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Certificates of Completion
We offer a variety of certificates of completion to better prepare you for careers in the environment and sustainability fields.
You will take core courses in the natural and social sciences to gain an understanding of the interrelationships within ecological and social systems, while courses in the arts and humanities let you acquire foundational problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
However, your education won’t just take place in the classroom. You’ll also learn through experiences in local and global organizations, internships, clubs, and community involvement that will be crucial parts of your journey at Beloit.
The knowledge and skills that you gain from courses and experiences form the foundation of the certificates of completion you can earn through the School of Environment & Sustainability.
Applying for a certificate for completion
Once you decide to undertake a certificate of completion, or if you’d like more information, please complete the certificate of completion application form and contact the School of Environment & Sustainability Director (environment@beloit.edu) to schedule a certificate of completion advising meeting.
Offerings and requirements
Requirement #1: Complete the Analytical Techniques Block (4 Units)
Students who complete the Analytical Techniques block will have experience operating and collecting data from a wide variety of materials using analytical instrumentation. This includes an understanding of the theory/physical processes behind the analyses, in addition to learning relevant sample preparation techniques. Students will have the skills and knowledge base that, when combined with the appropriate major, will be competitive for careers in laboratory settings across scientific disciplines and in applying to graduate school.
4 units total from the following lists:
- Both of the following:
- CHEM 117. General Chemistry
- CHEM 220. Environmental, Analytical, and Geochemistry
- Two units from the following:
- BIOL 365. Ecotoxicology OR BIOL 372 Ecology
- CHEM 225. Topics in Instrumental Analysis
- CHEM 230. Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 370. Advanced Topics - when topic appropriate
- GEOL 200. Mineralogy
- GEOL 230. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
- GEOL 251. Advanced Topics - when topic appropriate
- PHYS 210. Modern Physics
- PHYS 345. Advanced Experimental Physics
Requirement #2: Complete One Relevant Experience
- Beloit & Beyond Conference Presentation
- Student Symposium Presentation
- McNair Scholars Program or Upward Bound Participation
- BIOL, CHEM, ENVS, GEOL, or PHYS Special Project (0.5-1.0 unit)
- Entrepreneurial initiative at CELEB
- Internship, Summer Research Experience, or similar
Requirement #3: Complete a Professional Review
- Summarize 4 or more analytical technique/instrument proficiencies on your resume/CV.
- Have your resume/CV and draft cover letter reviewed by Career Works.
Additional Requirements
- A student may only count one of the courses above for both this and a different certificate of completion from the School of Environment & Sustainability.
- Individual activities cannot count towards meeting the requirements for more than one certificate of completion from the School of Environment & Sustainability.
Requirement #1: Complete the Environmental Advocacy Block (4 Units)
Students who complete the Environmental Advocacy block will gain skills in developing and communicating about public policy related to environmental protection. Students will have the skills and knowledge base that, when paired with the appropriate major, will be competitive for careers in conservation and environmental activism, policy development, justice, communication, and education.
Four units total from the following lists:
- Politics & policy (at least one unit):
- ENVS 246/POLS 246. Int. Political Economy of the Environment
- ENVS 255/POLS 255. US Environmental Law & Policy
- ENVS 257/POLS 257. International Politics of Climate Change
- ENVS 259/POLS 259. Environmental Political Theory
- POLS 110. U.S. Federal Government and Politics
- POLS 160. International Politics
- POLS 180. Introduction to Political Thinking
- Thinking about the environment (at least one unit):
- ENVS 215/FREN 215. Advanced French Language and Ecocriticism
- ENVS 224/PHIL 224. Environmental Ethics
- ENVS 260/MDST 350. Media and the Anthropocene
- ENVS 283/HIST 212. Environmental History of South & West Asia
- ENVS 287/SPAN 282. Environmental Hispanic Literature
- ENVS 290/JAPN 240. Japanese Ecocriticism
- ENVS 290/EDYS 276. Ecology, Development, and Education
- ENVS 290/PSYC 285. Environmental Psychology
- ENVS 296/JAPN 296. Totoro Saves the World
- ENVS 295/PHIL 240. Philosophy of Nature
- ENVS 295/POLS 297. Home
- Advocacy skills (at least one unit):
- ENVS 220/WRIT 220. Writing the Environmental Humanities
- ENVS 225/JOUR 225. Environmental Writing
- ENVS 280/ANTH 275. Visualizing People and Place
- JOUR/MDST 125. Introduction to Journalism
- JOUR/MDST 155. Introduction to Nonfiction Video Production
- JOUR/MDST 225. Magazine Feature Writing
- MDST 105. Public Speaking
- MDST 110. Concepts of Media
Requirement #2: Complete One Relevant Experience
- Environmental Justice: Sustainability (Coe College Wilderness Field Station)
- Writing Wilderness (Coe College Wilderness Field Station)
- Beloit & Beyond Conference Presentation
- Student Symposium Presentation
- Global Experience Seminar
- McNair Scholars Program or Upward Bound Participation
- ENVS Special Project (0.5-1.0 unit)
- Entrepreneurial initiative at CELEB
- Internship, Summer Research Experience, or similar
Requirement #3: Complete a Professional Review
- Have your resume/CV and draft cover letter reviewed by Career Works.
Additional Requirements
- A student may only count one of the courses above for both this and a different certificate of completion from the School of Environment & Sustainability.
- Individual activities cannot count towards meeting the requirements for more than one certificate of completion from the School of Environment & Sustainability.
Requirement #1: Complete the Environmental Humanities Block (4 Units)
Students who complete the Environmental Humanities block will gain skills in representing humanities perspectives on a broad range of environmental topics. Students will gain the skills and knowledge base that, when paired with the appropriate major, will be competitive for positions requiring humanistic perspectives on environmental issues, including careers in environmental activism, policy development, justice, communication, education, and other cultural and artistic fields.
- Four units total from the following list:
- ENGL 301. Victorian Garbage
- ENVS 211/SPAN 210. Spanish in Dialogue with the Environment
- ENVS 215/FREN 215. Advanced French Language and Ecocriticism
- ENVS 220/WRIT 220. Writing the Environmental Humanities
- ENVS 224/PHIL 224. Environmental Ethics
- ENVS 225/JOUR 225. Environmental Writing
- ENVS 260/MDST 350. Media and the Anthropocene
- ENVS 283/HIST 212. Environmental History of South & West Asia
- ENVS 287/SPAN 282. Environmental Hispanic Literature
- ENVS 290/EDYS 276. Ecology, Development, and Education
- ENVS 290/ENGL 254. Green Romanticism
- ENVS 290/JAPN 240. Japanese Ecocriticism
- ENVS 295/POLS 297. Home
- ENVS 295/PHIL 240. Philosophy of Nature
- ENVS 296/JAPN 296. Totoro Saves the World
- HIST 150. Worlds of Stone: The City in Modern European History
- HIST 150. Mountains
- JAPN 263. Nightmare Japan
- PHIL 232. Philosophy of Art
Requirement #2: Complete One Relevant Experience
- Writing Wilderness (Coe College Wilderness Field Station)
- Beloit & Beyond Conference Presentation
- Student Symposium Presentation
- Global Experience Seminar
- McNair Scholars Program or Upward Bound Participation
- ENVS Special Project (0.5-1.0 unit)
- Entrepreneurial initiative at CELEB
- Internship, Summer Research Experience, or similar
Requirement #3: Complete a Professional Review
- Have your resume/CV and draft cover letter reviewed by Career Works.
Additional Requirements
- A student may only count one of the courses above for both this and a different certificate of completion from the School of Environment & Sustainability.
- Individual activities cannot count towards meeting the requirements for more than one certificate of completion from the School of Environment & Sustainability.
Requirement #1: Complete the Environmental Science Block (4 Units)
Students who complete the Environmental Science block will have the ability to apply an interdisciplinary scientific approach to environmental issues. This includes the ability to identify and interpret the physical and chemical processes operating in both natural and disturbed settings. Students will also have the skills and knowledge base that, when combined with the appropriate major, will be competitive for careers in environmental consulting, remediation, planning, management, and conservation.
Four units total from the following lists:
- One unit from the following:
- CHEM 117. General Chemistry
- CHEM 220. Environmental, Analytical, and Geochemistry
- One unit from the following:
- BIOL 111. Zoology
- BIOL 121. Botany
- BIOL 152. Aquatic Biology
- One unit from the following:
- GEOL 100. Earth: Exploring a Dynamic Planet
- GEOL 110. Environmental Geology and Geologic Hazards
- GEOL 115/ENVS 115. Environmental Science and Sustainability
- GEOL 216. Soils in the Environment
- One unit from the following:
- BIOL 220/ENVS 221. Conservation Biology
- BIOL 365. Ecotoxicology
- BIOL 372. Ecology
- CHEM 250. Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
- GEOL 200. Mineralogy
- GEOL 230. Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
- GEOL 245/ENVS 245. Earth’s Climate: Past and Future
- (when topic is relevant) BIOL 275 (1 unit), CHEM 370 (1 unit), OR GEOL 251 (1 unit)
Requirement #2: Complete One Relevant Experience
- Beloit & Beyond Conference Presentation
- Student Symposium Presentation
- Global Experience Seminar
- McNair Scholars Program or Upward Bound Participation
- BIOL, CHEM, ENVS, GEOL, or PHYS Special Project (0.5-1.0 unit)
- Entrepreneurial initiative at CELEB
- Internship, Summer Research Experience, or similar
Requirement #3: Complete a Professional Review
- Have your resume/CV and draft cover letter reviewed by Career Works.
Additional Requirements
- A student may only count one of the courses above for both this and a different certificate of completion from the School of Environment & Sustainability.
- Individual activities cannot count towards meeting the requirements for more than one certificate of completion from the School of Environment & Sustainability.
Requirement #1: Complete the Sustainability Block (4 Units)
Students who complete the Sustainability block will have an interdisciplinary background in sustainability and will have both practiced and reflected upon sustainable principles. This includes the ability to identify and assess current sustainability challenges, and propose solutions that range from local to global scale. Students will gain the skills and knowledge base that, when combined with the appropriate major, will be competitive for careers in sustainability policy, strategy/planning, analysis, management, programming, and sustainable product development and resource use.
Four units total from the following lists:
- Two units from the following:
- BIOL 121. Botany
- BIOL 365. Ecotoxicology
- BIOL 372. Ecology
- CHEM 117. Chemistry
- GEOL 100. Earth: Exploring a Dynamic Planet
- GEOL 110. Environmental Geology
- GEOL 115. Environmental Science and Sustainability
- GEOL 216. Soils in the Environment
- GEOL 245/ENVS 245. Earth’s Climate: Past and Future
- Two units from the following:
- ECON 205. Environmental Economics
- ENVS 210/POLS 210. Sustainable Cities
- ENVS 220/WRIT 220. Writing the Environmental Humanities
- ENVS 224/PHIL 224. Environmental Ethics
- ENVS 225/JOUR 225. Environmental Writing
- ENVS 246/POLS 246. Int. Political Economy of the Environment
- ENVS 255/POLS 255. US Environmental Law & Policy
- ENVS 257/POLS 257. International Politics of Climate Change
- ENVS 259/POLS 259. Environmental Political Theory
- ENVS 260/MDST 350. Media and the Anthropocene
- ENVS 283/HIST 212. Environmental History of South and West Asia
- ENVS 290/EDYS 276. Ecology, Development, and Education
- ENVS 290/ENGL 254. Green Romanticism
- ENVS 290/JAPN 240. Japanese Ecocriticism
- ENVS 290/HIST 150. Mountains
- ENVS 295/POLS 297. Home
- ENVS 295/PHIL 240. Philosophy of Nature
- ENVS 296/JAPN 296. Totoro Saves the World
- SOCI 271. Sociology of the Environment
Requirement #2: Complete One Relevant Experience
- Environmental Justice: Sustainability (Coe College Wilderness Field Station)
- Writing Wilderness (Coe College Wilderness Field Station)
- Beloit & Beyond Conference Presentation
- Student Symposium Presentation
- Global Experience Seminar
- McNair Scholars Program or Upward Bound Participation
- BIOL, CHEM, ENVS, or GEOL Special Project (0.5-1.0 unit)
- LEED or HAZWOP training
- Entrepreneurial initiative at CELEB
- Internship, Summer Research Experience, or similar
Requirement #3: Complete a Professional Review
- Have your resume/CV and draft cover letter reviewed by Career Works.
Additional Requirements
- A student may only count one of the courses above for both this and a different certificate of completion from the School of Environment & Sustainability.
- Individual activities cannot count towards meeting the requirements for more than one certificate of completion from the School of Environment & Sustainability.