Online Education for Working Professionals
Explore the sustainability and resilience of human and natural systems.
Help build a resilient society through sustainable engineering.
Learn the origins of sustainable development. Apply environmental life cycle assessment
to systems. Examine grand challenges in sustainability, such as global climate change
and the efficient utilization of materials through circular economy. Explore energy
systems, natural resource management, community life, policy, and environmental literacy.
The certificate will allow students to put sustainability and resilience thinking
into practice within their chosen fields of study and careers.
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How to Apply
3 courses in 3 semesters.
| Length |
3 courses in 2-3 semesters |
| Effort |
3 hours per credit per week |
| Each course |
3 credits |
| Total credits |
9 |
| Course type |
Online or on-campus |
| Modality |
Watch class recordings on demand |
| Cost |
Based on credits and course type |
| Already enrolled? |
Speak with your advisor |
Curriculum
Progress quickly with a compact curriculum. Work with the program advisor to select
courses that fit your interests and pre-requisite skills.
Prerequisites
Check your preparation. There are no pre-requisite courses for the required courses.
There are a wide variety of electives to choose from, with varying pre-requisite requirements.
Required Courses
Take 6 credits of required courses. Take both of these courses.
ENG 5515 - Introduction to Sustainability and Resilience
Introduction to sustainable development, resilience, and global grand challenges with emphasis on socio-technical systems. Key topics include earth systems literacy, policy development, corporate social responsibility, ecological economics, sustainability indicators, and industrial/societal applications (e.g. agricultural, mining sustainability, etc,).
- Credits:
3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered:
Fall
- Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
ENG 5525 - Systems Analysis for Sustainability and Resilience
In-depth coverage of systems analysis using advanced tools and methods. Topics will include environmental life cycle assessments, social life cycle assessments, techno-economic assessments, material flow analysis, industrial ecology, and regional economic assessments.
- Credits:
3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered:
Spring
- Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
Electives
Take a 3 credit elective course.
Elective courses have been selected to represent a wide range of academic units, to
address issues commonly associated with sustainability, and to provide additional
sustainability assessment skills. All of these courses offer students the ability
to evaluate issues from multiple sustainability perspectives. Elective course options
will be re-evaluated regularly.
Choose one course from the list below. CEE 5350 Life Cycle Engineering is offered
alternate years beginning with the 2020-2021 academic year. SS 5313 Sustainability
Policy is offered on demand.
CEE 4506 - Sustainable Engineering
Study of sustainability, engineering and design including systems analysis, life cycle analysis, biogeochemical cycles, energy balances, energy conservation and development, models for sustainable engineering, environmental regulations as sustainability instruments, sustainability in the build environment, and industrial ecology and compliance.
- Credits:
3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered:
Spring
- Pre-Requisite(s): CEE 3501 or CEE 3503
This course introduces students to the underlying principles of wind energy conversions, with an emphasis on engineering aspects of wind turbine design and construction, and the evaluation of wind resources.
- Credits:
3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered:
Fall
- Pre-Requisite(s): MEEM 3201
FW 4111 - Indigenous Natural Resource Management
In this course, students gain knowledge in indigenous history, culture, and policy to enhance understanding of the rights and privileges associated with treaties, government-to-government relationship, and diversity of people, practices and values. Students engage in multidisciplinary scholarship with relevance for today's shared management regime.
- Credits:
3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered:
Spring
- Restrictions:
May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman
- Pre-Requisite(s): UN 1015 and (UN 1025)
SS 4700 - Communities and Research
A rural sociology course analyzing the sustainability of rural communities (socially, environmentally, economically, and culturally). The course involves participatory research conducted together with a local community organization. Students practice research skills while making a difference in improving community life.
- Credits:
3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered:
Fall
- Restrictions:
May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore
- Pre-Requisite(s): UN 1015 and (UN 1025)
Wind turbines are the fastest growing segment of the generator mix being added to power systems today. There is a growing need to understand the many issues caused by these additions. This course covers the theoretical background, regulations, integration experience, and modeling.
- Credits:
3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered:
On Demand
- Restrictions:
May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore, Junior
EE 5275 - Energy Storage Systems
Designing energy storage solutions for grid, vehicle and portable/autonomous systems. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of energy storage aging, cost, and performance improvement.
- Credits:
3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered:
Spring
MEEM 5275 - Energy Storage Systems
Designing energy storage solutions for grid, vehicle, and portable/autonomous systems. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of energy storage aging, cost, and performance improvement.
- Credits:
3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered:
Spring
- Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate;
Must be enrolled in one of the following Major(s): Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Eng-Eng Mechanics, Engineering Mechanics
EC 4640 - Natural Resource Economics
Studies the economics of nonrenewable resources (energy and minerals) and renewable resources (water, fisheries, forests and species). Discusses the economics of land use change, macroeconomic topics such as economic growth, sustainability and green accounting.
- Credits:
3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered:
Fall
- Pre-Requisite(s): (EC 2001 or EC 3002 or FW 4080) and UN 1015 and (UN 1025)
EC 5640 - Natural Resource Economics
Analyzes the economic aspects of producing/using natural resources. Nonrenewable resources and renewable resources are discussed. The economics of land use, macroeconomic topics such as economic growth, sustainability and green accounting are considered.
- Credits:
3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered:
Fall
- Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
- Pre-Requisite(s): EC 2001 or EC 3002
EC 4650 - Market Failure and the Environment
Considers the efficient and equitable use of environmental resources, including air, water, land, wilderness and parks, wildlife and other ecological systems. Measures the benefits and costs of decreasing pollution, cleaner environment, and protecting scarce ecological resources. Addresses market failures and the economic valuation of environmental amenities.
- Credits:
3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered:
Spring, in odd years
- Pre-Requisite(s): (EC 2001 or EC 3002) and UN 1015 and (UN 1025)
EC 5650 - Market Failure & Environment
Considers the efficient and equitable use of environmental resources. Measures the benefits and costs of decreasing pollution and protecting scarce ecological resources; addresses market failures and the economic valuation of environmental amenities. Requires students to learn quantitative and technical techniques to determine the efficient use of resources.
- Credits:
3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered:
Fall
- Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
- Pre-Requisite(s): EC 2001 or EC 3002
FW 5550 - Geographic Information Science and Spatial Analysis
Use of geographic information systems (GIS) in resource management. Studies various components of GIS in detail, as well as costs and benefits. Laboratory exercises use ArcGIS software package to solve resource management problems.
- Credits:
4.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-3)
- Semesters Offered:
Fall
- Restrictions:
May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore, Junior
- Pre-Requisite(s): MA 2710 or MA 2720 or MA 3710
MSE 5490 - Solar Photovoltaic Science and Engineering
Solar photovoltaic materials, the device physics of photovoltaic cells and practical applications of solar electric systems engineering.
- Credits:
3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered:
On Demand
- Restrictions:
Permission of instructor required;
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
MSE 5760 - Vehicle Battery Cells and Systems
The behavior and application of batteries will be examined by introducing concepts from thermodynamics, materials science, transport processes and equivalent circuits. The non-ideal power source behavior of rechargeable batteries in applications will be treated using electrolyte: electrode transport and electrode materials chemistry. Prior exposure to freshman chemistry, elementary electrical circuits, and elementary transport theory is assumed.
- Credits:
3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered:
Fall, in even years
- Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following College(s): College of Engineering;
Must be enrolled in one of the following Major(s): Biomedical Engineering, Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineer, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Environmental Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geology, Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engrg, Applied Physics, Chemistry, Physics, Applied Geophysics;
May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore, Junior
SS 5313 - Sustainability Science
This course covers the fundamental scientific concepts (dynamic systems and catastrophe theory) as they are applied to socioecological systems and the use of indicators and indices to track progress towards sustainability goals. Review of local, national, and global sustainability policies to avoid catastrophes and guide sustainable development.
- Credits:
3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered:
Fall
- Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate;
Must be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman
Typical Schedule
The minimum completion time is two semesters. Two or three semesters are recommended. Here
are typical schedules.
Sample Plan 1
| Fall |
Spring |
| ENG 5515 |
ENG 5525
Elective |
Sample Plan 2
| Fall |
Spring |
| |
Elective |
| Fall |
|
| ENG 5515 |
ENG 5525 |
Sample Plan 3
| Spring |
Summer |
| |
Elective |
| Fall |
|
| ENG 5515 |
ENG 5525 |
Application Process and Admissions Requirements
Applications are reviewed on an individual basis using a holistic approach. Fill out
our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required
for the initial application, although you will need to upload them later.
Graduate School Admissions Process
Applying to the Graduate School is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts, test scores, or letters needed to start). The application
process involves three easy steps.
See Admissions Steps
Graduate School Requirements
To be considered for admission to the Graduate School as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:
- have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
- be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous
degree and your scholastic record.
See additional application requirements, including required materials:
Program Specific Requirements
Program Specific
- Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0
scale
- GMAT/GRE: Not required
- Preferred major: Any Engineering Discipline
International Students
- TOEFL: Recommended Score of 79 iBT
- IELTS: Recommended Overall Band Score of 6.5
Admissions Decisions
Made on a rolling basis.
Prospective Students
- Prospective students and non-degree seeking students interested in obtaining a graduate
certificate must apply to the certificate program using the online application.
- Accelerated certificate options exist for current Michigan Tech undergraduate students in good standing and have
achieved at least junior-level standing or recent bachelor’s graduates of Michigan
Tech (less than two years).
- The number of credits earned prior to admission that can be counted are restricted.
Current Graduate Students
- Current Michigan Tech graduate students who are in a degree program do not need to formally apply. Current students must still submit the appropriate degree schedule in order to complete the certificate.
International Student Requirements
International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.
See International Applicants
Interested in taking a single, online course? Enroll as a non-degree seeking student.
Upon completion of the Certificate the student should be able to:
- Apply a holistic sustainability and resilience assessment to emerging technical and
societal issues by integrating multiple complementary analysis frameworks to assess
a specific issue.
- Communicate sustainability assessments to their peers.
Michigan Tech was founded in 1885.
The University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and widely respected
by fast-paced industries, including automotive development, infrastructure, manufacturing,
and aerospace. Michigan Tech graduates deliver on rapid innovation and front-line
research, leaning into any challenge with confidence.
The College of Engineering fosters excellence in education and research.
We set out as the Michigan Mining School in 1885 to train mining engineers to better
operate copper mines. Today, more than 60 percent of Michigan Tech students are enrolled
in our 17 undergraduate and 29 graduate engineering programs across nine departments.
Our students and curriculum embrace the spirit of hard work and fortitude our founders
once had. Our online graduate courses are the same, robust classes taken by our doctorate
and masters candidates, taught directly by highly regarded faculty, with outstanding
support from staff. We invite working professionals to join these courses, bring their
own experience and challenges as part of the discussion. Leverage the national reputation
of Michigan Tech to advance your career in tech leadership.
Online Certified Instructors
Meet the online certified instructors. Students have the flexibility to review class
recordings later.
Teaching Statement
Dr. Shonnard teaches courses in chemical reaction engineering, life cycle analysis, and waste plastics conversion.
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Teaching Statement
Dr. Handler specializes in sustainable water and energy systems and other topics in sustainable engineering.
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