2024–2025 Bulletin Addendum 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 sustainability practices to address contemporary environmental challenges, emphasizing the integration of ecological, equity, and economic dimensions within urban development.
• Develop and implement strategies for climate-adapted urban futures, demonstrating an understanding of sustainable planning principles and resilience in policymaking.

Admissions Information

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

Required Courses (four courses/16 units)

• MET UA 549 Planning Sustainable and Climate-Adapted Urban Futures
• MET UA 617 Actionable Sustainability

Plus, two electives from the following list:

• MET UA 510 Selected Topics in Urban Affairs
• MET UA 521 Environmental Law, Policy, and Justice
• MET UA 526 Multi-Modal Transportation Planning and Design
• MET UA 527 Feeding the City: Urban Food

Additional elective courses may be approved in consultation with the academic advisor.

Transfer of Units

The Graduate Certificate in Applied Sustainability can be earned as a stand-alone certificate or combined with the Master of Science in Urban Affairs (MSUA) and Master of Science in City Planning (MSCP) degree programs. Elective course units taken as part of the certificate may be applied to the MSUA or MSCP degree programs, but not to other certificate programs. Additional elective courses may be approved in consultation with the academic advisor.