Environmental Leadership, Engagement, and Ethics
CERT Environmental Leadership, Engagement, and Ethics
Program Overview
The core curriculum is focused on engaged ecology, environmental justice, and biocultural conservation as avenues for environmental leadership. The curriculum offers qualitative and quantitative research opportunities and long-term socio-ecological research projects and projects capable of being taken into the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Students are encouraged to identify projects in their specialization area that can benefit from using this certificate's principles. Course offerings include advanced scholarship, environmental justice, nature interpretation, field environmental philosophy, biocultural ethics, land ethics.
This certificate program requires 12 hours to complete.
Course Work
Students will complete core courses in environmental ethics. The program requires elective courses from internships in applied philosophy, environmental justice, biocultural ethics, and field environmental philosophy. A rich philosophical environment supports each graduate student’s interdisciplinary research interests in a variety of weekly dialogues and community facing events through the philosophy department’s dialogue series including engaged ecology symposiums that include founders and leaders in the field of environmental philosophy. Previous philosophical training is not required.
| Degree | Required Credits | Electives | Total Hours | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Degree Certificate in Environmental Leadership, Engagement, and Ethics | Required Credits 3 hours | Electives 9 hours | Total Hours 12 hours | Location San Marcos |
Program Details
This program allows students to develop specialized training and knowledge in areas including but not limited to: leadership, sustainability, nature interpretation, program design, environmental ethics, biocultural ethics, biocultural conservation, environmental justice, philosophical research, grant writing, quantitative and qualitative research analysis, and international research exchange.
Program Mission
The objectives of this program include:
- Providing an interdisciplinary platform which includes the humanities and the sciences to prepare students to enter into leadership roles in environmental initiatives broadly construed.
- Preparing students to engage in academically rigorous socioecological research consistent with recent developments in the fields of conservation science and environmental philosophy.
- Offering students the opportunity to begin interfacing with local and regional community partners to develop networking and experience.
Career Options
In addition to a robust theoretical curriculum, our program emphasizes community engagement to equip students with first-hand experience and opportunities to develop networks in the local area in pursuit of full-time work in environmental fields including sustainability, outdoor recreation, conservation, watershed management, environmental justice and environmental law.
Program Faculty
Faculty in the philosophy department have a wealth of training in the following areas:
- Environmental Ethics
- Environmental Justice
- Biocultural Conservation
- Environmental Aesthetics
- Ecofeminism
- Environmental Philosophy and Technology
- Animal Ethics
- Social and Political Philosophy
- Field Environmental Philosophy
Contact us for general questions about your application, funding opportunities, and more. If you have specific questions after reviewing the program details, contact the program's graduate advisor.
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Application Deadlines
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For Entry Prior to Summer 2026
DEADLINES U.S. CITIZEN INTERNATIONAL Fall June 15 (*Flexible) June 1 Spring October 15 (*Flexible) October 1 Summer I April 15 (*Flexible) March 15 Summer II June 1 (*Flexible) No Admission *This program’s deadline is flexible for those not requiring an F/J visa. A flexible deadline means applications received after the standard deadline may be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis with no guarantees for admission consideration.
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Effective for Summer 2026 Entry and Beyond
DEADLINES U.S. CITIZEN INTERNATIONAL Fall - Priority February 1 February 1 Fall - Standard August 1 June 1 Spring - Priority September 1 September 1 Spring - Standard November 1 October 1 Summer I - Priority January 1 January 1 Summer I - Standard May 1 March 15 Summer II - Priority January 1 No Admission Summer II - Standard June 1 No Admission
For important information regarding deadlines and decision timelines, review the Application Policy Information page.
Admission Requirements
The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international webpages.
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Application
- completed online application
Review important information about the online application.
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Application Fee
- $20 nonrefundable application fee, OR
- $60 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
Review important information about application fees.
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Transcripts & GPA
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university. (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
- A copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
- An overall 2.5 overall GPA or a 2.5 GPA in your last 60 semester hours of undergraduate course work.
- A minimum 3.0 GPA in all completed graduate course work (if applicable).
Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.
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Test Scores
GRE
- GRE not required
Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores
Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.
- official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
- official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
- official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0
- official Duolingo Scores required with a 110 overall
- official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall
This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.
Review important information about official test scores.