Accelerate positive change in your school and community with an Education for Sustainability (EFS) Certificate of Graduate Study.
To accelerate transformative societal response to the interconnected environmental, social, and economic challenges of our time, the University of Vermont and the Shelburne Farms Institute for Sustainable Schools established a partnership to offer two certificates of graduate study in Education for Sustainability (EFS). Coursework is designed for practicing preK-12, post-secondary, and informal educators as well as those working in museum education, outdoor education, parks and recreation activities, and other fields where natural and built environments are part of the curriculum.
Grounded in action research, transformative education, and youth leadership, the program prepares educators to empower learners in making positive changes in their communities to improve the quality of life for current and for future generations.
EFS Graduate Certificate Pathways
Educators can choose to enroll in coursework leading to the 12-credit Micro Certificate of Graduate Study (mCGS-EFS) or the 18-credit Certificate of Graduate Student (CGS-EFS). Both pathways combine UVM’s commitment of high-quality teacher education with Shelburne Farms’ international reputation for EFS professional development for teachers. The innovative co-teaching arrangement and scholarship opportunities reduce costs for graduate students. Coursework is offered as a combination of online sessions and experiential learning that takes place at Shelburne Farms, an education non-profit organization and 1,400-acre working farm in Vermont.
Micro Certificate of Graduate Study in Education for Sustainability (12 credits)
Required Courses (3 credits each)
EDCI 6430 (343) Foundations of Education for Sustainability
EDCI 6440 (344) Methods in Education for Sustainability
EDCI 6450 (345) Transformational Leadership in Education for Sustainability
EDCI 6460 (346) Education for Sustainability Inquiry & Action
Certificate of Graduate Study in Education for Sustainability (18 credits)
Required Core Courses (3 credits each)
EDCI 6430 (343) Foundations of Education for Sustainability
EDCI 6440 (344) Methods in Education for Sustainability
EDCI 6450 (345) Transformational Leadership in Education for Sustainability
EDCI 6460 (346) Education for Sustainability Inquiry & Action
Elective Courses (choose two of the following 3-credit courses)
CDAE 6210 (321) Econ of Sustainable Food Syst
CDAE 6260 (326) Community Economic Development
CDAE 6760 (376) Communicating Science
FS 6450 (340) Food Systems Science and Policy
FS 6400 (345) Food Systems, Society and Policy
PSS 6110 (311) Introduction to Agroecology
PSS 6120 (312)The Ecological Foundations of Agroecology.
PSS 6130 (313) Participatory Action Research (PAR) & Transdisciplinary Approaches to Agroecology
PSS 6140 (314) Agroecology, Food Sovereignty, and Social Movements
Scholarship Opportunities
Learn about Shelburne Farms scholarships and how to apply.
Core Faculty
- Simon Jorgenson, College of Education and Social Services (CESS)
- Walter Poleman, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (RSENR)
- Regina Toolin, College of Education and Social Services (CESS)
- Jen Cirillo, Shelburne Farms
- Aimee Arandia Østensen, Shelburne Farms