Graduate Certificate in Applied Sustainability

The Graduate Certificate in Applied Sustainability provides a unique interdisciplinary perspective on what it takes to make urban and economic development compatible with the natural environment, while promoting greater social, economic, gender, and racial justice. The coursework guides students through the foundations of environmental planning; current theories and practices of sustainability; methods for managing and optimizing important primary resources such as energy, food, and water; urban risk management techniques beyond climate change; and the social, political, legal, and economic aspects of the global green movement.

This certificate is appropriate for individuals currently in roles as sustainability professionals as well as those seeking to enter this expanding and high-demand field. Architects, facilities managers, city planners, and IT experts have the opportunity to fill gaps in their existing knowledge, whereas those just beginning careers in these and related fields will gain the foundation to make green thinking central to their work from the outset.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyze the key areas of sustainability, including the legal and political dimensions of environmental protection and regulation to develop optimized sustainable solutions.
• Evaluate diverse points of view embedded within temporal, environmental, sociopolitical, economic, or technological contexts.
• Assess the principal approaches, methods, and strategies for critical inquiry regarding planning sustainable solutions.
• Apply scientific and social-scientific knowledge to multidisciplinary practice.
• Utilize the triple-bottom-line (environmental, economic, and social metrics) approach to sustainability to evaluate the various perspectives, policies, and/or practices for achieving equitable sustainability.

Admissions Information

For current admissions information, please visit the Metropolitan College website.

Transfer of Credits

The Graduate Certificate in Applied Sustainability can be earned as a stand-alone certificate or combined with the Master of Urban Affairs and Master of City Planning degree programs. Credits for UA courses within this certificate program may be applied to the Master of Urban Affairs or Master of City Planning degree programs, but not to other certificate programs.

Program Requirements

Applicants to the program are required to have a bachelor’s degree. Some courses may have additional prerequisites.

A total of four courses (16 credits) is required and distributed as follows:

Required Courses (two courses/8 credits)

• MET UA 617 Actionable Sustainability
• MET UA 627 Smart Green Cities

Elective Courses (two courses/8 credits)

The two elective courses can be selected per student interest from a list of pre-approved courses, across different disciplines, offered at Metropolitan College and University-wide. Additional courses may be approved in consultation with the academic advisor. A complete list of approved electives for the certificate can be obtained from the department.