Graduate Certificate in Affordable Housing

Housing affordability is a significant problem across the U.S. that is driving communities to reconsider policy and regulations, zoning and design guidelines, and the implications of housing affordability for society. The College of Architecture and Planning (CAP), the School of Public Affairs (SPA), and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) are partnering to offer a graduate Affordable Housing Certificate that will enable students to grow their expertise and become specialists equipped to address housing challenges.

*For those who have completed a 1-credit finance and development class, the program requires 12-credits. For those who have not completed the finance and development course, the program requires 13-credits. 

Affordable Housing Certificate Contacts

The certificate is coordinated by faculty members from the College of Architecture and Planning, the School of Public Affairs, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. 

Jenny Steffel Johnson, College of Architecture and Planning, Co-Director, Affordable Housing Certificate

Tanya Heikkila, School of Public Affairs, Co-Director, Affordable Housing Certificate

Carrie Makarewicz, College of Architecture and Planning, Affiliate Faculty and Certificate Advisor

Robin Kniech, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Affiliate Faculty and Certificate Advisor

Application Requirements & Steps:

1. If pursuing a certificate on its own without a degree you will need to start a Graduate Non Degree application here: Applying to the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus.
2. Create an account and begin to follow the application prompts.
3. In “Academic Interest,” select “Certificate” and the program you are interested in. Please note, not all certificates offered can be completed fully online.
4. Include required materials:
   1. Transcripts: Individual transcripts from all higher education institutions attended where 12 or more credits were received. Unofficial can be used for the application but official are required within the first semester.
   2. Resume: Include a complete and up to date resume on your application.
5. Submit your application once everything is complete!
6. Pay the application fee. We never want the application fee to be a barrier. If you would like to request an application fee waiver, please reach out to [email protected]. Request the fee waiver before self-paying the app fee; the fee cannot be reimbursed.
   1. $50 for domestic applicants
   2. $75 for international applicants
7. Await review! Applications are rolling admissions, you will hear back within 1-2 weeks.

Program Cost:

Certificates are calculated at a per-graduate credit cost. Please reference the Bursar's Page for the most up to date academic year’s cost of attendance and graduate credit rates. https://www.ucdenver.edu/student-finances/tuition-fees/graduate/

Please note: Non-degree admission to complete a certificate may not allow for federal financial aid. Please contact the Financial Aid Office.

General Certificate Policies:

Double-Dipping:

Students pursuing graduate degrees and/or certificates may apply certain courses toward multiple programs’ requirements. Graduate students may count a single course only twice across graduate programs (e.g., 1 degree and 1 certificate; 2 degrees; 2 certificates). For example, a student may opt to take PUAD 5655: Principles of Emergency Management and count it toward their MPA elective requirement and the Disasters, Hazards, and Emergency Certificate, but could not also count that course toward the Emergency and Homeland Security Certificate.  Or for example a student pursuing a Dual Degree could potentially add in a certificate, but this would most likely require additional courses to the program plan as a course can only count towards two credentials, not three.

Transfer Credits:

Non-degree-seeking students: students may not transfer credits from other institutions toward SPA graduate certificates for non-degree-seeking students.

Degree-seeking graduate students: SPA students may transfer up to nine credit hours of coursework toward their graduate degree program with approval from the Program Director. These transfer hours may be applied toward SPA certificate coursework, so long as the coursework from the previous institution(s) did not apply to a previously earned credential.  University of Colorado graduate students who are degree-seeking but not a SPA major may apply 1 course from their degree program to a SPA graduate certificate. The program director must approve this substitution / double-dipping.

Please contact your graduate advisor regarding transfer of credit; they will work with the program director for review and approval of transfer credits.

Residency (credits taken in SPA):

MPA students: all SPA certificate coursework (PUAD, CRJU, and HOUS) may be counted towards degree requirements

MPP students: all SPA certificate coursework (PUAD, CRJU, and HOUS) may be counted towards MPP degree requirements

MCJ students: up to nine credit hours of non-CRJU coursework may be counted towards MCJ degree requirements