Building a Sustainable World Certificate

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Certificate Leads Joy Meeker, PhD

Sponsored by: Department of Transformative Social Change

Description

The Building a Sustainable World Certificate program is sponsored by the Department of Transformative Social Change. Sustainability is the global issue of the 21st century; as our planet faces unprecedented ecological threats, our cultures are being asked to change in potentially difficult ways. Whether their role is in a corporate boardroom, the office of a community organization, or around the kitchen table on a rural family farm, students must learn to act with conviction and clarity to alleviate suffering today and ensure viability tomorrow.

Curriculum

The Certificate in Building a Sustainable World consists of four 3-credit courses, a 3-credit practicum in professional practice, and a 1-credit integrative paper (for a total of 16 credits). Required courses:

TSC 7077 : Building Sustainability: The Global Crisis
TSC 7079 Building Sustainability: Present Practices in Community and Society
Choice of 2 approved electives
Integrative Paper/Seminar

Learning Objectives: Upon completing this Certificate, students will be able to:

Understand the breadth and depth of contemporary global challenges to a sustainable world.
Critically evaluate existing theories and models of sustainability.
Work with some of the tools, techniques, and practices now available.
Have an enhanced capacity to guide successful change efforts.
Be more skilled and knowledgeable about their chosen approach for making their contributions to a sustainable world.
Appreciate the cultural, ethical, and psychological aspects of transformation and be able to apply their work with compassion and respect.

College of Social Sciences Certificate Programs

Saybrook University’s College of Social Sciences offers a number of exciting certificate programs intended for non-matriculating students who want to expand or deepen their knowledge and skills pertaining to specific foci. Our certificate programs offer a variety of topics relevant in today’s world. From existential psychology to integrative healthcare, the College of Social Sciences certificates offer students the humanistic and interdisciplinary education students desire in a convenient certificate program.

Delivery Model

All entering students will begin their program in consultation with the Certificate Lead Faculty in order to clarify requirements and ensure that their interests are integrating within their learning experience. Students can change their study plan later, but need to make an initial plan at the outset, including a tentative plan for a one-year enrollment for those individuals not enrolled in a Saybrook degree program. Typically, certificate requirements can be completed within one to two years (see Certificate Lead Faculty for more details). Students progress through certificate requirements through a combination of on-line cohort courses and either face-to-face experientials during a Saybrook Residential Conference and/or at-a-distance platforms such as video-conference or conference calls. Additionally, students participate in online Graduate Colloquia shells, which are virtual classrooms utilized to foster community among all enrolled in specializations that sponsor the certificates; deepening the learning environment and broadening the application of theory and practice.

These certificates are available to degree and non-degree students alike. Non-degree students who subsequently pursue a degree at Saybrook may be able to transfer credits toward degree requirements. Students formally enrolled in one of Saybrook’s degree programs may be able to integrate the certificate into their program as the certificate course requirement may satisfy either specialization requirements and/or degree electives. In the event that a doctoral student wishes to complete more than one Certificate program, only one course (3 credits) may be counted toward a second Certificate. No course overlap may occur for fulfillment of a third (or more) Certificate. In addition, fulfillment of each Certificate requires completion of a unique practicum (CSIH/CS/EHTP 8151: 3 credits) as well as a unique final paper (CSIH/CS/EHTP 8950: 1 credit). No overlap of required Certificate coursework will be permitted for M.A. students who wish to declare more than one Certificate.

Core Components

Though each certificate is specific to the area of focus, there are general Core Components or expectations.

Required course(s) (3 credits each)
Choice of Electives (3 credits each) to be determined in consultation with the Certificate Lead Faculty
Practicum/Project (3 credits) which is individually designed by the student in consultation with Practicum Instructor based on his or her interests and goals. This may involve related theory, research, and/or practical application. Several Certificates require the presentation of the Practicum/Project during a Saybrook Residential Conference and/or at-a-distance presentation through video conference platforms such as Go To Meeting or Skype (see Certificate Lead Faculty for more details).
Integrative Paper/Seminar (1 credit) which can be a capstone paper, professional poster presentation, or mini-project designed to allow reflection, assessment of progress, integration of experience and academic learning, and forward projection into how one will use these learnings and skills. It also invites a look into other competencies one might still wish to add.

CERTIFICATES

Applied Consciousness Studies
Arts and Self-Expression for Health and Wellbeing
Community Health & Development
Complex Trauma & The Health Process
Creativity Studies
Death, Loss, and Meaning
Dream Studies
Foundations in Existential-Humanistic Practice
International Psychology
Multicultural Psychology
Organizational Leadership & Transformation
Peace & Conflict Resolution
Professional Studies in Psychophysiology
Socially Engaged Spirituality
Stress Management Education
Transpersonal Psychology

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