week session
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 Summer 2023 Session D 8 Week session
04/24/23 - 09/29/23 10/02/23 - 11/26/23 Fall 2023 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 2747

|
This course is a study of the major legal, regulatory, and policy framework that encompasses environmental programs and projects in the United States and with international political, commercial, and non-governmental institutions. The primary learning approach used in this course will be case studies.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/26/22 - 06/02/23 06/05/23 - 07/30/23 Spring 2023 Session D 8 Week session
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 Summer 2023 Session B 8 Week session
02/27/23 - 08/04/23 08/07/23 - 10/01/23 Summer 2023 Session I 8 Week session
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 Summer 2023 Session D 8 Week session
04/24/23 - 09/29/23 10/02/23 - 11/26/23 Fall 2023 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 2730

|
This course is an advanced study of environmental issues from a moral and philosophical approach. Issues raised in the course and through student research and writing will include: the moral obligation or lack thereof, to preserve and protect the environment; the ethical presumptions that underlie environmental policy; the traditional theories of moral philosophy applicable to contemporary environmental problems; and the potential for a new concept of the relationship between humanity and nature.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 Summer 2023 Session B 8 Week session
02/27/23 - 08/04/23 08/07/23 - 10/01/23 Summer 2023 Session I 8 Week session
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 Summer 2023 Session D 8 Week session
04/24/23 - 09/29/23 10/02/23 - 11/26/23 Fall 2023 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 3981

|
This course is an introduction to the philosophical and practical principles of green and sustainable design through the exploration of environmental issues, sustainable materials and methods, and public policy and decision making. Sustainability principles, policies, and programs that encourage and guide current initiatives are analyzed. Innovative strategies for implementing sustainable projects, programs, and practices are investigated through the review of case studies and completion of a final course project.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 Summer 2023 Session B 8 Week session
04/24/23 - 09/29/23 10/02/23 - 11/26/23 Fall 2023 Session B 8 Week session

Course ID: 3982

|
This course is an introduction to energy policy and decision making, primarily in the United States. Students will examine the nature and scope of environmental, energy, and resource problems, analyze the goals and strategies of the renewable energy movement, investigate ideological, political, and institutional forces that shape policymaking and implementation, and conduct in-depth analyses of the various approaches to U.S. energy needs. An exploration of renewable energy technology, feasibility, and implementation is incorporated through the analysis of case studies and current events.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
12/26/22 - 06/02/23 06/05/23 - 07/30/23 Spring 2023 Session D 8 Week session
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 Summer 2023 Session D 8 Week session

Course ID: 2743

|
The study and consideration of global environmental and climate change are of increasing significance to society. In this course, students will examine the evidence for and causes of global environmental change and will analyze potential impacts on environmental policy and society. Emphasis will be on the implications of environmental change for environmental managers, including management decision-making, the adequacy of the current regulatory framework in addressing these problems, and the effect on future policy and legislation.
Registration Dates Course Dates Session Weeks
01/30/23 - 06/30/23 07/03/23 - 08/27/23 Summer 2023 Session B 8 Week session
03/27/23 - 09/01/23 09/04/23 - 10/29/23 Summer 2023 Session D 8 Week session

Courses Start Monthly

Next Courses Start Aug 7
Register by Aug 4
Apply Now Request Info

Admission Requirements

  • All APU master's degree/graduate certificate programs require a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA®).
  • Please read all graduate admission requirements before applying to this program and be prepared to submit the required documentation.
  • There is no fee to complete the APU admission application. View steps to apply.

CHEA® is a registered trademark of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. 

Materials Cost

Technology fee: $85 per course | $0 for active-duty military, National Guard members, and Reservists.

Need Help?

Selecting the right program to meet your educational goals is a key step in ensuring a successful outcome. If you are unsure of which program to choose, or need more information, please contact an APU admissions representative at 877-755-2787 or [email protected].

Quality Education Should Be Affordable

So you can focus on the opportunities ahead, without the financial burden of more expensive schools who are not as invested in your success. Learn more about paying for school.

Consumer Information

Disclosures

Maryland Residents learn more about costs, completion rates, median debt, and more.

 

*Cost Per Credit Hour

U.S. active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, Reservists, and military families, including parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents, receive a tuition grant that caps undergraduate, master's degree, and graduate certificate tuition at $250/credit hour. 
See all military student benefits.