Today, employers view competency in topics like diversity, equity, and inclusion, ethical leadership, and business solutions to environmental challenges as essential. For the Leeds undergraduate interested in the nexus of business and sustainability, the Social Responsibility and Ethics (SRE) Certificate is a program that blends curriculum and experiential learning.

Managed by the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility (CESR), the SRE Certificate provides students with an in-demand perspective and skillset that prepares them for the future of work and a career with impact. This certificate is a career differentiator that pairs well with any area of emphasis.

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Students Attending Sustainability Panel

Students听pursuing the SRE certificate acquire the following skills while at Leeds:听

  • Ability to make a business case for sustainability and knowledge of market trends鈥�

  • Ability to communicate and influence effectively across multiple stakeholders鈥�

  • An understanding of values-based decision-making approaches鈥��

  • Deep understanding of social and environmental risks and opportunities鈥�

SRE graduates have overwhelmingly indicated听that the certificate听helped them听identify an employer whose company culture and mission aligned with their own values, and a third听of our graduates directly credited the program听with playing a critical role in securing their job offer.

CESR is piloting a new program during the 2024-2025 academic year called, Sustainability Scholars, which provides funding to SRE students to pursue transformative educational opportunities in sustainability and social impact.听 To learn more about the program, please read the guidelines here.听We are accepting applications until September 16th.听

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Entrance Requirements

  • Must be an undergraduate business student
  • 3.0 grade point average or higher

Click听here听for full details on the program.听

Questions? Email the Program Manager, Katherine Ratledge at听katherine.ratledge@colorado.edu.

听SRE Coursework Requirements听

Students must complete 9 credits听of select听courses, such as:

  • CESR/ORGN 3040:听Fundamentals of Ethical Leadership听
  • CESR 4130:听Sustainable Operations
  • CESR/ORGN 4300:听Leading Diversity and Inclusion in Organizations
  • CESR 4850:听The Sustainable Firm: ESG Strategies and Practices
  • FULL LIST of potential听classes

Experiential Education Requirement听

Students must complete 20-25 hours of experiential education. Students should choose ONE option from the list below:

  • Work: Internship related to sustainability, DEI, or business ethics
  • Coursework: Completion of CESR 4005, CESR 4850, or a sustainability related startup in ESBM 4830*.
  • Events: Participation in qualified CESR events, such as bootcamps, skills workshops, student treks, etc.听

CESR staff will sign off on a student's experiential learning to approve it. Please complete this in the last semester before graduation.听

*These courses may count toward the experiential learning requirement or toward the business coursework requirement, not BOTH.

Personal Reflection + Exit Interview

Before graduating, students must complete:

  • Reflection Paper (2-3 Pages)
  • 15-min Exit Interview with CESR's Program Manager or Faculty Advisor