Social Responsibility and Ethics Certificate

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Social Responsibility and Ethics (SRE) Certificate
ForÌýthe Leeds undergraduate interested in the nexus of business and sustainability, the SRE Certificate is a program that blends curriculum and experiential learning.

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ProÌýgram EligibilityÌý

Must be a Leeds undergraduate student with a 3.0 GPA at time of graduation.Ìý

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³Ô¹ÏÍø the SRE Certificate

³Ô¹ÏÍø the Program

StudentsÌýpursuing the SRE certificate acquire the following skills while at Leeds:

  • An ability to make a business case for sustainability and knowledge of market trends 
  • An understanding of values-based decision-making approaches  
  • A deep understanding of social and environmental risks and opportunities 
Benefits of SRE

Certificate RequirementsÌý

1) Course Requirements

Students pursuing the SRE Certificate must complete 9 credits of approved coursework. To help you get started, here are three highly recommended classes that students consistently rate as engaging and impactful:

  • CESR 4130: Sustainable Operations
  • ORGN 3030: Critical Leadership Skills
  • CESR 4005: Business Solutions in the Developing World
  • FULL LIST of classes that count for the certificate
Students Discussing Business Sustainability

2) Experiential Learning

Students must complete 20–25 hours of experiential education, which may include internships, additional coursework, OR participation in CESR-sponsored events. Before graduation, students must submit to record your hours.

  • Internships: Students may complete an approved internship to fulfill some or all experiential education hours.
    • Working with a nonprofit or social enterprise
    • Interning for a company focused on sustainability or ethics (EX: Justin's, Xcel, NudeFoods etc.)
    • Integrating sustainability into a functional role like marketing, finance, operations, or supply chain.
  • Additional Coursework: Completion of CESR 4005, CESR 4850 or a startup related to sustainability in ESBM 4830. These courses may count toward the experiential learning requirement or toward the business coursework requirement, but not both.
  • CESR-sponsored Events: Take a look at CESR's Upcoming Events here.
    • CESR Volunteer Days: Hands-on engagement opportunities that allow students to engage with the local community.
    • SRE Career Conversations: Small group sessions with professionals who share real-world insights into careers in social responsibility and environmental leadership.
    • Sustainability Career Treks: See first hand new technologies, companies, and career opportunities across Colorado.
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3) Pre-Graduation Requirements

Before graduating, students must complete:

  • Reflection Paper (2–3 pages) – A short written reflection that connects your coursework and experiential learning to the broader themes of social responsibility and sustainability.
  • 15-minute Exit Interview – A brief conversation with CESR staff to discuss your learning experience and future goals
Graduates sit at graduation ceremony, their caps visible

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Student and Alumni Testimonials

Lorena Payne (MGMT, SRE '23)

Inclusion, Giving & Impact Analyst at Xcel Energy.Ìý

"Through the SRE Certificate’s courses, it became clear that I wanted to work for an organization that prioritizes ESG and DEI. The Certificate has shown me that it is possible to mitigate negative effects of business operations. I know that the work I am doing is delivering value to my community and will generate a positive impact.â€

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Lola Lichtenstein (MGMT, SRE '25)

Business Analytics at Bloomberg

“I have always been passionate about sustainability and never really had experience with how it interconnected with business...I gravitated towards SRE and SRS for environmental reasons, but also really felt more grounded in ethics after the four years."

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Wesley Obmascik (FNCE, SRE '26)

Power Markets Intern at Lightsource bp

“I found out about sustainability through CESR and through their ethics class. Then I attended a climate finance workshop — it was awesome because it combined both finance and sustainability, which I didn’t realize you could combine. If you’re passionate about protecting the earth or social responsibility, there’s now a whole industry around sustainability. You can have a very successful career while also contributing to something bigger.â€

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