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Home Home / Degrees & Programs / Certificates / Graduate Certificate in Sustainability and Well-being
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Graduate Certificate in Sustainability and Well-being

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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 entirely online—asynchronous, with zero on-campus, virtual, or in-person meeting requirements—an ideal format for busy professionals. Watch lectures, participate in online forums with your classmates, and—although assignments have deadlines—do homework whenever it’s convenient for you. Learn more about online learning with UW.

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 US, but instead can participate in our online courses remotely. If your native language is not English and/or you attended school outside of the US, 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 home campus admissions office.

If you would like to apply as an international student to a Universities of Wisconsin on-campus program, please refer to these resources through Go Wisconsin.

Application Deadline

Your online application and all required materials must be submitted to your preferred home campus generally 2-4 weeks prior to the date classes start (this varies by campus) 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 Universities of Wisconsin Online Admission Application. Please review the application instructions for your preferred home campus below. If you are applying to UW-Stout, 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.*

*We’re waiving the application fee for Spring, Summer, and Fall 2026 semesters. To redeem, use coupon code APPLY26 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 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.

Download Curriculum (PDF)

CourseCredits

Explore the determinants of health, health equity, and best practices in fostering holistic well-being. Students will use evidence-informed approaches to effectively promote individual and organizational well-being culture through multiple communication modalities.  Explore the expectations and development of wellness professionals as agents of change.

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 2026

Request Permission Number

Course Preview Week: January 20 - January 26, 2026
Semester Dates: January 27 - May 08, 2026

Download Spring 2026 (PDF)

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 2026

Registration Opens: March 09, 2026
Course Preview Week: May 19 - May 25, 2026
Semester Dates: May 26 - August 07, 2026

Download Summer 2026 (PDF)

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

Spring 2027

Registration Opens: November 09, 2026
Course Preview Week: January 19 - January 25, 2027
Semester Dates: January 26 - May 07, 2027

Download Spring 2027 (PDF)

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

*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 $750 per credit. There are no additional course or program fees, with the exception of textbooks which are purchased separately and are not included in tuition.

  • 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).

  • $9,000 total tuition for 12-credit graduate certificate.

Financial Aid

Financial aid options may be limited for students enrolling in certificate programs. Financial aid is awarded by your home campus. To learn more, contact an enrollment adviser or your home campus financial aid office. You can also visit our financial aid page to learn more about FAFSA and other sources of financial aid.

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Our Program At A Glance

Online Format

Semester-based

Program Type

Certificate, Graduate Certificate

Credits

12

Tuition

$750 per credit

Offered By

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

Enrollment advisers are here to help.

Contact our enrollment advisers to find out more.

Business Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST, or by appointment.

Call: 608-800-6762
Email: learn@uwex.wisconsin.edu
Schedule an appointment

  • Call us at 608-262-2011 608-262-2011
  • Email us at learn@uwex.wisconsin.edu learn@uwex.wisconsin.edu
  • Schedule an Advising Call https://calendly.com/d/dnm-xzr-3qj

Related Programs

Master of Science in Health and Wellness Management

Master of Science in Sustainable Management

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