DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire has launched a new graduate program in sustainable politics and policy that allows any graduate student to gain a specialization and certificate in the discipline. The new program started accepting students in January 2010.

"Training and analysis on issues that connect environmental and social sustainability, politics and policymaking initiatives are becoming increasingly valuable for building careers in the public sector, nonprofit organizations and the private sector for both small and large companies," said Stacy VanDeveer, associate professor of political science and coordinator of the new graduate program. 

The department expects the graduate certificate to be attractive to students interested in politics and public administration who want to gain more specialized knowledge about sustainability. In addition, the certificate is an opportunity for graduate students in business, the sciences and other disciplines to add additional training, analysis skills and credentials to their graduate studies. "This certificate is another example of our faculty combining research interests with community engagement and outreach," said Dante Scala, chair of the Department of Political Science.   

"UNH, like other leading universities, is enhancing its offerings around sustainability-related issues because student and job market demand for these issues is growing," VanDeveer said. "Today's students are more interested in sustainability issues. They understand that sustainability issues and initiatives are of growing importance in the public, private and nonprofit sectors in which they want to work, and they know they will be grappling with sustainability issues for decades to come."

For more information, visit http://www.unh.edu/political-science/index.cfm?id=575E332A-F364-65AF-8F64C9FE88046E97.

UNH is a leader in conserving energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and integrating sustainability throughout its curricula, operations, research, and engagement efforts. UNH has earned many accolades for its sustainability initiatives, including awards and recognition from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, Sustainable Endowments Institute, Sierra Club, Princeton Review, and Business NH Magazine. Highlights of its sustainability commitment include EcoLine, an innovative landfill gas-to-energy project that will provide up to 85 percent of the university's energy needs; having the largest transit system in the state; being the first in the nation to receive an EPA Energy Star building rating for residence halls; a new EcoGastronomy dual major; and innovative research and engagement efforts like Carbon Solutions New England and the NH Farm to School program.

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space-grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling more than 12,200 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students

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