This eighteen-credit certificate program trains students to write literary fiction and nonfiction that incorporates scientific inquiry and place-based narratives in order to publish work that speaks to a wide audience interested in ecology, sustainability, and climate change and solutions. Students may work in a wide range of genres, including realism, speculative fiction, nature writing, longform nonfiction, and lyric, braided, and poetic forms.
The curriculum draws from diverse disciplines, traditions, and writing styles.
The certificate incorporates writing workshops, literary study, and field work, and culminates in a capstone writing project.
Students incorporate contemporary environmental research into creative and literary narratives that tell stories on a human scale. They may initiate correspondence with leading researchers and gain confidence with interviewing, shadowing, and volunteering in ecological research projects. Students learn to tailor and professionally pitch their writing for multiple audiences and diverse publications.
In addition to University Requirements:
| Minimum Units for Completion | 18 |
| Research | Individualized research is required. |
| Some online/blended coursework | Required |
Purpose Statement
(Scope) This certificate aims to broaden understanding of climate-change and environmental issues through narrative writing. The Environmental Narrative Certificate is an interdisciplinary degree program that combines science and literature courses with a breadth of specialized classes from across the university.
(Content, Skills, Learning Experiences) The Environmental Narrative Certificate program provides cross-disciplinary training to prepare students to write narratives about environmental science. Students gain this knowledge through their individual fieldwork research and coursework in literature, climate science writing, environmental communication, political science and environmental science. The Environmental Narrative Certificate rigorous training in narrative and environmental science prepares graduates for successful careers in environmental writing as creators of texts that rely on literary techniques, such as novels, memoirs, long form journalism, and science writing. Our graduates can successfully communicate across multiple disciplines to develop scientifically and politically sound narratives to enlighten audiences to the wide range of environmental issues that currently challenge our society. The Environmental Narrative Certificate trains students how to develop character, plot, scene, and other literary techniques to captivate the imagination of readers and propel the understanding and urgency of climate science to a broad audience. The research skills gained by Environmental Narrative students help them continue to expand their knowledge long after they graduate from the program. This training and experience helps our graduates assume leadership roles in Environmental Writing, Sustainability Writing, and Climate Science-writing positions.
This program is designed for students with strong preparation in English, Communication, Sustainability Studies, Political Science, and Environmental Science. Moreover, we aim to reach out to diverse students, and we want to become a flagship certificate for recruiting and graduating Native American students from the broader southwest region.
Student Learning Outcomes
This eighteen-credit certificate program trains students to write literary fiction and nonfiction that incorporates scientific inquiry and place-based narratives in order to publish work that speaks to a wide audience interested in ecology, sustainability, and climate change and solutions. Students may work in a wide range of genres, including realism, speculative fiction, nature writing, long form nonfiction, and lyric, braided, and poetic forms. As the market, audience, and necessity for ecological writing grow, these students will be prepared to apply their experience and their narrative skills.
This certificate will prepare students to:
Take the following 18 units:
Foundation Writing Courses (3 units):
The Capstone could include amateur field work, internships, community engagement projects, or collaborative research, culminating in a 30-page writing component integrating that individualized experience into the creative narrative
Federal financial aid cannot be used for this certificate.
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.