Environmental Studies Certificate Program: Structure and Courses

The Environmental Studies Certificate Program is an interdisciplinary program made up of modules and is intended to be completed in four semesters. The number of mandatory and elective modules required to complete the certificate program is a minimum of 33 ECTS credits (at least 14 semester hours). The certificate program comprises the following mandatory and elective modules:

• The mandatory modules (P1 & P2) require regular attendance of a lunchtime lecture series (Thinking, Imagining, and Building Future Environments) for two semesters as well as a related reading course on fundamental texts in environmental studies.
• In addition, students must choose elective modules, or WP (Wahlpflichtmodule WP 1 to WP 37), from three of the following elective content areas: "Humans in the Environment," "Environmental Practice," "Environment and Responsibility," and "Sustainability and Environmental Sciences." Six ECTS credits must be acquired in each content area. Each WP module of an elective content area can only be counted once, even if different courses are being offered in the module during different semesters. It is possible to receive credits for an applicable module from the student's primary course.
• One of the elective modules may be replaced by an optional internship (WP 5) or a study abroad program of at least four weeks (WP 5) in the content area of "Environmental Practice." This may be completed at any time during the program.
• The students must submit a final project to complete the program. This may take the form of a creative project (WP 38) or a research paper (WP 39). The final project is worth eight ECTS credits plus an additional 1 ECTS through the mandatory final project colloquium.

For more information, please consult our "course of study" below (also available as a pdf download).

Requirements:

• Mandatory modules (P1 and P2): two semesters: ETCS credits 6
• Elective modules in three of four possible content areas (WP 1-37): ECTS credits 18
• Final project: either a creative project or a research paper (WP 38 or 39): ECTS credits 9
• Total: ECTS credits 33