West Chester University of Pennsylvania
PAE-21: Sustainability in Continuing Education

Education for sustainability (EFS) is a rapidly emerging field that is guided by a vision of a sustainable society and rooted in a simple truth: we learn what we live. EFS practitioners are trained professionals who understand the challenge of sustainability and who have been prepared to teach others, to catalyze institutional and cultural change, and to model sustainable ways of living. These innovative programs prepare participants to create real change in their professions, communities, and daily lives. The EFS curriculum develops the necessary knowledge, skills, and perspectives in a way that integrates classroom work with plenty of outdoor, experiential, and project-based learning. The result is a certificate that is meaningful and immediately applicable. The parallel undergraduate and graduate programs feature combined sections that provide opportunities for mutually beneficial mentor-mentee relationships between working professionals and undergraduates with shared interests. Most students will also complete an EFS Certificate with a cohort – a community of learners who collaborate on various projects and establish lasting professional relationships.