Microprogram in sustainability principles
Overview
Explore the policy, values and practice of sustainability through a selection of hand-picked undergraduate courses in the social sciences, sciences and humanities.
- Courses are available online and in-person so students can tailor their experience to their availability.
- This program welcomes candidates from diverse educational backgrounds and does not require prior experience, a scientific background or prerequisites to enroll.
15 credits on your timeline
Earn undergraduate credits on sustainability topics either full-time or part-time, at your pace.
Flexible coursework
Some courses are available asynchronously online and others, in-person to accommodate scheduling, accessibility and learning styles.
Access to facilities
As a registered student, you'll have access to the facilities at Loyola College and the university, including the library, shuttle bus and more.
Admission requirements
This microprogram welcomes candidates from diverse educational backgrounds who are interested in working with sustainability.
- Only Canadian citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply.
- Registered undergraduate students at Concordia are not allowed to enrol in this microprogram but are eligible for the Elective Group and Minor in Sustainability Studies.
- No previous degree or diploma required for acceptance.
Students in the microprogram will be in classes with students who have been admitted based on the following requirements:
- a DEC for in-province students;
- a minimum C+ average for students coming from out of province straight out of high school;
- a 26 from an IB program; an 11 from a Baccalauréat français;
- or a C for university transfers.
In order to accomodate your learning history, let us know if you do not meet any of these criteria and by addressing this in your letter of intent in your application.
What to expect
Over a flexible time period at your pace, you'll learn to develop sustainability literacy from an interdisciplinary perspective and apply sustainability principles to complex local and global sustainability issues through:
- interdisciplinary courses online and in-person
- supportive community to develop globally-responsible citizenship and engagement
Coursework
Enjoy a curated selection of interdisciplinary courses on sustainability topics at Concordia offered online and in-person. No prerequisites or scientific background are required.
Introductory courses
Choose one of these courses.
This course is offered in the fall term in-person on the Loyola campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. + tutorial or on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Description: This course begins with an introduction to the science of ecology and to the concept of sustainability as an ecological principle. The concept of sustainability is then broadened to include humans, as students are introduced to ethics, economics, and resource management from an eco-centric point of view. Students are encouraged to think critically about current environmental problems and to take action on an individual project.
This course is offered in the winter term.
Description: The aim of this online introductory course is to have students critically examine and understand Indigenous and non-Indigenous worldviews and approaches to what sustainability means, including key principles and issues.
Students will be offered pathways to explore sustainability and environmental justice topics such as Indigenous approaches to food sovereignty and food security; land-based education systems; ongoing impacts of colonial-corporate policy and practices on climate change; pollution; biodiversity loss; degrowth; systems thinking; climate action; and assessment and practice of sustainability and planetary well-being from Indigenous and diverse disciplinary perspectives.
Environmental sustainability courses
Choose up to two courses from this group.
This course is offered in the summer and winter terms only.
Description: This course deals with food composition (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals), its absorption and utilization, energy balance, special diets, and food technology. Lectures only.
This course is offered in the winter term in-person on the Loyola campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Description: The current state of biodiversity around the world and the forces that affect this diversity are the main focus of this course. It addresses the origins of this diversity, the advantages of variability in the environment for human life, and the contemporary challenges to this diversity. This course is intended to emphasize holistic thinking and system analysis.
This course is offered in the winter term online.
Description: This course studies energy, a critical resource for civilization, and the impact of energy consumption on societies and the environment. Topics include renewable and non-renewable energy sources, the physics of energy including the second law of thermodynamics and the notion of entropy, energy production and distribution, and social and global environmental issues such as pollution, sustainability, climate change, regulation and the future of energy. Lectures only.
Sustainability policy courses
Choose up to two courses from this group.
This course is offered every winter term online.
Description: This online course is an introduction to the emerging field of global environmental politics. It surveys the present environmental crisis and the roles of states, international organizations, and civil society. Various case studies dealing with oceans, forests, fisheries, biodiversity, global warming, and others are used to illustrate the inherent complexity of transnational ecological issues in the era of globalization.
Sustainability values courses
Choose up to two courses from this group.
This course is offered in the fall and winter terms online.
Description: This course is an introduction to argumentation and reasoning. It focuses on the kinds of arguments one is likely to encounter in academic work, in the media, and in philosophical, social, and political debate. The course aims to improve students' ability to advance arguments persuasively and their ability to respond critically to the arguments of others. Students will find the skills they gain in this course useful in virtually every area of study.
Students who have received credit for PHIL 210 or for this topic under a PHIL 298 number may not take this course for credit.
This course is offered in the winter term in-person on the Sir George Williams campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is a conference component on Mondays from 8:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. or from 10:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on campus.
Description: This course provides an introduction to the main problems in the philosophy of science. These include the structure of scientific theories, various models of scientific method and explanation, and the existence of unobservables.
Students who have received credit for INTE 250 or PHIL 228 may not take this course for credit.
This course is offered in the winter term in-person on the Sir George Williams campus on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Description: This course examines recent developments in ethical theories as they are applied to questions of environmental practices. Topics discussed may include the moral significance of nonhuman nature, duties to respond to climate change, economics and sustainable environmental protection, and environmental justice.
Students who have received credit for this topic under a PHIL 298 or 398 number may not take this course for credit.
After the microprogram
Students who successfully complete this microprogram will receive:
- A letter of attestation of having successfully completed the microprogram
- 15 undergraduate credits at the university level that can eventually be applied to a future degree
- The core competencies and the skills you'll need for entry level roles the sustainability sector
- A network of sustainability colleagues and mentors in the field
How to apply
- You’ll need a Concordia Netname to start an application. Create a Netname account.
- Once you have a Netname, complete an application. Select “Undergraduate Microprogram” from the list to get started.
- Include your supporting documents:
- Curriculum vitae (cv);
- A letter of intent stating your interests and motivations to learn about sustainability (two pages maximum, single-spaced in English);
- Proof of your status in Canada
- Have a valid credit card to pay the application fee of $40 CAD.
- Please note that we accept the following credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diners Club and UATP.
You may upload documents to your application even after submitting it. However, we cannot complete the assessment of your application until we receive all required documents.
Tuition and fees
For this 15-credit undergraduate microprogram, please review the total cost estimate based on your residency situation in Canada.
Please note that microprogram students do not qualify for financial assistance, awards, fee waivers, bursaries, or scholarships internally to Concordia or externally at the provincial/federal levels.
Contact
If you have questions about the microprogram, please get in touch:
Rebecca Tittler
loyolacollege.fas@concordia.ca
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