Course Info

This certificate has been designed to be completed in 4 academic quarters. Two courses will be taken in the Fall and Winter quarters. There are two courses plus a seminar in the Spring quarter and then three courses for the Summer quarter. Due to the heavy course load in the last quarter, this program may be taken over 5 quarters.

If you wish to take only one course per quarter, please talk to a Program Counselor to ensure you will be able to take all required courses within the 24 month timeframe.

The courses in this certificate program are listed below: (click on course title to read descriptions)

• Principles of Sustainability 1: Environmental Dimension (X400)

  (4 units) Provides a basic understanding of environmental systems and the effects of humans on the environment.

  Topics include:

  • A historical overview of sustainability, and the current problems and issues
  • An examination of environmental and urban issues and strategies
  • An overview of earth's physical and biological systems and the impact of environmental issues on these systems
  • Tools to investigate and analyze sustainable environmental practices
• Water Rights and Sustainability (X475)

  (4 units) Examines the legal and regulatory principles underlying state, national, and international water rights allocation systems.

  Topics include: 

  • Land-based water rights
  • Regulated water permit systems
  • Use-based water rights

  You will also evaluate laws and principles that are intended to encourage/require efficient water use and ensure that water is available and equitably distributed among competing consumers.

• Principles of Sustainability 2: Economic Dimension (X401)

  (4 units) Provides broad exposure and intimate knowledge of the business aspects of sustainability through real-world business case studies.

  Topics include:

  • Identifying practical tools
  • Measuring performance
  • Reviewing best practices
• The Ocean Environment: An Ecosystem Perspective (XL14)

  (5 units) Focuses on the ocean environment with an emphasis on ecosystems and environmental issues.

  Instruction begins by introducing the important physical, chemical, geological, and biological components of the ocean system.

  The concept of the ecosystem, a dynamic complex of interactions between living organisms and their environment, provides the context to explore the dominant biology, chemistry, physics, and geology of several marine ecosystems, including sandy and rocky shorelines, wetlands, the open ocean, and the benthos.

  The final portion of the course focuses on human impacts, tradeoffs, and future outlook regarding such environmental issues as fisheries, pollution, mariculture, global climate, coastal modification, marine mammals, and coral reef degradation.

• Principles of Sustainability 3: Social Dimension (X402)

  (4 units) Addresses the adequacy and equity of sustainability efforts. The emphasis is on behaviors and characteristics of the individual, as well as the larger group and community influences, that help motivate individuals to change their behavior in a positive and rewarding direction.

  Topics include:

  • Advocacy and activism
  • Pathways toward sustainable education and awareness
  • Potential effects of sustainable action vs. inaction
  • Psychosocial and socio-cultural behaviors affecting beliefs, change, and decision making
  • The ethics of sustainability efforts across nations, including future opportunities and challenges
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) (X407.15)

  (3 units) Focused on green design, which is intent on balancing environmental responsiveness and responsibility, resource efficiency, and cultural and community sensitivity. Green design is an inclusive process, engaging all stakeholders ranging from those who finance projects to those who live and work in the projects.

  Topics include:

  • An exploration of sustainable principles, design, and building practices specific to elements of the LEED® rating system
  • LEED® version 3 Rating System, currently the centerpiece of the most innovative, effective aspects of green design
• Sustainability Ethics (seminar) (X808)

  (non-credit) Provides a basic understanding of sustainability ethics and how it differs from more established forms of applied ethics, such as environmental ethics and business ethics - specifically, what ethical obligations fall on sustainability professionals to think systemically, taking into account the potential impacts of what they do or recommend.

  Students explore the social and environmental consequences of particular decisions and actions based on case studies from around the globe.

  This instructor-led seminar is available during a two-week period in the Spring quarter.

• Renewable Energy Technologies (X438.7)

  (4 units) Offers an understanding of the technologies, business opportunities, financing, and regulatory aspects of renewable energy.

  Topics include:

  • Current government initiatives
  • Global business landscapes that support renewable energy
  • Status of renewables
  • The business of developing alternative energy power plants
• Environmental Laws & Institutions (X458.9)

  (4 units) Provides an overview of the history, current requirements, and emerging policy issues associated with environmental laws and institutions at the state, national, and international levels.
  

  Specific state and federal environmental law topics addressed include:

  • Climate change
  • Energy resources
  • Environmental impact assessment
  • Fish and wildlife
  • Land use planning
  • Pollution control (including air quality, water quality, and hazardous materials/toxic substances)
  • The public trust doctrine
  • Water resources
  • Wetlands
• Sustainability Roadmap: Developing Your Business Action Plan (X402)

  (4 units) A capstone course providing a working knowledge of strategy, priority setting, and establishing management systems for long-term sustainability. Practical methods are presented along with explicit instructions for their implementation.

  Case examples provide illustrations of successful sustainability plan development and application in a variety of industries.

Course Schedules

All students take the same classes regardless of the start date. However, the order of the classes may slightly vary. Please see the course schedules below for each start date.

Fall 2012 Start (Oct 15, 2012 – Dec 23, 2012)

Click here to download the course schedule for students starting in Fall 2012.

Winter 2013 Start (Jan 9, 2013 – March 19, 2013)

Click here to download the course schedule for students starting in Winter 2013.

Spring 2013 Start (April 10, 2013 – June 18, 2013)

Click here to download the course schedule for students starting in Spring 2013.

Summer 2013 Start (July 10, 2013 – Sept 17, 2013)

Click here to download the course schedule for students starting in Summer 2013.

Take the first step to changing your career! Call 1-800-EMPOWER to talk with a program counselor who is interested in understanding your career goals and aspirations. Or take our Free Career Assessment to help you see what program might be right for you.