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UW-Green Bay
UW–Oshkosh
UW-Parkside
UW-River Falls
UW-Stout
UW-Superior

Build healthier, resilient, and more equitable organizations and communities.

Society’s health and well-being depends on supportive environments where we live, work, and play. More businesses recognize the need to integrate the principles of sustainability and well-being into their organization to improve economic, health, and social factors. In the Sustainability and Well-being Graduate Certificate, you’ll learn how the principles of sustainability and well-being can advance our workplaces, communities, and beyond, towards a better future.

You’ll explore topics, such as:

  • Contemporary health and wellness perspectives
  • Sustainable community design
  • How the success of an organization and the well-being of the community intersect
  • Tools to assess organizational behavior
  • Effective methods for positive change
  • How to integrate the metrics of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Courses are completed entirely online, an ideal format for busy professionals. You can watch lectures, participate in online forums with your classmates, and although assignments have deadlines, you can do homework whenever it’s convenient for you—all course content is accessible online from any device. Learn more about online learning with UW Extended Campus.

Who Should Apply?

The Sustainability and Well-being Graduate Certificate is an ideal way to expand your skills and knowledge in a flexible, online format, and offers value to professionals working in a variety of fields, such as: HR, sustainability, safety/risk management, facilities/operations, public health/human services, workplace wellness, environmental health and safety (EH&S), occupational health, architecture/design, urban planning, and more.

Students with a bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply. Degree-seeking students in the Master of Science in Health and Wellness Management or the Master of Science in Sustainable Management may choose to earn the certificate as an additional credential. Coursework completed in the certificate applies toward the master’s degree should you choose to enroll as a degree-seeking student in either program.

RELATED: Strengthen Your Health and Wellness Management Career with a Sustainability and Well-being Certificate

Universities of Wisconsin Collaboration

The Sustainability and Well-being Graduate Certificate is a joint offering of the Master of Science in Health and Wellness Management and Master of Science in Sustainable Management. This certificate program is a partnership of UW-Green Bay, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-River Falls, UW-Stout, and UW-Superior.

Accreditation

Whether online or on campus, University of Wisconsin programs have a reputation for delivering world-class education and student support. Accreditation is your assurance that you will graduate with skills that are relevant to your field and valued by employers. The Sustainability and Well-being Graduate Certificate is approved by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents and is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

To be eligible for the Sustainability and Well-being Graduate Certificate, students must meet the following requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree, in any discipline, from an accredited university (min. 3.0 GPA).

You may also need to submit the following application materials:

  • Your resume,
  • Two letters of recommendation (professional or academic),
  • A personal statement of up to 1,000 words describing the reason behind your decision to pursue this certificate.

If you are a degree-seeking student in the Master of Science in Health and Wellness Management or Master of Science in Sustainable Management, and are interested in earning the certificate as an additional credential, you must declare your interest with your academic advisor at your home campus. You do not need to submit an application.

International Guidelines

This program welcomes online students from around the world. Online students do not qualify for an F-1 Student Visa to travel to the U.S., but instead can participate in our online courses remotely. If your native language is not English and/or you attended school outside of the U.S., you will likely need to provide proof of English language proficiency and an official translation or evaluation of academic transcripts. Requirements will vary based on a student’s academic history and home campus policies. For guidance about these requirements and how they apply to your specific situation, contact your preferred home campus admissions office.

If you would like to apply as an International Student for an on-campus program in the UW System please refer to these resources through UW-HELP.

Application Deadline

All application materials need to be completed two weeks prior to the semester start to be considered for admission.

How to Apply

While you are free to apply on your own, many prospective students find it helpful to speak with an enrollment adviser first.

Step 1. Select a home campus from our list of program partners: UW-Green Bay, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-River Falls, UW-Stout, and UW-Superior. Learn more about our campus partners and choosing a home campus.

Step 2. Apply to your preferred home campus using the University of Wisconsin System Online Admission Application. Please review the application instructions for your preferred home campus below. If you are applying to UW-Stout, you will not use the UW System Online Admission Application, you will use the UW-Stout Online Application.

Apply as a “Graduate Non-Degree Applicant.”

  • When asked “Are you applying as a degree-seeking student?” select “No”, and that you plan to take “Graduate” classes.
  • Select “UW-Green Bay” as the campus.
  • Choose “Sustainability & Wellbeing Certificate” for program.

No application fee. Skip the application fee section (not required for the certificate).

Not eligible for financial aid.

If applying as a “Graduate Applicant:”

  • When asked “Are you applying as a degree-seeking student?” select “Yes”, and that you would like to earn a “Graduate Degree”.
  • Select “UW-Oshkosh” as the campus.
  • Choose “Certificate in Sustainability and Well-Being” for program.

$56 application fee.*

*For a limited time, UW Extended Campus is offering an application fee waiver to those who haven’t yet applied to the Summer or Fall 2024 semesters. To redeem, use coupon code APPLY24 on the UW Online Application payment page.

Not eligible for financial aid.

Apply as a “Graduate Non-Degree Applicant.”

  • When asked “Are you applying as a degree-seeking student?” select “No”, and that you plan to take “Graduate” classes.
  • Select “UW-Parkside” as the campus.
  • Choose “Sustainability and Well-Being” for program.

No application fee. Skip the application fee section (not required for the certificate).

Not eligible for financial aid.

Apply as a “Graduate Non-Degree Applicant.”

  • When asked “Are you applying as a degree-seeking student?” select “No”, and that you plan to take “Graduate” classes.
  • Select “UW-River Falls” as the campus.
  • Choose “Grad Non-Degree Seeking” for program.
  • State that you are interested in the Graduate Certificate in Sustainability & Well-Being in the essay portion of the application.

No application fee. Skip the application fee section (not required for the certificate).

Not eligible for financial aid.

  • If you are applying to UW-Stout, you will not use the UW System Online Admission Application, you will use the UW-Stout Online Application.
  • No application fee.
  • Not eligible for financial aid.

Apply as a “Graduate Non-Degree Applicant.”

  • When asked “Are you applying as a degree-seeking student?” select “No”, and that you plan to take “Graduate” classes.
  • Select “UW-Superior” as the campus.
  • Choose “Sustainability and Wellbeing Certificate (non-degree seeking) Graduate” for program.

No application fee. Skip the application fee section (not required for the certificate).

Not eligible for financial aid.

Step 3. Send your resume, personal statement, and letters of recommendation (if required); and arrange to have your official college transcripts (from each institution you attended) sent to the graduate student admissions office of the home campus to which you applied. Please request electronic transcripts, if this service is offered by your previous school(s), to be sent directly to the admissions email of your chosen home campus. Electronic transcripts are usually delivered more quickly than physical copies sent by mail.

4 Courses. 12 Credits. 100% Online.

Courses in the Sustainability and Well-being Graduate Certificate focus on the principles of sustainability related to well-being to help build healthier, more equitable organizations and communities. It is possible to complete a certificate in one year; however, based on work and personal obligations, you may decide to take longer.

CourseCredits

In this course, students will examine health and wellness concepts and probe foundational thinking associated with the contemporary health and wellness field. Expectations and development of the wellness professional will be explored.

HWM 700 course syllabus

3 Credits

In this course, students will study organizations, their members, and analyze why people and groups behave as they do. Processes and methods that improve behavior, effectiveness, and efficiency in organizational settings will be examined. The course will also cover various methods for assessing organizational behavior and change.

HWM 770 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course explores how the built environment came to be, and how it intersects with human needs such as water, air, food, waste, transportation, healthcare, and education. You will evaluate community design and what a sustainable community looks like, and study related technologies while evaluating alternatives and discussing unintended consequences. This course will include case studies.

SMGT 750 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course will enable students to understand the rationale behind CSR and sustainability. It takes students through an evaluation of risks and potential impacts in decision making, uncovering the links between the success of an organization and the well-being of a community/society. Additionally, methods and standards of integrating CSR throughout an organization, creating metrics and communicating CSR policies internally and externally will be discussed, analyzed, and applied. Students will develop an understanding of best practices of CSR in its entire breadth within an organization as well as delve into economic structures designed to foster more responsibility and accountability.

SMGT 780 course syllabus

3 Credits

*HWM 700 and HWM 770 are courses in the Master of Science in Health and Wellness Management. SMGT 750 and SMGT 780 are courses in the Master of Science in Sustainable Management. If you are a degree-seeking student in either program earning the certificate as an additional credential, you will be required to complete the two certificate courses outside of your degree in addition to your master’s program curriculum to earn the certificate.

Course availability for the Sustainability and Well-being Graduate Certificate varies each semester, and is subject to change due to fluctuating enrollment. If you are a current student, please consult with your campus adviser prior to registration.

Spring 2024

Course Preview Week: January 16 - January 22, 2024
Semester Dates: January 23 - May 03, 2024

CourseCredits

This course explores how the built environment came to be, and how it intersects with human needs such as water, air, food, waste, transportation, healthcare, and education. You will evaluate community design and what a sustainable community looks like, and study related technologies while evaluating alternatives and discussing unintended consequences. This course will include case studies.

SMGT 750 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course will enable students to understand the rationale behind CSR and sustainability. It takes students through an evaluation of risks and potential impacts in decision making, uncovering the links between the success of an organization and the well-being of a community/society. Additionally, methods and standards of integrating CSR throughout an organization, creating metrics and communicating CSR policies internally and externally will be discussed, analyzed, and applied. Students will develop an understanding of best practices of CSR in its entire breadth within an organization as well as delve into economic structures designed to foster more responsibility and accountability.

SMGT 780 course syllabus

3 Credits

Summer 2024

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Course Preview Week: May 21 - May 27, 2024
Semester Dates: May 28 - August 09, 2024

CourseCredits

This course explores how the built environment came to be, and how it intersects with human needs such as water, air, food, waste, transportation, healthcare, and education. You will evaluate community design and what a sustainable community looks like, and study related technologies while evaluating alternatives and discussing unintended consequences. This course will include case studies.

SMGT 750 course syllabus

3 Credits

Fall 2024

Registration Opens: April 08, 2024
Course Preview Week: August 27 - September 02, 2024
Semester Dates: September 03 - December 13, 2024

CourseCredits

In this course, students will examine health and wellness concepts and probe foundational thinking associated with the contemporary health and wellness field. Expectations and development of the wellness professional will be explored.

HWM 700 course syllabus

3 Credits

In this course, students will study organizations, their members, and analyze why people and groups behave as they do. Processes and methods that improve behavior, effectiveness, and efficiency in organizational settings will be examined. The course will also cover various methods for assessing organizational behavior and change.

HWM 770 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course explores how the built environment came to be, and how it intersects with human needs such as water, air, food, waste, transportation, healthcare, and education. You will evaluate community design and what a sustainable community looks like, and study related technologies while evaluating alternatives and discussing unintended consequences. This course will include case studies.

SMGT 750 course syllabus

3 Credits

*HWM 700 and HWM 770 are courses in the Master of Science in Health and Wellness Management. SMGT 750 and SMGT 780 are courses in the Master of Science in Sustainable Management. If you are a degree-seeking student in either program earning the certificate as an additional credential, you will be required to complete the two certificate courses outside of your degree in addition to your master’s program curriculum to earn the certificate.

Tuition is a flat fee of $750 per credit. There are no additional course or program fees, with the exception of textbooks which are purchased separately.

  • You’ll pay the same tuition whether you live in Wisconsin or out of state.
  • You will not pay technology fees. If software or special technology is required in a course, it will be provided to you and is included in tuition.
  • You will not pay segregated fees (fees for student services, activities, programs, and facilities).
  • Textbooks are purchased separately and are not included in tuition.

Students enrolling in certificate programs may be eligible for financial aid. Refer to your home campus for more information.

Experience UW Sustainability and Well-being

Learn about sustainability and well-being, meet the faculty, read student stories, and more. Read the blog.