This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2024-2025 VCU Bulletin. Courses that expose students to cutting-edge content and transformative learning may be added and notification of additional program approvals may be received prior to finalization. General education program content is also subject to change. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.

The Graduate Certificate in Sustainability, Health, and Health Care is a program that provides students with foundational knowledge about the interplay between climate change, human health and the health care industry. Students will learn how the consequences of climate change and the diverse ways in which health care facilities contribute to carbon emissions, waste, and air pollution, as well as steps public and private organizations are taking to mitigate these effects. Students will be prepared to contribute to actions that respond to the impact of climate change on patients and communities, increase the resilience of health care facilities and mitigate the impact of the industry on climate change. Graduates will be able to analyze specific problems, propose solutions and outline implementation strategies that influence sustainable practices within health care organizations.

Student learning outcomes

Students who complete this certificate program will be able to:

  • Explain the history, context and causes of climate change (from a layperson’s perspective)
  • Describe the scope of the problems created by climate change on both health and resource use, and their distribution across demographic subgroups
  • Assess the specific contribution of the health care industry to these costs and their consequences
  • Describe current efforts by public and private organizations/entities to address these issues, and assess the factors that contributed to their outcomes
  • Identify ways that they can play a role in climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • Identify a specific organizational or policy problem related to environmental sustainability
  • Gather and analyze data relevant to the problem
  • Devise an approach to address the problem, including an implementation plan
  • Create communication materials to educate diverse stakeholders about the problem and the approach to its solution, including advocacy strategies as appropriate

VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs

The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.

It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.

Graduation requirements

As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.