Grounded in action research, transformative education, and youth leadership, coursework will energize your teaching practice and advance your knowledge, preparing you to empower learners in making positive change. 

These graduate programs are designed for practicing PreK-12, post-secondary, and informal educators with an interest in EFS. Our current cohort includes educators from varied backgrounds: classroom teachers, sustainability coordinators, school librarians, full-time graduate students, and non-formal educators. Although all share a goal of educating for sustainability, each student comes to the program with unique goals for their career, school, or community.

Whether you’re looking to advance your career, demonstrate a commitment to building a more sustainable future, realign your practice with your values, or build a professional network, you’ll practice change-making skills to transform the systems in which you work and deepen your expertise in bringing EFS to life for learners.

We are currently accepting applications for Summer 2023 enrollment.

Choose from a 12-credit Micro Certificate of Graduate Study (mCGS-EFS) or an 18-credit Certificate of Graduate Study (CGS-EFS). 

Unique Shelburne Farms experiences, coupled with graduate coursework, form the foundation of each pathway. These experiences are flexible and adaptable based on location and time of enrollment.

The following courses lead toward a graduate certificate:

Foundations in Education for Sustainability/EDCI 343

Learn how sustainability can start in your classroom. Hybrid course. The recommended introduction to EFS. (Graduate credits: 3)

• Online sessions in July
• In-person retreat in July at Shelburne Farms’ Coach Barn, Vermont
• All coursework due in August

Immersion in Education for Sustainability/EDCI 344

Deepen your understanding and dive into the essential questions of EFS. Hybrid course. Foundations in EFS is a recommended precursor to this course. (Graduate credits: 3)

• Online sessions in July and August
• In-person retreat in August at Shelburne Farms’ Orchard Cove House, Vermont
• All coursework due in August 

Education for Sustainability Leadership Academy/EDCI 345 and EDCI 346

Develop an EFS professional action plan with peer network support. Hybrid course. Foundations and Immersion in EFS are recommended precursors. (Graduate credits: 6)

• Year-long program with virtual sessions throughout the year, plus four in-person retreats. 
• Kick-off in-person retreat: July at Shelburne Farms, Vermont. Note that this retreat opens the program, but is not offered for credit. Certificate participants register for corresponding UVM courses during fall and spring semesters.
• Retreats 2-4 will count toward the UVM-accredited certificates.

Read more about all certificate courses and electives on the University of Vermont’s website.

• Aimee Arandia Østensen, Professional Learning Facilitator, Shelburne Farms
• Jen Cirillo, Director of Professional Learning, Shelburne Farms
• Simon Jorgenson, UVM College of Education and Social Services
• Walter Poleman, UVM Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources 
• Regina Toolin, UVM College of Education and Social Services

Both programs include six place-based sessions at Shelburne Farms, located in Shelburne, Vermont, as well as asynchronous and synchronous sessions online. For electives: The mode and method of instruction depends on your selected courses, but UVM does offer remote and asynchronous learning options. Many UVM students take graduate-level courses and simultaneously work full-time. Explore all graduate offerings via the course catalogue on UVM’s website.

Recommended program sequence is as follows. The micro certificate can be completed in six semesters, and the certificate in seven semesters. For committed students, an accelerated version of the micro certificate may be completed in three semesters from summer through the following spring. (Note that UVM course numbers will change in fall 2023.)

To enroll, you must have completed a bachelor’s degree. There is no GRE required. Admission is on a rolling basis, but we recommend applying in spring for a summer start.

Students may enroll in one course prior to matriculating into the CGS program. Students may enroll as a non-degree student through University of Vermont Professional and Continuing Education (PACE). Normal UVM tuition and fees are charged. Visit PACE for further information on course registration.

Fees

Fees are based on the number of credits taken per semester. Fees below as of spring 2023.

Scholarships may be available for our programs on a need-based scale. Please fill out the scholarship application prior to registering for a program. Note that scholarship funds are limited to program fee; graduate credits are not covered.