External education
The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability offers programs for individuals and organizations to gain new skills and knowledge for a more sustainable future.
Our external education programs are designed to motivate and empower participants to make informed decisions about strategy, operations, policies, and lifestyles that affect global sustainability.
Find learning experiences
Select a program that meets the needs of your organization and helps you achieve your professional goals.
On campus
Championing Sustainability from the Boardroom
Starting in Fall 2024, this program will bring together expertise from across Stanford University and Egon Zehnder, a global board and leadership advisory firm. Designed to equip board members with essential knowledge spanning the science, business, and stewardship of sustainability, this program promises to be transformative.
ON CAMPUS
Strategic Chief Sustainability Officer Program
Make the business case for sustainability with strategic and financial frameworks, personal leadership skills, and a deeper knowledge of today’s sustainability landscape. For the first time ever, faculty from Stanford Graduate School of Business and Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability will join forces to deliver a truly comprehensive, cutting-edge, and impactful program. It’s a powerful combination of strategic frameworks, business innovation, and sustainability expertise you’ll find only at Stanford. This unique five-month program includes self-paced and live online sessions plus a one-week, intensive on-campus experience.
ON CAMPUS
Online learning
Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies Program
This program will equip you with in-depth knowledge and the tools necessary to drive impactful change and leadership. The comprehensive curriculum covers emerging technologies, finance, and sustainability management, empowering you to spearhead the transition to a sustainable future. You will learn how sustainability business practices and clean energy drives economic growth, and learn 21st-century business strategies to drive your organization towards long-term prosperity. This program is designed for anyone who is interested in shaping the future of energy and organizational business strategies.
ONLINE
Sustainability Strategies: Develop Initiatives to Transform Your Business
Develop an understanding of the impacts and root causes of climate change to communicate the value of sustainable business practices to key stakeholders. Learn to identify business opportunities that arise by transitioning to an environmentally sustainable organization. Understand the interdependence between innovation and sustainability as a guiding force for developing your own sustainability initiatives. Develop a proactive mindset to lead change effectively, with an eye toward positioning the organization as an agent of change.
ONLINE
Introduction to the Natural Capital Approach
People depend on nature to sustain and fulfill human life, yet the values of nature are typically ignored in decisions. Mapping and modeling ecosystem services can help highlight the diverse benefits provided to people by nature (what and where) and explore how those benefits might change under different management options – thus bringing information about nature's values into decisions in practical ways. With these approaches, we can improve the state of biodiversity and human well-being by motivating greater and more cost-effective investments in both.
ONLINE
Harnessing the Power of Geophysical Imaging to Recharge California’s Groundwater
Using advanced Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Imaging and towed-Time-Domain-Electromagnetic (tTEM) imaging technologies and techniques with advanced software simplifies finding good groundwater recharge sites. This course focuses on determining if subsurface composition and geology allow efficient water movement from the surface to the water table, identifying "fast paths" via geophysical imaging.
ONLINE
Additional resources
Stanford offers many opportunities for working professionals to learn new skills and meet their personal learning goals, wherever they are in their life or career.
Meet our team
Our school's External Education & Mobilization team focuses on designing programs that motivate and inform successful efforts to advance sustainability and expand access to sustainability knowledge.
Dave Weinstein
Associate Dean
External Education
Jenn Gardner
Director
Professional Programs
Anita Wood
Assistant Director
Professional Programs