Sustainability Analyst Fundamentals Specialization

This course builds on the foundational knowledge gained in the first course in the series. Learners will continue to shape their understanding of global problems like climate change while developing their skills in using sustainability indicators, managing waste streams, addressing challenges, and providing green building recommendations. Mixed modalities continue to be used to provide text, video, interactive activities, and peer reviews so all learners can add to their knowledge around sustainability issues. Content overviews and instructional lecture videos produced with ASU School of Sustainability professors are the cornerstones of the content presented in this course.

Topical and practical knowledge is the central combination of elements driving this course. Through interactive learning objects and peer-reviewed submissions, learners have the opportunity to practice their skills and receive feedback from experts and their fellow learners. Learners also participate in regular knowledge checks throughout the course, with mid-course and final assessments to evaluate their overall learning. This course uses interactive activities, hands-on experiences, and opportunities to build tools like checklists and memo templates to help learners gain confidence in their skills and support their entry into the workforce. Building on the skills they have learned in the first course, this learning experience provides learners with more specialized knowledge while still tying it to real-world scenarios and skills that they will need when they get into the field as sustainability analysts.

The third course in this specialization takes the skills and knowledge learners have gained in the previous two courses and develops them into concrete skills that will serve the learner when they enter the field as a sustainability analyst. These skills include developing sustainability goals and initiatives, reporting and planning, maintaining document accuracy, and identifying partners for sustainability initiatives. This course focuses on the real-world application of all the skills the learners have gained in the previous two courses, using video, text, interactive, and peer-reviewed content and activities to support continued growth and learning.

In this course, the topical knowledge presented is directly related to the practical skills learners will demonstrate since the content presented is about tasks crucial to a successful sustainability analyst. Interactive learning objects and peer-reviewed submissions provide opportunities for hands-on learning and collaboration with fellow learners. Knowledge checks ensure that learners clearly understand the skills and competencies needed in the field of sustainability. At the same time, the hands-on activities provide them with opportunities to practice those skills and competencies. Because this course is intended to be the final learning experience in the sequence, it supports learners as they prepare to enter the job market and seek sustainability roles. By presenting opportunities to practice developing reports, setting goals, and evaluating potential external partners, learners will be able to speak to those tasks in job interviews and complete the tasks successfully when they are hired into a role. The focus on practical application in this course supports learners’ confidence and development toward the position they seek.