Take Individual Course Units

Work toward your Sustainability Certificate by taking individual course units from the Core Concepts and Advanced Concepts in Sustainability online courses. 

Explore your options! 

Bright Future Upon successful enrollment, you will have immediate access to your course materials and 90 days to complete all required course components. Each course features engaging learning tools including videos, readings, quiz, activities and discussion forum. 

Introduction to Sustainability

This self-paced 1.5 hour online course provides the foundation of knowledge for all of GEF Institute's online courses. In it, students learn to define sustainability, its purposes, challenges and requirements. 

Core Concepts in Sustainability

This self-paced, 3-hour online course is designed to equip students with a strong foundational knowledge of sustainability and the balance between environmental, social, and economic systems. It's recommended that students complete Introduction to Sustainability prior to this course. Furthermore, by completing Introduction to Sustainability and the Core Concepts course you have met the requirements for the Sustainability Professional Certificate.

Advanced Concepts in Sustainability

This approximately self-paced 10.5 online course provides students with a thorough expansion on sustainability topics such as ecosystems, energy and water challenges, life-cycle analysis and new technology. It's recommended that students complete Introduction to Sustainability and Core Concepts in Sustainability prior to this course. Furthermore, upon completion of those prerequisite courses and the Advanced Concepts course, you have met the requirements for the Sustainability Fellow Certificate

Sustainability 101 Course

This self-paced, 15-hour online course is designed to equip students with a strong foundational knowledge of sustainability, the science and technology of promoting sustainability, and the balance between environmental, social, and economic concerns. The materials provide students with a thorough introduction to sustainability topics such as ecosystems, energy and water challenges, life-cycle analysis, new technology, and climate change science. The course incorporates hands-on activities, online modules, discussion forums, and dynamic instruction methods.

Green Building Course

GEF Institute's Green Building Course is delivered in a convenient e-Text and online course platform. Students are introduced to the five components of green building that include energy, water, sustainable sites, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. The hands-on audits provide students with an opportunity to gather basic information about their school building related to energy, water, and more.  Course topics cover a breadth of important sustainability concepts that are sure to inspire students. Courses are delivered in a convenient digital format and include the materials listed here.

Green Building Full Year Program Course Outline

Water and Sustainability

This course is a comprehensive treatment of the environmental, social, and economic concerns associated with water and sustainability. Participants examine key issues, including water science, aquatic ecosystems, water pollution, human water systems, the global water crisis, water footprints, and sustainable water technology. The course is appropriate for newcomers, as well as those who have familiarity with the topic and want a greater breadth and depth of understanding.

Course Length and Format: Available now on-demand. Course is self-paced, approximately 3.5 hours

K-12 Sustainability Education Strategies

This 7.5 hour online course consists of five units designed specifically for K-12 educators and administrators interested in integrating sustainability education into their classrooms and schools. The course package is designed as an add-on to the Institute’s foundation course, Sustainability Concepts. However, teachers with a prior knowledge of sustainability topics may enroll independent of the foundation course.

Sustainability Literacy for Science, ELA and Social Studies

GEF Institute’s Sustainability Literacy for Science, ELA and Social Studies is a comprehensive and easy-to-use supplement for integrating sustainability concpets into existing K-12 coursework. The Supplement is an instrumental resource for educators of all grades looking to teach and learn sustainability concepts. By extracting some of the main topics covered in National and Common Core standards in Science, English-Language-Arts and Social Studies, the Supplement aims to provide educators with a holistic knowledge of sustainability and its incorporation into material they’re already familiar with. GEF provides teachers with all the resources with which they can integrate this knowledge into their existing course load including "Teacher SpeaK" and turn-key lessons by grade.