Design for the Circular Economy Graduate Certificate
Completing this nine-credit certificate provides the skills and knowledge needed for technical professionals to serve as key contributors in sustainability initiatives, as well as to prepare them to become future leaders or take on professional sustainability roles.
Enroll for-credit beginning January 2nd
This Graduate Certificate qualifies as credit towards your Master of Engineering in Engineering Management degree
Enroll from January 2, 2025
Spring 1 enrollment closes on February 21, 2025
6-9 months
The certificate is 9 credits and can be completed in approximately 6-9 months
667 per credit
$6,003 total cost
100% online
No application required
Design for the Circular Economy Graduate Certificate
Technical knowledge and skills:
Enable engineers, technical professionals, and others in industry to understand and apply concepts of the circular economy to areas of product design and development, social and environmental impact analysis, industrial ecology, zero waste and systems thinking.
Business knowledge and skills:
Enable learners to develop innovative new business models, create and manage projects incorporating sustainable finance and reporting, marketing and brand management, as well as sustainable and resilient operations and supply chains.
Leadership knowledge and skills:
Enhance the leadership abilities of early to mid-career professionals by building confidence in communicating to internal and external stakeholders and developing the skills to navigate uncertainty and implement transformational change in their organizations.
Program description
Overview
Our current economic model is often described as “linear”, whereby we mine materials from the earth, manufacture products from them, use those products, and finally toss them in the trash when we’re done. In contrast, the “Circular Economy” represents an emergent business model focused on redesigning products to be less resource intensive and can be readily transformed into new products at the end of their life. According to the Ellen Macarthur Foundation, a leader in the transformation to a Circular Economy, “The Circular Economy is underpinned by a transition to renewable energy and materials. A circular economy decouples economic activity from the consumption of finite resources. It is a resilient system that is good for business, people and the environment.” As companies transition to this new paradigm, they require technical leaders to develop innovative circular products and processes, and to create new business models based on them.
The program is a collaboration between the University of Colorado Boulder’s Engineering Management Program and Siemens, a $60B multinational corporation headquartered in Germany. It is designed to prepare early to mid-career technical professionals for management and leadership opportunities related to the circular economy. Completing the certificate program provides the skills and knowledge needed for technical professionals to serve as key contributors in industry sustainability initiatives, as well as prepare them to become future leaders in roles such as Chief Sustainability Officer.
The Design for the Circular Economy Graduate Certificate is a 9-credit hour, 100% online program. The program offers four specializations consisting of twelve 1-credit hour courses, as outlined below. Students are required to complete any two 3-credit hour specializations (totaling 6 credit hours), and 3 additional courses (totaling 3 credit hours), which could include another specialization, or any three topical electives from the Design for the Circular Economy Certificate electives listed below.
In addition, students are eligible to earn a digital badge from Credly, issued by Siemens Digital Industries Software and made in partnership with the University of Colorado Boulder, that acts as a visual representation of the verified credential they have earned. This badge demonstrates to future employers that they have completed the course or specialization and have gained specific industry skills and knowledge that comes with it.
There are no prerequisites for any of the courses offered within the program, and students must achieve a B or better to obtain credit for the course. Upon successful completion of the certificate, learners could apply the 9 credits toward the CU Boulder Master of Engineering in Engineering Management degree on Coursera.
Required background
There are no formal prerequisites for enrolling in the Design for the Circular Economy Graduate Certificate, but any STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) degree or relevant work experience will be very useful.
Skills you will gain
- Product design
- Social and environmental impact analysis
- System thinking
- Innovate business models
- Sustainable finance management
- Marketing and brand management
- Sustainable and resilient operations and supply chains
- Stakeholder communication
- Change management
- Technical skills
- Business skills
- Leadership skills
9 required courses (any two 3-credit hour specializations, and 3 additional 1-credit courses)
Course 1 of 12
EMEA 5216: Sustainability and the Circular Economy
Overview
This first course in the Applied Sustainability specialization discusses the need to shift from today’s linear economy to a circular one. The course begins with the sustainability imperative and introduces the Anthropocene. It then shifts to solutions, detailing the rapid transition to renewable energy, electric vehicles, and the design of more environmentally responsible buildings. The course closes with an overview of the circular economy, and how it is integrated into these solutions.
Course 2 of 12
EMEA 5217: Applied Sustainability Engineering: Methods & Applications
Overview
This second course in the Applied Sustainability specialization discusses the techniques used by engineers and scientists to develop and assess the environmental impact of products and processes. It discusses carbon and water footprints and how they are determined. Topics then address the different approaches to environmental analysis, including life cycle assessment, energy and material flow analysis, and eco-audits. The course concludes definitions of what constitutes circular product and packaging design.
Course 3 of 12
EMEA 5218: Leading the Circular and Sustainable Business
Overview
This final course in the Applied Sustainability specialization discusses the business case for circularity. Topics include design of production and operations and ensuring circularity throughout the supply chain. The course then examines the marketing of circular products and what distinguishes true marketing from greenwashing. Finance is impacted by circularity and is addressed through Triple Bottom Line accounting. Finally, the course concludes with how individuals can become agents of change in the organizations where they work.
Course 4 of 12
EMEA 5226 Sustainable and Resilient Operations Management
Overview
Operations management is the use of company resources to create value or meet a market need. Increasingly, customers are demanding more attention be paid to the environmental impacts of the goods and services they buy. In this course, students will learn concepts and practices companies employ to manage business processes that meet the needs of shareholders and employees while reducing negative impacts on pollution and waste.
Course 5 of 12
EMEA 5227 Developing and Managing Sustainable Supply Chains
Overview
Customers are becoming more aware of the environmental and social impacts of where and how the products they purchase are produced and delivered. Many are demanding organizations act in environmentally responsible ways. In this course, you will learn to build a more sustainable and socially responsible supply chain while meeting business expectations.
Course 6 of 12
EMEA 5228 Impacts of Sustainable Operations and Supply Chains
Overview
Innovative organizations need leaders and managers who understand the complex nature of corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and resilience. In this course, students will learn strategies to become good corporate citizens while still creating value for stakeholders. You will learn methods to measure environmental and social impacts of sustainable operations and supply chains.
Course 7 of 12
EMEA 5222 Product Design for the Circular Economy
Overview
This course in the Sustainable and Circular Product Development specialization provides the tools necessary to implement Circular Economy (CE) principles. Methodologies include Cradle-to-Cradle, Design for ¿R¿, where R refers to Reuse, Repair, Remanufacturing, and Recycling. Organic materials enable the biological cycle as a component to CE. Products are often packaged, and a circular product needs to also have circular packaging. Finally, the course highlights ways designers can select the appropriate materials to achieve their circularity objectives.
Course 8 of 12
EMEA 5223 Packaging Design for the Circular Economy
Overview
The Circular Economy is about zero waste, where products are disassembled into their constituent components, either to be recycled or composted. While considerable attention has been on the product itself, a product can only be sustainable or circular if the packaging it comes in is also sustainable and circular. This course provides an overview of packaging today, and how it is evolving to become more sustainable. Topics include packaging systems, functionality, materials, and recycling strategies.
Course 9 of 12
EMEA 5224 Circular Product Design Frameworks and Certifications
Overview
This course in the Sustainable and Circular Product Development specialization provides the tools necessary to take a circular product design to the next step, including frameworks such as Cradle-to-Cradle, Biomimicry, ISO 14000 and several EU Directives. Products can be certified if they meet certain criteria, and the course covers the major certifications available today. Finally, the course shows how companies report their progress using methods prescribed by ISO standards or the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).
Course 10 of 12
EMEA 5241 The Circular Economy (Coming soon)
Overview
This first course in the Circular Economy specialization defines the Circular Economy and how it differs from the linear economy. It then highlights the need to move toward a Circular Economy, and how such a transition could take place. This also requires customers going from being “consumers” to “users”, which impacts product design, and therefore challenges existing financial business models. The course concludes with several case studies highlighting companies successfully adopting Circular design practices.
(Coming soon)
Course 11 of 12
EMEA 5242 Leveraging Consumer Demand for Sustainable Business Practice (Coming soon)
Overview
As businesses increasingly recognize the importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria in their operations, understanding how to integrate sustainability goals into marketing efforts becomes essential. In this course, you will learn tools and strategies for marketing products and services with a focus on sustainability. Emphasis will be placed on aligning organizational sustainability objectives with consumer preferences and market trends.
(Coming soon)
Course 12 of 12
EMEA 5243 Leading the Way: Becoming a Sustainability Change Agent (Coming soon)
Overview
As sustainability becomes increasingly central to corporate strategy, managers must be adept at leading and managing sustainability initiatives. This course will explore the principles of corporate sustainability, change management strategies, and techniques for building networks and seizing opportunities in the rapidly evolving landscape of sustainable business. It is to equip future business leaders with the knowledge, skills, and mindset required to drive sustainable change within organizations.
(Coming soon)
The certificate will be stackable, and the credits can be applied to the Master of Engineering in Engineering Management degree.
With the Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) program, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive curriculum developed by industry-experienced faculty who prioritize job-relevant applicability. You'll emphasize developing real-world competencies in areas such as leadership, finance, project management, communication, strategic planning, marketing, innovation management, and engineering ethics. The program's focus on "translating engineering into business" means that engineering management is more than engineering leadership; it's about developing a range of necessary competencies. Using this approach as a graduate, you can make an immediate impact in your organization.
The certificate stacks into the full Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Take the next step in your education to boost your career. The Design for the Circular Economy Graduate Certificate will count towards the Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree on Coursera as electives, while also providing job-relevant skills today.
To pursue admission to the ME-EM degree program, you’ll need to do the following:
- Complete one of the following two Pathway Specializations for credit: Finance for Technical Managers - Pathway Specialization (3 credits) or Project Management - Pathway Specialization (3 credits)
- Achieve a computed Pathway Specialization grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0.
- Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 for all for-credit courses taken to date.
- Declare your intent to seek the degree via the enrollment form, which you can do before, during, or after any work in a pathway specialization.
- To remain in good standing in the program, you must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (no more than three credits of C+ can be applied toward degree program requirements).
- Once you’re accepted into the degree, your coursework from the graduate certificate program will apply toward your degree credits.
Certificate
Design for the Circular Economy Graduate Certificate
Design for the Circular Economy Graduate Certificate Certificate Earn credit directly towards the :
Instructors
Frequently asked questions
Coursera does not grant academic credit; the decision to grant, accept, or recognize academic credit, and the process for awarding such credit, is at the sole discretion of the academic institutions offering the Graduate Certificate program and/or other institutions that have determined that completion of the program may be worthy of academic credit. Completion of a Graduate Certificate program does not guarantee admission into the full Master’s program referenced herein, or any other degree program.