School of Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration

Graduate Certificate in Sustainability in Public and Nonprofit Organizations

The Graduate Certificate in Sustainability in Public and Nonprofit Organizations is a 12-credit, graduate level program which consists of three courses and three Saturday workshops. The courses are taken on-line. In-person workshops are offered on the Grand Valley downtown campus. On-line classes are offered in a six-week format. They will be offered on-line, in sequence, from May to October 2013.

The Graduate Certificate in Sustainability in Public and Nonprofit Organizations provides a unique opportunity to pursue a theoretically based and practically oriented education in leadership for public and nonprofit professionals who want to understand sustainability issues and how to steer their organizations toward sustainable practices. This program offers public and nonprofit managers the up to-date professional skills and perspectives required to guide their organizations in a rapidly changing and increasingly important area.

The primary instructor for the Graduate Certificate is Haris Alibasic ( alibasha@gvsu.edu ), Director of the Grand Rapids's Office of Energy and Sustainability, with the support of the School of Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration and the Sustainable Community Development Initiative.

Program Content

Content includes providing an overview of ecological, energy, climatic and consumption issues impacting local communities and guidelines for transitioning organizations to sustainable methods and practices. Students will develops a sustainable decision making framework to identify alternative courses of action,evaluate options for sustainable choices, and guide the implementation of management decisions to provide positive social, environmental and financial returns.

Program Audience

The Graduate Certificate in Sustainability in Public and Nonprofit Organizations is for individuals working in public and nonprofit organizations who want to lead their organizations toward are expressing sustainability principles in organizational planning, budgeting and decision-making. We welcome current Grand Valley graduate students and alumni who wish to develop expertise in an additional area, and all others employed in public and nonprofit organizations. Courses and workshops taken in the certificate program may be applied toward the Master of Public Administration degree.

Program Requirements

The Graduate Certificate requires the completion of 12 credit hours of graduate study:

PA671 Building Sustainable Communities (3 credits): Provides an overview of ecological, energy, climatic and consumption issues impacting local communities. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students study the relationship among society, organizations, and the natural environment. Students examine how local governments and nonprofit organizations develop sustainable built landscapes, educate about sustainable best practices, and foster green economic development.

PA672 Building Sustainable Public-serving Organizations (3 credits): Provides guidelines for local government and nonprofit managers who are transitioning their organizations to sustainable methods and practices. Students learn how to measure and analyze an organization's environmental footprint and social impact. They are also introduced to change management techniques useful for implementing new sustainability practices.

PA673 Practicum for Decision-Making in Sustainability (3 credits): Develops a sustainable decision making framework to identify alternative courses of action, evaluate options for sustainable choices, and guide the implementation of management decisions to provide positive social, environmental and financial returns. Students will develop sustainability plans for government and nonprofit agencies.

Three designated PA550-3 Workshops (1 credit each)

The 2013 schedule is as follows:

SPRING / SUMMER 2013 (7 credits):

  • CRN 36153, PA550.01 Public Administration Workshop - Applications of Sustainable Principles to Community, 9:00 am-5:50 pm on 05/11, CHS 127
  • CRN 36231, PA671.02  - Building Sustainable Communities, from 05/06 to 06/19, ONLINE          
  • CRN 36155, PA672.01 - Building Sustainable Public-serving Organizations, from 06/24 to 08/06, ONLINE   

FALL 2013 (5 credits):

  • CRN21686, PA551.02 - Second Sustainability Workshop, 9:00 am-5:50 pm on 09/07, DEV 205D       
  • CRN21632, PA673.01 - Practicum in Decision Making for Sustainability, from 08/26 to 10/04, ONLINE        
  • CRN21687, PA552.03 - Third Sustainability Workshop, 9:00 am-5:50 pm on 11/30, DEV 203D      

Inquire

If you would like more information, fill out this inquiry form, or send an e-mail to Mark Hoffman hoffmanm@gvsu.edu. 

Application Procedure

If you are a graduate of the GVSU MPA program, you do not need to formally apply. If you have not attended GVSU for two semesters, complete a Petition to Return. Then contact Mark Hoffman (hoffmanm@gvsu.edu., 616-331-6587) and let him know you want the Graduate Certificate. He will then issue you permits for the courses.

If you are a current MPA student, or have graduated in the last two semesters, contact Mark Hoffman (hoffmanm@gvsu.edu, 616-331-6587) and let him know you want the Graduate Certificate. He will then issue you permits for the courses.

If you are not an MPA graduate or current student, please apply through the Online Graduate Admissions. Applicants must hold an advanced degree or a bachelor's degreeand submit official transcripts, a one-page statement of your objective, and three references (names and e-mails).

Applicant with a minimum of 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate work and some experience working in a public or nonprofit organization will be given preference in admission decisions. Admission decisions are made on a rolling (first-come, first-served) basis until the program reaches capacity.

Page last modified May 21, 2013