Emory University
EN-12: Continuing Education

See attached file for course inventory.

The sustainability certificate program was ended before this STARS reporting period.

All data reported in this section are from September 2020-August 2023

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, course catalogs have not been published since 2020, but a list of course titles from both Emory Continuing Education and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is attached with an indicator of whether a course was considered "sustainability inclusive".

Due to the above constraint, the total number of courses reflects one listing per course (rather than per offering). The STARS 2.2 Technical Manual for EN-12 states that one way for a course to classify as “sustainability-inclusive” is by integrating “sustainability challenges, issues, and concepts.” The manual suggests that to identify specific sustainability challenges, one can reference the Earth Charter principles and/or the UN SDGs. Below is an explanation of why certain course categories have been included in this list, referencing sustainability challenges mentioned in the SDGs. Courses that address issues of social justice, equity, and inclusion— especially racial justice— have been included in this list. SDG 3 is to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages,” The phrase “at all ages” informed the decision to list several courses about the health of elders, especially as the way a society cares for its elders is an important indicator of that society’s values. One target of SDG 3 is “promot[ing] mental health and well-being.” Meditation and mindfulness practices are ways to promote mental well-being, so courses teaching these skills have been included in the list. Furthermore, research has shown the personal and societal positive impacts of introducing mindfulness meditation into people’s lives. SDG 3 also includes targets for physical health such as ending the epidemics of communicable diseases and reducing death and illness from environmental contamination. Courses that address disease and public health relate to this sustainability challenge and therefore have been included in the list. Economic considerations are an important aspect of sustainability. SDG 8 is to “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.” Therefore, courses related to economics have been listed because understanding economics is crucial to advancing economic equality and achieving a truly equitable, sustainable world. A target under SDG 8 is to “take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking…”, so courses involving slavery, particularly the history of slavery in America, have been included. Learning about slavery in the past offers insight into avoiding a repetition of history in the present day. SDG 10 includes the target of facilitating “orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people,” so courses mentioning immigration have been listed. Many of the courses in this list help students attain the skills and knowledge for understanding and promoting human rights and an appreciation of cultural diversity. Given the ability of these courses to promote the sustainable learning of students, they address an important sustainability challenge.

The spreadsheet contains the following information:

Course Title

Course Description

Address Sustainability?: Whether the course addresses a sustainability challenge as identified by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

SDG/Sustainability Challenge: the specific SDG(s) or sustainability challenge addressed by the course