What are the dates of the course?
This course is self-paced, which means you can complete the content anytime. This run of the course will close on March 18, 2025 — so be sure to complete all materials by then!
Are there due dates for the assignments?
For self-paced courses, edX suggests due dates for assignments and exams as a way to help you stay on track. These due dates are suggestions to help you plan and pace your studies. You can submit assignments or exams any time up until the final end date of the course. Learn more about edX suggested due dates here.
If you see an assignment you have not completed is Past Due, or you see a message that you have missed a suggested deadline on the course homepage or Dates tab, you can shift your due dates. You can shift your due dates using the Shift due dates button on the course homepage or the Dates tab. This will not affect any of the progress you have made in the course so far.
I see that all the due dates are set in UTC. What is UTC?
All of the due dates and times are presented in UTC, which is Coordinated Universal Time, set equivalent to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). To convert the time in UTC to your time zone, please use a time zone converter, such as World Time Server.
How long will this course take?
Though it varies by person, course work should be about 4-6 hours of work per module. This includes watching all of the video chapters, reading the required readings, completing the comprehension questions, completing the assignments, and participating in discussions.
How is the course graded?
VERIFIED LEARNERS: The final grade for the course will be weighted as follows: 80% for completion of coursework (pre- and post-course surveys, comprehension questions, discussion activities, and assignments) and 20% for the final exam. You have the duration of the course to complete the coursework and final exam. The final exam consists of information from all of the lectures and readings. You can check your individual assignment grades and overall progress in the Progress tab. Please note that progress is cumulative -- it will add up throughout the course.
Whether or not you are pursuing a certificate, you are encouraged to complete all of the assessments, as they are your opportunity to gauge how well you understand the material.
Am I eligible to receive a certificate?
Verified learners must pass with a 70% or above to receive a cerified certificate signed by Dr. Carlos Nobre. If you enroll as an Audit learner, but wish to purchase a verified certificate at a later time, you can do so at any point until the upgrade deadline. (See the Outline page of the course for the upgrade deadline.)
Is this course free?
Yes. There is no course fee associated with taking this course, and it is open to all. There is a fee, however, associated with the purchase of a verified certificate. EdX offers financial assistance to those who qualify. To apply for financial assistance to purchase a Verified Certificate, complete the edX Financial Assistance Application.
What resources will I need for this class?
A strong internet connection will be helpful, but we will try to ensure materials are available for slower bandwidths as well. The course is optimized to run on the most recent versions of most browsers, and Google Chrome and Safari have been shown to work the best with the platform. No other computer programs or books are necessary. All the readings will be provided as links. Video files, transcripts, and readings are available for download to be read offline.
What kind of background do I need for this course? Do I need a background in conservation?
The course is open to all and is accessible to learners without prior background or experience in the topics; you do not need to have studied conservation beforehand. However, the content within the course is dense and complex, structured at a higher level, so we expect most of our learners to be at an undergraduate or master's level.
Can I take this class for university credit?
No. While we encourage any professors to incorporate this material into their own courses, you cannot take this course on its own for university credit.
Translations?
Please see the "Please see the “Languages & Translations” tab for more information on how to best navigate the course in each of the three languages.
How can I engage with the course beyond the lectures, readings, and assignments?
Since this course is being offered in a self-paced format, the SDG Academy course team will not be responding to questions and facilitating discussion in the discussion forum. However, the forum will still be an open space, so we encourage you to use it to post thoughts, ask questions, and engage in discussion with fellow learners.
Whom do I contact with questions?
For specific questions related to the course, you can email our team at mooc@theamazonwewant.org. This includes any questions about the material or assignments. For technical questions about the platform, please visit the edX Help Center.