Certificate in Global Environmental Affairs (GEA)

The Certificate in Global Environmental Affairs is offered jointly by the Program in International Affairs (IAFS) and the Department of Environmental Studies (ENVS). This certificate is open to all majors at CU Boulder, and it draws upon courses and interdisciplinary expertise in both IAFS and ENVS. This certificate links and develops knowledge of global environmental policies and practices. For IAFS and ENVS students, it will provide additional value for the two interdisciplinary majors.

The certificate includes both formal coursework and a 3-credit off-campus experiential component. This experiential learning component may be completed through internship, study abroad, or CU in DC. All credit hours must be completed with grades of C- or better and an overall GPA of 2.50. None of the required hours may be taken pass/fail.

Questions about the certificate? Contact GEAcertificate@colorado.edu.

Application

To apply to the Certificate in Global Environmental Affairs (GEA) program, please:

1) Fill out the GEA application form linked here.
2) Send your unofficial transcript to GEAcertificate@colorado.edu. 

Track 1: ENVS majors (19 credits)

Track 2: IAFS majors (19 credits)

Track 3: all other majors (20 credits)

 

Required introductory coursework:

IAFS 1000, Global Issues & International Affairs (4 credits)
*Also available online for Summer

 

Required introductory coursework:

ENVS 1000, Introduction to Environmental Studies (4 credits)
*Also available online for Summer (Session A and B)

Required introductory coursework:

Complete both IAFS 1000 and ENVS 1000, and choose the remaining courses in either Track 1 or Track 2 (8 credits)
*Also available online for Summer

9 credits from the following elective list:

  • ECON 3403: International Economics and Policy
  • ECON 3784: Economic Development and Policy
  • ENVS 4100: Special Topics in Environmental Studies (approved topics only)
  • ENVS 4800: Critical Thinking in Environmental Studies (ENVS students only - approved topics only)
  • IAFS 3000: Special Topics in International Affairs (approved topics only - Global Health and Inequality; U.S Latin America relations)
  • PSCI 4012: Global Development
  • PSCI 4732: Critical Thinking in Development

 

 

9 credits from the following elective list:

  • ENVS 3070, Energy and the Environment
  • ENVS/GEOL 3520, Energy and Climate Change: An Interdisciplinary Approach
  • ENVS 3525, Intermediate Environmental Problem Analysis: Topical Cornerstones (approved topics only - Climate Impact in Arid Regions: A Global erspective; Sustainable Food Systems; Confronting Environmental Racism​)
  • ENVS 3621, Energy Policy and Society
  • ENVS 4100: Special Topics in Environmental Studies (approved topics only - Marine and Maritime; Envisioning Sustain Economies; Globalization and the Environment)

6 credits from the elective list of Track 1 or Track 2

Required data analysis class:

ENVS/IAFS 3640: Global Data Analysis (3 credits)

OR

EBIO 4155: Ecosystem Ecology (3 credits)

OR

PSCI 2075: Quantitative Research Methods (3 credits)

Required data analysis class:

ENVS/IAFS 3640: Global Data Analysis (3 credits)

OR

EBIO 4155: Ecosystem Ecology (3 credits)

OR

PSCI 2075: Quantitative Research Methods (3 credits)

Required data analysis class:

ENVS/IAFS 3640: Global Data Analysis (3 credits)

OR

EBIO 4155: Ecosystem Ecology (3 credits)

OR

PSCI 2075: Quantitative Research Methods (3 credits)

Required experiential class (all internships and courses must have clear environmental content):

Approved ENVS 3930 Internship, study abroad class, or CU in DC class (3 credits - internships and classes will be approved for the certificate)

Required experiential class (all internships and courses must have clear environmental content):

Approved IAFS 4930 Internship, study abroad class, or CU in DC class (3 credits - internships and classes will be approved for the certificate)

Required experiential class (all internships and courses must have clear environmental content):

ENVS 3930 (3 credits) or other internship class, study abroad class, or CU in DC class (3 credits - internships and classes will be approved for the certificate)

To apply: 

Fill out this application form and then email GEAcertificate@colorado.edu with your unofficial transcript (if you are a transfer student, include your previous institution's unofficial transcript). CU Boulder unofficial transcripts are available at www.colorado.edu/registrar/students/transcripts.

Center for Asian Studies
The Center for Asian Studies offers a variety of internships for undergraduate students. Their internships are not paid but do award academic credit. Internships are offered each semester. The internships have unique descriptions, eligibility requirements, and responsibilities so please refer to the link above to find the right internship fit. For any questions, contact Danielle Rocheleau Salaz at cas@colorado.edu or 303-735-5312.

DC Internships (TFAS)
The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) offers internships in Washington D.C. for GEA students. You’ll work approximately 30 hours a week for the duration of the program. In addition to normal intern office duties, you could cover hearings on Capitol Hill, work on important public policy papers, research critical government initiatives, attend meetings, and be assigned substantive work that will help you in your future career. Your internship options are endless. Each summer, our students work at over 300 different government agencies and independent organizations working on a variety of important issues.

Growing Gardens of Boulder County
Internship openings in Boulder county are now online and open for applications (rolling basis). Growing Gardens’ interns are essential to our success in cultivating community through sustainable urban agriculture. We offer hands-on, engaging, real-world experiences in a fun and welcoming work environment. Our interns have a strong desire to learn and work hard while maintaining a positive attitude throughout their commitment. These opportunities are an amazing way to build skills in sustainable agriculture, environmental education, food security and non-profit management. In addition to being a unique learning and work experience, we offer course credit and stipends depending on the internship. Applications online here.

Impact
If you are interested in joining a team of passionate people to make an impact on issues like global warming, clean water, big money’s influence over our democracy and other issues that matter to our future, consider a job with Impact. Impact was created by leading advocacy organizations like Environment America, U.S. PIRG and the PIRG Campus Action project. Application deadlines are most up-to-date on the Impact website – visit for more information, or reach out to Impact Careers Director, David Rossini, at jobs@weareimpact.org.

New Era Colorado
New Era Colorado is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to build a more accessible democracy that more accurately reflects and engages Colorado's younger generation. As an intern, you will learn to be an effective and inclusive community leader through weekly classroom sessions and on-the-ground fieldwork. Questions? Email Anna@NewEraColorado.org. (UFP 2022-23 application dates and the admissions procedure timeline will be announced shortly).

Urban Fellows
The Urban Fellows Programme guarantees a two-month internship for all Fellows across a diverse set of organisations ranging from public institutions, to private firms and practices, social movements, non-governmental organisations, research think-tanks, development sector organisations and design and architecture firms. Some Fellows will have the opportunity to intern on live IIHS projects such as Land Records Management, Water and Sanitation Implementation Plans for State Governments, Climate Change and Adaptation and Food Security. Here is a video example on YouTube.

The Congressional Research Service within The Library of Congress offers many exciting permanent and temporary opportunities for employment. Additionally, they offer internships, fellowships, and volunteer programs. If you seek more information on internships, fellowships, and volunteer programs, view opportunities here.

Impact often hires campaign organizers to work full-time to protect our environment, our democracy, and our future. Impact organizers will be on the ground in 25 states to mobilize businesses, faith leaders and citizens to demonstrate the commitment to keeping our promises on climate change, and transitioning a sustainable, renewable energy economy. Click here to apply.

The PPIA Junior Summer Institute (JSI) Fellowship Program is a rigorous academic graduate level preparation program for undergraduate juniors committed to public service careers. This fully-funded opportunity equips fellows with the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed in graduate school and ultimately, in influential roles serving the public good. The JSI curriculum includes economics, statistics, domestic/international policy issues and leadership topics, all designed to sharpen the students’ quantitative, analytic and communication skills. Click here to apply and learn more.

What is the GEA?

The Global Environmental Affairs (GEA) is jointly offered by Environmental Studies (ENVS) and International Affairs (IAFS) and is open to all CU Majors.

What is the purpose of the certificate?

Via this certificate, students enrolled in science-based disciplines will gain expertise in upper division international affairs (or social sciences) courses and students enrolled in any social science-based disciplines, will gain expertise in upper division courses specializing in global environmental science-based issues.

Who can apply?

Any student in CU can apply for the certificate. The only thing that would be important is that students of either of the two large umbrellas- physical sciences and social sciences- have an active interest in globally focussed international issues, are excited about interdisciplinary training to complement their education at CU and most importantly, perhaps is that they are excited about a hands-on internship component. This is because internships form the bedrock of the certificate.

Can study abroad or transfer courses fulfill GEA requirements?

In addition to the experiential requirement for the GEA, up to 9 upper division credits of study abroad or transfer courses may be applied towards the GEA requirements. Please email your transcripts and course descriptions to GEAcertificate@colorado.edu for review.

If you would like to check your progress on the completion of the GEA requirments, please complete this PowerForm: GEA Progress form. *PowerForms must be completed in one sitting. Please email geacertificate@colorado.edu upon completing the PowerForm.

When you have completed all GEA requirements, please complete this GEA Certificate Completion PowerForm. *PowerForms must be completed in one sitting. An unofficial transcript will need to be attached within the completed PowerForm. CU Boulder unofficial transcripts are available here.

Students earn the GEA once all requirements are verified. We will notify the Registrar’s office that you have completed the GEA. Please note: certificates will not appear on student transcripts until the diploma is posted.