Learn to Put Green Practices into Action
The Graduate Certificate in Applied Sustainability at Boston University’s Metropolitan College (MET) 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.
A recent International Finance Corporation Report from the World Bank estimates that cities in emerging markets alone have the capacity to generate cumulative climate-smart investments to the tune of more than $29.4 trillion. By 2030, six key sectors, including green buildings, public transportation, electric vehicles, waste, water, and renewable energy, will attract a majority of this investment. This strong focus toward green values makes it an opportune time to add to your credentials in the field of sustainability.
Coursework in BU MET’s Applied Sustainability program guides you 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.
Program at a Glance
- On Campus
- Part-Time Study
- 16 Credits
- 8–12 Months to Completion
- No GRE/GMAT
- Tuition & Fees Range—Part-Time Study*: $10,974-$14,374
*Based on 2025–2026 Boston University tuition and fees.
Apply Sustainable Solutions to Urban Development
BU MET’s Applied Sustainability graduate 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.
“The Urban Affairs program at Boston University Metropolitan College has played a pivotal role in shaping my understanding of our complex world and how it has evolved. This program has equipped me with the knowledge and insights necessary to leverage my expertise and make significant strides towards achieving my career goals.” Read more.
Corey Louis Coleman (MET’23)
Director of Virtual Design and Construction/ Director of Education P&H Electric Service
Master of Urban Affairs
Recipient of 2023 Commencement Award for Excellence
Why Earn a Graduate Certificate in Applied Sustainability at BU?
- Active Learning Environment: BU’s Applied Sustainability courses focus on practical, hands-on approaches, ensuring that you are immersed in all aspects of the topic—education you can apply on the job.
- Engaged Faculty: In BU’s Applied Sustainability graduate certificate program, you benefit from working closely with highly qualified faculty who provide interdisciplinary perspectives on urban sustainability issues, sharing valuable expertise that will help you advance your career in the burgeoning sustainability economy.
- Extensive Network: Study complex issues alongside peers with solid experience in sustainable practices, learn from faculty who have valuable contacts in the field, and benefit from an alumni community with strong professional connections.
- Student Support: Enjoy an exceptional student-to-instructor ratio, ensuring close interaction with faculty mentors and access to support.
- Valuable Resources: Make use of Boston University’s extensive resources, including the Center for Career Development, Fitness & Recreation Center, IT Help Centers, Mugar Memorial Library, Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future, Initiative on Cities, Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground, George Sherman Union, and many others.
- Flexible Options: Study at the pace that works for you, with multiple on-campus class times that include evenings, and courses that begin fall, spring, and summer.
- Track Record: Learn from the best—BU MET has been offering a master’s program in Urban Affairs since 1969. The master’s program in City Planning was introduced in 1976.
Learn to Solve Challenges in Planning, Urban Management, and Public Policy
The Graduate Certificate in Applied Sustainability is offered through BU MET’s Department of Applied Social Sciences, which oversees several graduate programs focusing on the challenges of the urban environment, including the Master of Science in City Planning (MSCP), the Master of Science in Urban Affairs (MSUA), the Graduate Certificate in Applied Urban Informatics, and the Graduate Certificate in Urban Policy & Planning.
BU’s Urban Affairs & City Planning programs prepare future leaders, practitioners, and innovators for the myriad challenges that arise in urban planning and policymaking. Students consider the political, social, and technical implications of each facet of planning and policymaking, and thus grapple with the fact that there are few, if any, simple solutions or approaches to urban issues.
Graduates can pursue a wide range of professional careers in town, city, and regional planning; sustainable management; community and economic development; transportation planning; public-sector/nonprofit management; and policy research, among others.
Graduate with Expertise
Boston University’s Applied Sustainability graduate certificate will equip you to:
- 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 policy-making.
Certificate-to-Degree Pathway
BU MET graduate certificate programs can serve as building blocks to a master’s degree. The Graduate Certificate in Applied Sustainability shares specific courses with the Master of Science in Urban Affairs and Master of Science in City Planning degree programs. Students currently enrolled in a graduate certificate who are interested in transitioning into a master’s degree should contact their academic advisor to declare their interest in this pathway. A new master’s degree application is not required. Connect with a graduate admissions advisor at apssadmissions@bu.edu to learn more about this option.
Graduate Certificate in Applied Sustainability Curriculum
In addition to the below courses, students are also required to maintain an e-portfolio of the work they produce throughout the program. For more information, please visit this page.
Please Note: If a required course is not offered within the academic year (fall, spring, and summer sessions), students may request to take a replacement course. The request must be permitted, reviewed, and approved by the program coordinator in conjunction with representatives of the participating MET academic departments.
Required Courses
(Four courses/16 credits)
MET UA 549 Planning Sustainable and Climate Adapted Urban Futures
MET UA 617 Actionable Sustainability
Plus, two 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.
City Planning & Urban Affairs Faculty
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Yeşim Sungu-Eryilmaz
Assistant Professor, Applied Social Sciences
Director, City Planning & Urban Affairs -
Luis E. Santiago
Associate Professor of the Practice, City Planning & Urban Affairs
-
Felix Zemel
Lecturer, City Planning & Urban Affairs
Principal and Founder of Pracademic Solutions
DrPH, Tufts University School of Medicine; MPH, MCP, Boston University; BS, Wentworth Institute of Technology
View All Faculty
Tuition & Financial Assistance
Competitive Tuition
Our part-time rates are substantially lower than those of the traditional, full-time residential programs yet provide access to the same high-quality BU education.Comprehensive Financial Assistance
Our services include scholarships, graduate loans, and payment plans.How Much Does This Program Cost?
Tuition, fees, and total program cost are determined by enrollment status. Course enrollment in this certificate program is 1–2 courses (4–8 credits) in a semester, and tuition is charged the part-time per-credit rate.
Applied Sustainability Graduate Certificate (On Campus)
| Enrollment Status | Part Time |
| Courses per Semester | 2 courses (8 credits) |
| Time to Degree | 2 semesters (8 months) |
| Tuition* | $567-$1,005 per credit** |
| Fees per Semester* | $75 |
| Total Degree Cost* | $10,974– $14,374 |
*Based on 2025-2026 Boston University tuition & fee rates.
**Cost per credit is determined by course number (100–599 = $567/credit, 600–999 = $1,005/credit).
Questions? Please contact us to hear from an Admissions Advisor who can help you determine the best enrollment pathway. For information regarding financial aid, visit BU MET’s Financial Aid page.
Get Started
Please visit the BU MET admissions page for details on how to apply, financial assistance, tuition and fees, requirements for international students, and more.
