Certificate
Part-Time or Full-Time
Fall
Online
About the Sustainability Assessment and Planning Certificate at Loyola
The Sustainability Assessment and Planning graduate certificate offered through Loyola University Chicago's School of Environmental Sustainability will provide you with a powerful career credential in the environmental arena.
As a student in the program, you will gain the knowledge and training it takes to help organizations measure, regulate, and report their use of natural resources and overall environmental impact.
You will also develop the essential skills to apply principles, methods, and approaches in environmental science as a way to improve current and emerging sustainability practices in government, industry, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector.
Program Structure
The graduate certificate program can be pursued full time or part time. To pursue the sustainability certificate you must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. The certificate program includes four courses, which can be completed solely online.
Why Choose Loyola for Your Sustainability Assessment and Planning Certificate?
This sustainability certificate program will prepare you for a range of professional roles and settings, from government and nonprofits to industry and the private sector.
- A fulfilling career on the cutting edge of sustainability
- A multidisciplinary faculty of renowned experts and scholars
- A comprehensive curriculum for well-rounded preparation
- A convenient delivery model to meet your life demands
- A powerful foundation for your master's degree
- A distinctive foundation in Jesuit values
The program will empower you to embark on a fulfilling career journey working to assess and promote sustainability efforts for the betterment of our natural environment.
You will be mentored and guided by a faculty of respected experts in the fields of sustainability science, planning, assessment, reporting, and development. These experts will also be there to support you and connect you with leading industry employers.
Loyola's certificate program will offer you a comprehensive exploration of sustainability assessment in the areas of energy, air, buildings, transportation, water, land, food, and waste, providing a well-rounded knowledge base that will set you apart.
You coursework will be completed entirely online, allowing you to earn your sustainability certificate from anywhere at any time.
You will be able to apply the credits you earn in the Sustainability Assessment and Planning Certificate toward a master's degree program offered through Loyola's School of Environmental Sustainability.
Loyola's Jesuit tradition and foundation will add depth and dimension to your learning experience and provide you with a deep appreciation of how sustainability assessment and planning can impact social justice.
Meet the Faculty
Loyola is proud to have talented and nationally-recognized scholar-teachers as part of our diverse community of exceptional faculty, students and staff. Loyola faculty are known for their commitment to teaching, the dissemination of knowledge through innovative and interdisciplinary scholarly research, and a commitment to social justice and cura personalis, or care for the whole person. Visit the School of Environmental Sustainability faculty and staff directory to learn more about the teachers and mentors involved with the Sustainability Assessment and Planning Certificate program.
Faculty and StaffSustainability Assessment and Planning Certificate: Career Connections
As a graduate of Loyola's Sustainability Assessment and Planning Certificate program, you will be prepared for a meaningful career working in environmental impact assessment in any number of settings.
Our graduates lead in the sustainability assessment field working in government, nonprofit organizations, industry, and the private sector. The certificate also provides you with an excellent foundation from which to pursue a master's degree.
Specific job options include:
- Environmental scientist
- Environmental specialist
- Environmental consultant
- Sustainability director
- Sustainability manager
- Sustainability planner
- Climate impact planner
Because Loyola is a member of the Jesuit network of 27 colleges and universities nationwide, our graduates can access career advising services, resume and interviewing assistance, career fairs and events, and employment listings in our Career Services center, as well as at career centers at other U.S. Jesuit colleges and universities.
Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook is a good place to start exploring the job outlook and pay potential for specific careers and fields that interest you.
Loyola Stories
Curriculum and Program Outcomes
While courses for the Sustainability Assessment and Planning Certificate program may vary from semester to semester, Loyola’s extensive Academic Catalog will always house the official listing of courses, programs of study, academic policies, degree requirements, and specialization or concentration options.
Additionally, this resource will provide Sustainability Assessment and Planning Certificate learning outcomes, showcasing the commitment to specific skills and growth graduates can expect to achieve following completion of the program.
2023-2024 Catalog
Browse Academic CatalogSustainability Assessment and Planning Certificate Results and Skills
By earning your Sustainability Assessment and Planning Certificate at Loyola University Chicago, you will develop a wide range of skills, including the ability to:
- Apply the foundations and principles of sustainability science to current, real-world issues affecting our environment
- Develop a working knowledge of the economic and ethical values society places on issues directly related to environmental impact assessment
- Apply common methods for gathering data on an organization's baseline environmental footprint
- Develop effective strategies for improving environmental sustainability in the areas of water, energy, food, transportation, landscaping, and waste, among others
- Use your knowledge and training to create a real-world comprehensive sustainability plan
Costs, Scholarships, and Aid
Loyola University Chicago is committed to making your graduate and professional studies a reality. Our Cost & Financial Aid page can help better inform you about the costs and potential funding opportunities through scholarships, loans, and aid for graduate and professional education.
If you are a current Loyola undergraduate or recent alum, you may be eligible for a Returning Rambler discount. Learn more and see if you qualify on our Returning Rambler Scholarship page.
Tuition and Costs
The estimated tuition and fees for the Sustainability Assessment and Planning Certificate totals $13860.00, or 12 credit hours at a cost of $1,155.00 per credit hour. Please note that tuition and fees for all of Loyola's academic programs are subject to change.
For more detailed information about tuition and fees, and a breakdown of how these costs are calculated on a yearly basis, please visit Tuition and Fees from the Office of the Bursar.
School of Environmental Sustainability Financial Aid & Scholarships
The School of Environmental Sustainability offers partial scholarships, limited external research grants, and work opportunities to SES graduate students. If you wish to be considered for internal partial tuition scholarships, you must complete your application by March 1. Scholarship decisions are based on your complete student file, including statements of research/interest, GPA, and letters of recommendation.
More information about financial aid opportunities can be found on the Financial Aid Office website.
Appointments and Events
Whether you’re just beginning your search, in the midst of the application process, or eager to explore our graduate and professional programs, our admissions staff is here to assist you every step of the way.
Schedule an AppointmentThe School of Environmental Sustainability offers graduate open houses, information sessions, individual appointments, open Zoom and text sessions, and a multitude of other ways to get to know us better.
View all EventsVisit and Connect With Us
With our visit opportunities, you can tour our beautiful Chicago campuses and learn more about Loyola's ties to one of the most prestigious cities in the world.
Application Process
Application Deadlines
The available start terms and corresponding application deadlines for the Sustainability Assessment and Planning Certificate are listed below. Please keep in mind that both the application and the required materials must be submitted by the specified deadline.
Fall: Rolling admissions
Application Requirements
Application requirements for the Sustainability Assessment and Planning Certificate include:
Official Transcripts
3.0 Minimum GPA
Statement of Purpose
Statement of Purpose Details
Please write a statement describing your academic interest for the program as well as your professional goals. The minimum is 250 words and the maximum is 500 words.
Official Documents
Official transcripts are those that are sent directly by the college/university to Loyola University Chicago. Transcripts sent by the student to Loyola are considered unofficial documents, and while they may be utilized for initial review of your application, official transcripts are still required. Official documents should be sent by the institution to gradapp@luc.edu.
International Applicant Requirements
An official English language proficiency exam is required for international applicants whose native language is not English. If you have non-U.S. educational credentials, you are required to submit an official transcript evaluation. The transcript evaluation cannot be waived.
Please visit our International Applicant Requirements page for specific information regarding the application process for international students.
Start Your Application
Applying online to the Sustainability Assessment and Planning Certificate program is a swift, uncomplicated, and cost-free process. After submission, you can proceed to send and upload any additional requirements.
APPLY TODAY