2026-2027 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [In Progress]
Green Chemistry Undergraduate Certificate
A certificate in green chemistry will be a strong curricular addition to the degrees offered at GVSU. This 12 credit hour certificate in green chemistry provides students at Grand Valley State University with a foundational knowledge of green, benign chemistry and its principles.
A certificate in green chemistry is neither a major nor a minor; it can/should be used as a focus investigation area of chemistry, environmental sciences, engineering, environmental studies, or sustainability.
Requirements for a Certificate in Green Chemistry
Students must earn a bachelor's degree to earn this certificate. Students who seek a certificate in green chemistry are required to complete 12 credits from the courses as follows:
- CHM 421 - Green Chemistry for Sustainable Environment (3 credits)
- CHM 427 - Green and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (3 credits)
- CHM 399 - Readings in Chemistry (1 to 2 credits)* OR CHM 490 - Chemistry Laboratory Internship (1 to 4 credits)* OR CHM 499 - Investigation Problems (1 to 5 credits)*
AND one of the following courses:
- BIO 338 - Environmental Ethics (3 credits)
- ECO 345 - Environmental and Resource Economics (3 credits)
- GEO 360 - Earth Resources in Transition: Conventional to Sustainable (3 credits)
- GPY 412 - Global Climate and Environmental Change (3 credits)
- INT 322 - Wicked Problems of Sustainability (3 credits)
- NRM 330 - Environmental Pollution (3 credits)
- NRM 451 - Natural Resource Policy (3 credits)
- OSH 300 - Introduction to Occupational Safety and Health (3 credits)
*CHM 399 - Readings in Chemistry, CHM 490 - Chemistry Laboratory Internship, and CHM 499 - Investigation Problems are variable credit independent study courses. Any combination of independent projects approved by the advisor adding up to three credits satisfies this requirement.