Deepen your understanding of sustainable practices to become an advocate for social equity, ecological health, and food systems.
Credential Type
Undergraduate Certificate
Cost (2024)
$3,816
Delivery Format
Online
Program Length
9 Credit Hours
Enrollment
Fall or Spring
Eligibility Criteria
No degree required
Benefit 1
Gain a comprehensive perspective on sustainability and justice.
Benefit 2
Apply sustainability theories to real-world challenges effectively.
Benefit 3
Broaden career options in environmental policy and advocacy.
Overview
This certificate is for environmental activists, policymakers, and sustainability advocates.
It allows you to investigate specialized courses on justice, food, and environmental systems, enhancing your capacity to promote equitable practices in various sectors.
Skills You Will Learn
Upon completing this certificate, you will:
- Develop the ability to critically analyze food and environmental justice issues through the lens of economic theory.
- Learn to identify and understand disparities in food access and environmental quality across different demographics, including race, gender, and income.
- Apply economic theories to interpret the patterns of food security and environmental quality experienced by various groups in the U.S.
- Gain skills in using economic principles to analyze and propose policies to correct inequities in food and environmental systems.
- Acquire knowledge about minority cultures and their experiences with food security and environmental quality, enhancing cultural sensitivity and understanding.
- Learn to gather, analyze, and interpret data relevant to food and environmental justice to support research and policy-making.
Build Skills that Matter
Gain the knowledge and practical experience needed to excel in your field and create meaningful impact.
Course Details
The Sustainability & Justice in Food & Environmental Systems Certificate is a 9-hour program. Students enrolled in this certificate can customize their experience by choosing one of four specialty areas of investigation: policy and law, climate change and society, food production systems, and resources and influence.
† indicates a pre-requisite course or academic standing requirement for enrollment
* indicates the course satisfies one or more general education requirements
Complete 9 credit hours from one of the specialization options, or any of the courses listed across specializations.
Policy & Laws
Choose three courses from list:
- ACE 203: Introduction to Public Policy and Law (3 credits, fall)
- ACE 255: Economics of Food & Environmental Justice (3 credits, fall)
- ACE 306: Food Law (3 credits, spring)
- NRES 434: Environment, Policy, and Conflict†
- NRES 425: Natural Resources Law & Policy (3 credits)
- CEE 438: Science and Environmental Policy†
Food Production Systems
Choose three courses from list:
- ABE 152: Water in the Global Environment* (3 credits, fall)
- ACE 255: Economics of Food & Environmental Justice (3 credits, fall)
- ANSC 101: Contemporary Animal Issues (3 credits, spring)
- ANSC 205: World Animal Resources* (3 credits, spring/summer/fall)
- ANSC 255: Animal Ethics* (3 credits, fall)
- ANSC 305: Human Animal Interactions* (3 credits, spring/fall)
- CPSC 116: The Global Food Production Web * (3 credits, spring)
- HORT 205: Local Food Systems (3 credits, fall)
- PLPA 200: Plants, Pathogens, and People* (3 credits, spring)
Climate Change & Society
Choose three courses from list:
- ACE 255: Economics of Food & Environmental Justice (3 credits, fall)
- ABE 232: Context in International Interventions* (3 credits, fall)
- LEAD 340: Leadership Ethics & Society: Addressing Contemporary Challenges* (3 credits, fall)
- NRES 105: Climate Change Impacts on Ecological Systems* (3 credits, spring)
- NRES 224: Social Justice and Environment* (3 credits, fall)
- NRES 287: Environment & Society†* (3 credits, spring)
- ANTH 278: Climate Change & Civilization* (3 credits, fall)
- ANTH 209: Food, Culture, and Society* (3 credits, spring/summer)
Resources & Influence
Choose three courses from list:
- ACE 210: Environmental Economics* (3 credits, spring/fall)
- ACE 251: World Food Economy* (3 credits, spring/fall)
- ACE 255: Economics of Food & Environmental Justice (3 credits, fall)
- ACE 310: Natural Resource Economics (3 credits, fall)
- AGCM 330: Environmental Communications† (3 credits, spring/fall)
- HDFS 330: Reasoning for Everyday Life† (3 credits, fall)
- ETMA 311: Humanity in the Food Web* (3 credits, spring/fall)
How to Enroll
Applying for this Certificate
Current University of Illinois students are eligible to enroll in the courses each semester (Fall, Spring, Summer). Start your certificate.
Non-current students may also enroll in courses as a non-degree student. You can learn more about the non-degree process or start your application. For questions about the process, please contact acesonline@illinois.edu.
Receiving your Certificate
For all students, after courses are completed, confirm your completion of the requirements.
Explore ACES Online
Our online education is flexible and accessible, enabling learners to advance their careers, develop new skills, and connect with peers.