Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Sustainable Development Program

Home / About the Program

About the Program

The Sustainable Development Program offers onclassroom and online courses, as well as a Certificate and a Minor in Sustainable Development that are open to all students at Simon Fraser University.

This innovative program is newly redesigned to align with the UN Agenda 2030: Sustainable Development Goals and emphasizes the need for action in the Global North and Global South and for new governance models internationally and locally that allow for multi-actor collaboration for the Goals.

Students learn through cases, real-world examples, and projects that respond to organizations, governments, and enterprises engaged in social and environmental sustainability. Some of our recent project partners include:  Embark, CityStudio, the SFU Sustainability Office and the Fair Trade Campus Program.

Why take SD classes?

Timely & relevant
Explores the most pressing issues of our time – climate change, environmental regeneration, social inclusion, and reorientation of economic systems toward increased social and environmental well-being.

All about Creating Change
Using an interdisciplinary approach, our program engages you in learning how to create systems-level change for sustainability and development at local and global scales.

International and Local
Take courses focused on sustainability and development in the Global North and the Global South and select the courses that best suit your interests and studies.

Participatory & Multidisciplinary
Classes are small and involve significant student participation and engagement. 

Learn through Doing
Students learn through cases, real-world examples, and projects that respond to organizations, governments, and enterprises engaged in social and environmental sustainability.

Connect inside and outside SFU
Make contacts and collaborate with sustainability professionals. Program participants come from across the university, providing a unique opportunity to collaborate across faculties.

Improve your CV
Develop skills and experience to enhance your CV for jobs and co-ops in government, non-profit and business.

What our students have to say:

"I am surprised at how complementary the skills I've developed in the SD and business courses are. I think, wherever I end up, I will be a better businessperson and/or a better community developer thanks to this interdisciplinary program." - Sustainable Business Joint Major student, 2018

"SD takes a multidisciplinary approach, and it's only through incorporating and bringing together multiple thought-forms that we will be able to make new systems of approach to deal with the complex, structural issues facing society." - Development and Sustainability Minor student, 2018

"Einstein said that we cannot solve a problem from the same state of consciousness that created it. I think that through SD we can change our perception of our place on Earth, and begin to solve some of these challenges that face us."  - Sustainable Development Certificate student, 2018

"Last week [our instructor] talked about how people are "mal-educated" in silos, and I think the Sustainable Business Joint Major and SD program are chipping away at those disciplinary silos, which is great." - Sustainable Business Joint Major student, 2018

SD has been the most important set of classes that I've taken so far through SFU. I've had a meandering degree and have developed a wide knowledge base, but SD allowed me to bring all of that wide knowledge base in a way that I can apply to real needs in society. - Sustainable Development Certificate student, 2018

We have the choice to use the gift of our life to make the world a better place – or not bother. – Jane Goodall