Transformative Accreditation for Sustainability Degree Programs in Higher Education
We SEAC to increase the quality, visibility, and impact of sustainability and sustainability-related degree programs.
by developing dynamic, context-sensitive guidance for program-level design and evaluation
We SEAC to prepare sustainability professionals across all employment sectors.
by working with employers to meet the “sustainability skills gap”
We SEAC to evolve higher education.
by promoting learning outcomes grounded in the Key Competencies for Sustainability and using program-level accreditation as a lever for innovation and transformative change.
Explore our collaborative work:
Key Competencies in Sustainability
Learn more about the Key competencies in Sustainability Framework (KCSF) for Education and the preparation of sustainability professionals.
Learning Module
Our FREE, asynchronous learning module provides an overview of the Key Competencies in Sustainability. It is intended as a teaching tool for faculty teaching sustainability courses
(but anybody can take it and receive a certificate.)
Four Dimensions of Sustainability Education
Program Level Learning Outcomes and Competency Menus to integrate Key Competencies in Sustainability into your academic degree program
Now Available: Assessment and Evaluation in Sustainability Education
As sustainability education expands in higher education, effectively assessing student learning and evaluating program success remains a significant challenge. This literature review, authored by Dr. Jordan King, offers a concentrated analysis of the latest research and best practices in the field. The review explores four critical themes: ongoing assessment, holistic evaluation, faculty development, and the integration of formative and summative approaches. Educators and administrators will find valuable frameworks and insights here to enhance the quality and impact of their sustainability programs.
Resource Library
Explore our curated living library of the scholarship
that informs our work.
This living document is organized by stakeholder group with reading and resources of interest to students, faculty, employers, and community members. Special topics include International Sustainability Education and Justice & Equity:
Best Practices for Sustainability and
Sustainability-Related Degree Programs
The 2025 Program Directors’ Cohort hosted at Arizona State University’s College of Global Futures provided a final review and pilot of the new Guidelines document for Sustainability degree and certificate programs. We worked with institutional teams at 16 leading programs at U.S. colleges and universities. Participants drafted their self-study document within a collaborative cohort of peers, while contributing to the articulation of these standards for quality programs that train sustainability professionals and problem-solvers, using the Key Competencies in Sustainability to strengthen and support program learning outcomes.
The Sustainability Education Guidelines (V1.1), developed by the Sustainability Education Accreditation Commission (SEAC), provide a comprehensive framework for accreditation standards in higher education. These guidelines represent the first widely available synthesis of practice standards, designed to support and improve sustainability-related degree and certificate programs. Developed with input from over 500 stakeholders and organizations like the NSF and AASHE, the document outlines best practices across eight critical areas, emphasizing the Key Competencies in Sustainability Framework. These standards aim to prepare a new generation of sustainability professionals, ensuring graduates possess the skills necessary for impactful, problem-solving careers across all sectors.