Certificate of Environmental Sciences (Interdisciplinary Distance-Learning Program in Environmental Sciences – infernum)

Climate change, polluted oceans and species extinction: there is no doubt that the topic of environmental protection and nature conservation is highly topical and concerns many people. Sustainability is also becoming increasingly important in the world of work. And not only because there are many legal requirements to consider. Many companies, public institutions and associations these days commit themselves voluntarily to sustainable action. So they need to have suitable experts on board.

The infernum certificate program teaches interdisciplinary environmental science knowledge. It covers legal, social and economic aspects as well as natural science and engineering topics.

The continuing education program concludes with a certificate from the FernUniversität in Hagen. The admission requirement for this course is a high-school diploma (German Abitur). The distance-learning course in environmental sciences is a continuing education program offered by the FernUniversität in Hagen in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT in Oberhausen.

Profile

Qualification: Certificate from the FernUniversität in Hagen
Study duration: Flexible, depending on scope: 1 to 3 semesters
Start of studies: At any time
Registration deadline: None
Costs: Module certificate: €650
University Certificate in Environmental Sciences: €1,950
University Certificate for Environmental Managers: €3,900
(plus a semester fee of €250 in each case)

Target Groups

This continuing education program is primarily aimed at employees from all disciplines in the fields of business, science, associations and administration who wish to acquire or deepen their current, interdisciplinary environmental knowledge. The flexibility of distance learning makes the course particularly suitable for working people or those with family commitments.

Heinrich Zeitler Photo: private

“Right from the beginning of my studies, I was particularly impressed by the wide range of teaching modules offered in a variety of environmental science disciplines. This allowed me to tailor my major fields of study to my personal interests within the given subject areas. The program design offered me the necessary freedom, tailored to my specific professional and personal situation.”

Heinrich Zeitler, infernum graduate

Career Prospects

Alongside personal development and academic qualifications, a continuing education in environmental sciences opens up new career prospects and enables you to work in a number of areas, for example:

  • Nature and environmental protection authorities
  • Agricultural, forestry and water management offices
  • Environmental management in companies
  • Innovative environmental research in companies
  • Collaboration in expert, planning and consulting offices in the environmental sector
  • Consulting and planning in political organizations
  • Research and teaching in environmental protection-related areas of science
  • Teaching in educational and training institutions
  • Management and collaboration in associations, societies, foundations, corporations and non-governmental organizations with a focus on environmental protection
  • Freelancer in environment-related services and products

Register here or request information material

Start of course: At any time

Simply contact us using the contact form. We will send you the registration or information documents for the continuing education program by email.

Find out more and register now

Useful Information

Useful Information

You will find further information on the structure and course of the program on the infernum website.

  • Admission requirements

    • Abitur (German higher education entrance qualification)

    Course content and organization

    The program has a modular structure. The modules can be credited if you plan to subsequently complete the infernum master’s degree program. The following modules can currently be selected:

    Area 1 (Law, Social and Economic Sciences):
    Module 01: Operational Sustainability Management
    Module 02: Market-oriented Sustainability Management
    Module 04: Environmental Economics
    Module 05: Environmental Policy
    Module 08: Environmental Psychology
    Module 10: Environmental Law

    Area 2 (Natural Sciences and Engineering):
    Module 12: Scientific Perspective of Climate Science
    Module 13: Ecology and Environmental Chemistry
    Module 16: Sustainable Energy Supply: Energy Systems, Grids and Economics
    Module 17: Water
    Module 18: Waste Management and Substitute Materials
    Module 19: Circular Economy
    Modul 20: Land Use and the Environment

    Area 3 (Interdisciplinary Topics):
    Module 22: Interdisciplinary Introduction to Environmental Sciences
    Module 25: Environment – Technology – Society
    Module 27: Sustainable Development, Mobility and Transport
    Module 31: Sustainable Site Development
    Module 41: Political Ecology of Global Land Grabbing

    Qualification

    Module certificate for a single module (1 module or 5 credits)
    University certificate in environmental sciences (3 modules or 15 credits)
    University certificate in environmental management (6 modules or 30 credits)

    Academic Director

    Prof. Dr. Annette Elisabeth Töller
    Academic Director
    FernUniversität in Hagen

    Prof. Dr.-Ing. Görge Deerberg
    Academic Director
    Fraunhofer Umsicht

    Teaching Staff

  • You can start your studies at any time.

    Request non-binding information material and registration/enrollment documents (in German):

  • Certificate program in Environmental Sciences

  • The FernUniversität in Hagen is Germany’s only state-run distance-learning university. It has 50 years of experience and is the largest university in Germany in terms of active students. Thanks to the flexible study system, the FernUniversität is the ideal choice for the following:

    • Working professionals
    • Students with family responsibilities
    • Potential students with no high school diploma
    • People with disabilities or chronic illnesses
    • Students abroad
    • Refugees

Questions about the certificate program

Judith Wehmeyer
Email: judith.wehmeyer
Tel.: 02331 / 987-4856

or

Laura Oehmigen
Email: laura.oehmigen@umsicht.fraunhofer.de
Tel.: 0208 / 8598-1526

Office for Communication & PR | 12.03.2025