To accelerate transformative societal response to today’s unprecedented and interconnected environmental, social, and economic challenges, ̽̽ and the Shelburne Farms Institute for Sustainable Schools recently launched two new Education for Sustainability Certificate of Graduate Study (EFS-CGS) programs. Grounded in action research, transformative education, and youth leadership, EFS coursework prepares educators to empower learners in making positive changes in their communities while shifting societies to improve the quality of life for current and for future generations.
The new programs combine ̽̽’s research capacity, land-grant mission, and track record of high-quality teacher education with Shelburne Farms’ international reputation for EFS professional learning for teachers. Coursework benefits preK-12 educators as well as those working in museum education, outdoor education, parks and recreation activities, and other fields where natural and built environments are part of the curriculum. The partnership's unique co-teaching arrangement along with scholarship opportunities reduces costs for graduate students.
Courses Begin This Summer
Coursework begins in July 2022. Applicants may enroll in the following hybrid courses for graduate credit leading toward a 12-credit Micro Certificate of Graduate Study (mCGS-EFS) or leading to the 18-credit Certificate of Graduate Study (CGS-EFS). Courses tale place online and at the Shelburne Farms’ campus.
Both certificate paths begin with Foundations in Education for Sustainability/EDCI 343 (3 graduate credits) as an introductory course showcasing how sustainability can begin in the classroom. "Participants co-construct what it means to educate for sustainability through immersive explorations of place, systems, and community," says Shelburne Farms Professional Learning Facilitator and EFS Program Faculty Aimee Arandia Østensen. Online sessions are Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm beginning July 6 through July 15. There is also an in-person retreat July 25-29 at Shelburne Farms’ Coach Barn.
Immersion in Education for Sustainability/EDCI 344 (3 graduate credits) is a hybrid course that deepens educators' understanding as they dive into the essential questions of EFS. Online sessions are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm between July 5 through August 4 followed by an in-person retreat August 10-12 at Shelburne Farms’ Orchard Cove House.
Education for Sustainability Leadership Academy/ECDI 345 and ECDI 346 (6 graduate credits) develops an EFS professional action plan with peer network support. The hybrid course includes virtual sessions throughout the year along with four in-person retreats. The kick-off in-person retreat takes place at Shelburne Farms July 18-20. Certificate participants .
Both Shelburne Farms and ̽̽’s College of Education and Social Services (CESS) have long-standing commitments to supporting and empowering educators. As a global innovator and leader in EFS for more than three decades, Shelburne Farms is an education nonprofit on a mission to inspire and cultivate learning for a sustainable future.
̽̽ and Shelburne Farms define sustainability as the pursuit of ecological, social, and economic vitality that allows the needs of the present to be met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Educators are on the front lines of preparing today’s youth to meet that challenge. UNESCO and its UN partners identified “building the capacities of educators” in relation to education for sustainable development as one of three top priority action areas.
“Education for Sustainability nurtures and cultivates a relationship between students and their natural and human communities, builds an understanding of interdependence through systems thinking, and positions students to discover their value and purpose through community service and action,” explains CESS Associate Professor Simon Jorgenson and core EFS faculty member at ̽̽.
“The greater Burlington area is recognized by the United Nations as a regional center of expertise in education for sustainability,” says Walter Poleman, senior lecturer at the Rubenstein School for Environment and National Resources (RSENR). “As leaders in this field, ̽̽ and Shelburne Farms are able to facilitate relationships within the regional network and between other centers around the world. Participants in the new certificate programs will have a unique opportunity to engage locally, regionally, and globally.”
Core EFS faculty at ̽̽ include Jorgenson, Poleman, and CESS Associate Professor Regina Toolin. Shelburne Farms faculty include Director of Professional Learning , Professional Learning Facilitator , and Special Projects Coordinator , who also serves as a professional development coordinator at ̽̽’s Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education.
“With a shared history of leadership in education for sustainability, ̽̽ and the Shelburne Farms Institute for Sustainable Schools are perfect partners,” says Shelburne Farms Executive Vice President and Program Director Megan Camp. “It is more critical than ever to offer these transformative experiences for educators and their schools. Programs like these can help make positive change in communities around the world, and create a more just and sustainable future for all.”
For more information, visit the Education for Sustainability web page on the College of Education and Social Services website.