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Graduate Certificate in Global Sustainability

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Graduate Certificate in Global Sustainability (GCGS)

The Graduate Certificate in Global Sustainability (GCGS) is designed for professionals seeking training and experience in international sustainable development, with a particular emphasis on environmental sustainability.

The GCGS is ideal for students from all professions and disciplines, and from around the world. All courses are offered online, so you can study at your own pace.

Certificate Format

Students pursuing this certificate must complete:

  • 9 credit hours, consisting of the required core NR-5114 Global Issues in Environmental Sustainability (which includes a 10-day in-person Global Study trip) and 2 elective courses
  • 3 of the required 9 credits through participation and completion of one Global Study as part of NR 5114 Global Issues in Natural Resources  
  • Both elective courses must come from courses offered in the MNR curriculum
  • Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above for those 9 credit hours

Admissions Requirements

Students can apply for the GCGS as a Virginia Tech degree-seeking or Commonwealth Campus student, or as a visiting student. If you are not currently a VT student, you must apply for graduate admission as a certificate-seeking student through the Virginia Tech Graduate School.

Requirements for admission include:

  • Completed undergraduate degree
  • Current resume/ CV
  • Personal goal statement
  • Completed application
  • No GRE required; TOEFL may be required for international students

Global Study

As part of our mission to build leadership for global sustainability, Global Study modules explore challenges to sustainable development and the innovative cross-boundary strategies being developed to address these challenges. Students take part in a 10-day fieldwork project in the region of focus, with the remainder of the project work conducted virtually, providing students the opportunity to travel and gain valuable real-world international and cross-cultural experience.

Current Global Study locations include:

  • Australia
  • Chile
  • Fiji
  • Mexico
  • New Zealand

Certificate Tuition

Tuition and the Global Study program fee for the Graduate Certificate in Global Sustainability totals $12,200. It does not include per semester library and technology fees, books, or the international flight.