FAQs

What is Project Green Course?

An interactive, interdisciplinary virtual course for college and university students to explore climate and social justice, sustainability, advocacy, and public health. Read more about the curriculum and program offerings here.

Who can apply?

PGCourse welcomes college and university students from any country to apply. We will select a diverse group of bold, driven student leaders to grow as committed, informed changemakers.

How can I apply for PGCourse?

The application is live through August 8, 2021. Applicants will be required to fill out a questionnaire, provide letters of recommendation, and participate in a final interview. Interviews will take place on a rolling basis starting in June. Notification of acceptance will be on or before August 15, 2021.

Does PGCourse have a fee?

There is no fee for the 2021 inaugural cohort of 30 students.

When will PGCourse take place?

The inaugural 15-week course runs from August 30 through December 16, 2021.

What is the time commitment for PGCourse?

Students will meet for 90 minutes on Monday and Saturday from 7am – 8:30am Pacific time. Students will have homework weekly. During the last 6 weeks of the course, students will work in small groups to develop a Climate Action Project as a culminating project with a pool of up to $20,000 in funding to be shared following project presentation. There will be optional opportunities outside of class time for further collaboration, discussion, growth, and learning.

What is the format of the classes?

Each class provides learning opportunities inspiring students to engage with a variety of environmental topics. The class experiences will offer panel discussions, conversations with esteemed academics and leaders, Q&A sessions, small group breakouts, workshops, project based learning opportunities, peer discussions, student led activities, and more. 

Who are the instructors?

Instructors include educators and professors, academic researchers, environmental experts, youth climate activists, professionals, policy makers and more. Students will also learn peer to peer and gain new perspectives through small group discussions and collaborative projects. The Course will be led by facilitators and teaching assistants to guide participants through their 15-week journey.

Is PGCourse officially accredited?

PGCourse is not officially recognized as an academic course in the United States. It is intended to function as a learning opportunity and independent study during its first year of implementation. We recommend that students partner with a faculty advisor, who can assist with acquiring academic credit from a college/university for completing the Course.  

How can professors and students promote PGCourse on their campus?

Please share these flyers on campus and encourage students to apply for PGCourse. Flyer A and Flyer B.

How can professors/educators learn more about becoming involved with our Academic Advisory Board?

Collaborating with educators and professors who are teaching about topics relating to environmental and social justice, climate, sustainability and public health is very important to this organization. PGCourse has created an Academic Advisory Board (AAB) of global educators, researchers, and academics who inform our content, guest speak in sessions, and promote our programs across communities. If you or someone you know might be interested in learning about the AAB, please reach out to info@turninggreen.org.

Where did the idea for PGCourse come from?

Students participating in our annual fall initiative, Project Green Challenge 2020 (PGC), were tasked with designing an original syllabus for a college course they would want to take, using the themes from PGC. That was the basis for Turning Green to develop Project Green Course for a Fall 2021 launch.

What is the difference between Project Green Course and Project Green Challenge?

Both of these programs aim to shift mindsets, change behavior, build capacity, and equip students with knowledge, resources and mentorship to lead change on campuses and communities worldwide.

Project Green Challenge is a self-directed initiative spanning 30 days every October that is open to any and all participants. Students independently learn from and act on themed challenges and resource materials to complete daily tasks. High school, college and grad students are eligible to earn points and prizes to incentivize deeper engagement. At the end, participants can apply for the PGC Finals. No application is required. Register here for the 11th annual PGC today. 

The Project Green Course 15-week curriculum will broaden perspectives on key environmental topics, illustrate the intersections vital to this work, and sharpen critical thinking, leadership, communication and professional skills — to propel next generation agents of change with passion, purpose and power.

The Course will facilitate deep discussion, meaningful reflection and solutions-focused thinking to activate voices and actualize potential. Participants will benefit from a dynamic educational experience, gaining knowledge and skill sets with widespread application and value. These learnings will be put into practice through a final climate action group project with real world impact

With a faculty advisor, participants should be eligible to receive credit for PGCourse as an independent study. Interested students can apply here.

Note: students enrolled in PGCourse will have the opportunity to participate in Project Green Challenge throughout October to accompany their learning, but will not be eligible to win daily challenges or prizes.

What is Turning Green?

Turning Green is a non-profit organization founded in 2005 — a global student-driven movement cultivating a healthy, just, thriving planet through education, advocacy and leadership around climate justice, environmental sustainabIlity and public health. We inform, inspire, and mobilize a global network of elementary, middle, high school, college and graduate students to become visionary catalysts for sustainable change across their lives, school campuses and local communities. Project Green Course is a new program offering from Turning Green launching Fall of 2021.

What other opportunities does Turning Green offer to students?

There are countless opportunities to get involved with our organization, ranging from signing up for our 30-day annual Project Green Challenge each October to the hands-on Internship Program year round, our ever-growing Conscious Kitchen program and much more. Be in touch!