Certificate in Sustainability

Log into My ASU & Set-up ASU Email Account

ASU students are required to have a working ASU email address . You can access the mail feature in MyASU by clicking on the "Profile" tab in the menu bar at the top. You can forward your ASU email addresses to one account, even if it is a non-ASU address (gmail, yahoo, etc.). More information on ASU email addresses can be found here.

Resolve Registration Holds

You may see registration holds in red font on your MyASU page under the 'Priority Tasks' box. You must address registration holds, such as the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) hold (for on campus students), before you are able to register. Financial holds may or may not prevent you from registering for classes. For example, one type of financial hold may allow you to register but not receive student loan funds. Another type of financial hold may require you to pay a portion of your tuition bill before you can register for future classes.

Send Official Transcripts

ASU needs your official transcripts, you will be restricted from registering in your second semester if you don't have them on file. If you applied using unofficial transcripts (by uploading a document as a part of the application) you will still need to send in official transcripts. You must have one set of transcripts from every college and university from which you earned a bachelor's degree or higher sent to ASU. Official transcripts must be sent directly to ASU Admission Services from the issuing institution's records office either by mail or through a secured electronic transcript service. For transcripts sent through a secured transcript service, please select Arizona State University from the vendor's dropdown list to ensure the transcript is routed to the correct place. If an email address is requested you can route to gradtranscripts@asu.edu . ASU accepts unofficial transcripts as part of the application. This is the only way we will accept unofficial transcripts. Emailed transcripts are not acceptable. If you are admitted to the university, you will be required to send official transcripts to the university. Official transcripts are original academic credentials issued by the registrar of the institution attended, bearing the original raised or colored seal of the institution and the signature of your institution's registrar, academic official or recognized international organization. If you attended ASU, you do not need to request ASU transcripts to be sent.

Class Registration and Curriculum

Once holds are removed, you can register for classes. Knowing what classes you have to take, what flexibility you have, and other items related to classes is very important. The Class Registration page tells you how to enroll in classes.

The ASU academic calendar consists of three different blocks within each semester: two concentrated 7.5 week blocks (session A, session B) and a 15‐week/full semester block (session C). Students can take classes in any combination of blocks.

Review and Follow Graduate College Policies and Procedures

Graduate Policies and Procedures Handbook contains policies that you will be responsible for following as a graduate student at ASU.

Maintain Continuous Enrollment

**** You must enroll in at least one credit each fall and spring semester to maintain continuous enrollment (stay enrolled in the program)****

You may enroll in any session (A, B or C) or any combination of sessions to maintain your continuous enrollment status to remain in the program.

School of Sustainability Quick Reference for Policies and Procedures and Certificates Handbook

The School of Sustainability has many university policies on thee School's Quick Reference for Policies and Procedures page including medical/compassionate withdrawal requests, incomplete grade requests, course override permission requests, and more. The Graduate Certificates Handbook contains policies that you will be responsible for following as a graduate student in the Certificate in Sustainability.

15 credits total:

SOS 508 Pathways to Sustainability

SOS 509 Leading Sustainability Transitions

6 credits of SOS, SFS or EMS graduate courses- Graduate level courses are numbered 500-699 Be sure to double check the prerequisites on the class search under 'enrollment requirements'.

3 credits of graduate electives- This can be a course from a different department related to sustainability or another SOS course if you would like it to be.

Schedule an Appointment With Advising

It is recommended that during your first semester, you schedule an appointment with an advisor to discuss your elective classes and iPOS submission. To schedule, log into My ASU and then navigate to the SOS Grad Advising page and then select the advising appointment that corresponds to your program.

Get an ASU ID Card (SunCard)

All ASU students must obtain ID cards, which provide access to certain locations and events, let you check books out of the library, etc. Obtain a card before school starts to avoid long lines. Lanyards and card holders can be purchased at the ASU bookstore. Take good care of your card; the initial card and replacements cost $25.

Already have a SunCard? Current & former ASU students only have to get a new SunCard if the back of the card doesn't have a "2*" followed by a number. Older versions of the card do not have the "2*".

Pay your tuition through MyASU. Click on the "Finances" tab of your MyASU page. Your tuition bill, financial aid, TA/RA tuition waiver information, etc. all appears on the Finances page.

Learn How to Use Canvas (this is where you will log into your classes)

FAQ for Students: http://asu.force.com/kb/articles/FAQ/Canvas

Quick overview video: https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Video-Guide/Canvas-Overview-Students/ta-p/383771

Check the Academic Calendar for Relevant Dates and Deadlines

It's very important to check and be familiar with the information on the University Academic Calendar Page for each semester that you are enrolled in. For example, Last Day to Register or Drop/Add Without College Approval and the withdraw with 100% tuition refund deadline is very important. The university will not refund your tuition if you withdraw from your class(es) after that deadline. For more information see Tuition and Refund Policy. Note: If you choose to drop a class or withdraw from ASU after this deadline, you may receive a bill for the financial aid used to cover those classes.

How to Access your Courses

Use your My Classes box on your My ASU to access Online classes and iCourses and find your books.

The names of the classes become live links to the course Canvas page and the books link is below your My Classes box. Be sure to check the course syllabus for additional materials or books not listed in the link.

Simply click on the name of the class to access the Canvas course (two days prior to your session beginning you will have access to the courses' Canvas page).

A ll graduate students need to submit a Plan of Study (iPOS) by the time they have enrolled in 50% of the minimum credits required for program . If you do not turn this in by the end of the semester, I will place an advising hold on your account. Per the graduate college policy, " the Plan of Study (iPOS) functions as a contract between the student, the academic unit, and the Graduate College. The iPOS contains certain degree requirements such as coursework, a committee and a culminating experience which must be included before it can be approved. The academic unit's graduate support staff should be the primary contact regarding iPOS and degree requirements." It's our way to document and check your course requirements in the system in order to process your graduation once you have completed the program.

This Graduate Resources Google Site has a page for submitting the iPOS (start with the Graduate College's How to guide ) as well as Instructions for new Graduate Certificate in Sustainability students . That is specific to submitting the iPOS for certificate students.

Certificate program. Both those documents are on the iPOS Creation page along with basic instructions .

Other Important Information

1. Coordinate final iPOS approval

Your final semester, your iPOS should be reviewed by the Graduate Support Coordinator to be sure all courses, grades, and exams have been recorded appropriately.

Clicking the Graduation tab on MyASU will take you to an online graduation application and information on how to register for the graduation ceremony. The deadline to apply (without paying a $35 late fee) is listed here.

3. Check the progress of your graduation application

Check MyASU periodically and refer any questions to the Graduate Coordinator or Graduate College as appropriate. You are responsible for ensuring that your graduation is processed, so please keep abreast of all updates and deadlines!

Transferring Credits from the Certificate to our Online Master's of Sustainability Leadership or Master's in Sustainability Solutions (based on Tempe Campus)

Students can utilize all 15 credits from the certificate for the Online Master's of Sustainability Leadership or Master's in Sustainability Solutions (MSUS) based on the Tempe campus. This is optional, but worth exploring if you think you may want to pursue a master's degree. The pre-admission rules apply to these courses (i.e., the graduate classes must have been taken within 3 years of admission and earned a B grade or better). For more information on pre-admission credits, refer to the Graduate Policies and Procedures Handbook (pg. 13) and be sure to check with your advisor .

There are two pathways to use credits toward a master's degree. In either case, you *must* apply to the program. You can't simply transfer in.

  1. You complete the certificate , and all it's requirements prior to enrolling in the MSL/MSUS. In this case, you'll need to complete the certificate iPOS and apply to graduate the semester in which you plan to graduate with the certificate.

or

  1. You do not complete the certificate. If you are admitted and enroll in the MSL/MSUS prior to completing the certificate requirements, you won't earn the certificate or need to apply to graduate. You'll need to have the certificate removed from your program. This requires a Voluntary Withdrawal form to be signed and sent into graduate admissions. Speak to your MSL or MSUS advisor once you are admitted to the program.

Notes about applying to the programs:

The following information pertains to the Master of Sustainability Solutions (MSUS).

  • Campus options : ASU Tempe campus

  • Admission to : Fall semester only

  • Complete application deadline: December 15th of the preceding year

  • Recommended submission deadline: November 15th of the preceding year

  • GPA Requirement: Equivalent to 3.00 on a 4.00 scale *

  • Application includes: Educational history, resume/CV, and statement of intent (see Application Requirements for details)

  • Supplementary requirements: Transcripts and 3 letters of recommendation

  • GRE requirements: GRE scores will not be required for admission

  • Contact: melissa.dengler@asu.edu (your certificate advisor) or schedule an appointment, the link can be found on the School of Sustainability graduate advising page . Click on the 'schedule an appointment' button, then find the 'Graduate Advising – School of Sustainability' and click on the button below to schedule. Under select service, choose 'Advising: Certificate in Sustainability' to see my availability. Then choose a time and date that works for you. In the additional information section, you can select a phone or online (Zoom) appointment.

The following information pertains to the Master of Sustainability Leadership (MSL) .

  • Campus options: ASU Online

  • Admission to: Fall and spring semester

  • Complete application deadlines: August 1st for fall semester, or December 15th of the preceding year for spring admission

  • Recommended submission deadline: All materials, transcripts and test scores (English proficiency if required), must be viewable to the department by the deadline, which can take 24-48 hours after submission. We recommend applicants submit the application and supporting materials at least one month prior to the deadline to allow sufficient processing time for materials and review by the Committee. Technical issues that prevent an applicant from applying by the deadline (ASU tech issues or student tech issues), does not change the application deadline. Regardless of technical issues, the department must be able to review documents by the deadline in order to be considered for the intended start term.

  • GPA Recommendation: Equivalent to 3.00 on a 4.00 scale**

  • Application includes: Educational history, resume/CV, and statement of intent (see Application Requirements for details)

  • Contact : Prospective students should contact ASU Online directly for further information at asuonline@asu.edu or 1-866-277-6589.