Graduate Certificate in Environmental Policy and Management

Graduate Certificate

This certificate provides you with an understanding of how our natural environment is governed and affected by relationships between various entities, including legislatures, administrative agencies, courts, governments, nonprofits, the private sector and the public.

The Program at a Glance

School: School of Public Affairs Campus: CU Denver Classroom: Online and on campus classes Recommended completion time: 1 Year Credits required for completion: 12 Maximum transfer credits: 0 Maximum credits per year: In most cases, students wishing to take more than 18 credit hours per semester (12 in the summer session) must have the overload approved by the dean. Application deadline: Fall: August 1; Spring: December 1; Summer: May 1

The Details

Students interested in obtaining a concentration in Environmental Policy and Management within the Master of Public Administration program must apply and enroll in the MPA program within the School of Public Affairs and adhere to all master's degree program requirements.

Review CU Denver's Academic Policies.

Program requirements

  • The Graduate Environmental Policy and Management Certificate requires 12 credit hours of coursework.
  • Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0, with a minimum grade of B- in each course.

Required courses

Students must complete the two required courses below, for a total of 6 credit hours. All course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Academic Catalog.

  • PUAD 5631 - Seminar in Environmental Politics and Policy (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5632 - Seminar in Environmental Management (3 credit hours)

Elective courses

In addition to the required courses, students must complete two elective courses, for a total of 6 credit hours. Students may choose from the list below, or choose other elective courses that have been approved by the program director. All course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Academic Catalog.

  • PUAD 5410 - Administrative Law (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5420 - Law and Public Policy (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5450 - Law of All-Hazards Management (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5634 - Theories of Sustainable Infrastructure Management (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5644 - Environmental & All Hazards Management Law (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5650 - Disaster and Emergency Management Policies (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5628 - Urban Social Problems (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5740 - Sustainable Energy Policy (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 6120 - Information Resource Management (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 6600 - Environmental Justice and Crime (3 credit hours)
  • EHOH - All EHOH Courses in the Master of Public Health (3 credit hours)
  • GEOG 4230/5230 - Hazard Mitigation and Vulnerability Assessment (3 credit hours)
  • HIST 5630 - Art and Architecture of the American West (3 credit hours)
  • LDAR 5530 - Site Planning (3 credit hours)
  • LDAR 6686 - Interpreting the Landscape (special topics course-not always offered) (3 credit hours)
  • COMM 5620 - Health Risk Communication (3 credit hours)
  • PUAD 5644 - Environmental Law and Hazards Management (3 credit hours)
  • URPL 6612 - GIS for Planners (3 credit hours)
  • URPL 6649 - Environmental Planning I: Ecology for Planners (3 credit hours)
  • URPL 6650 - Environmental Planning II: Policy and Law (3 credit hours)
  • URPL 6651 - Environmental Impact Assessment (3 credit hours)
  • URPL 6652 - Growth Management (3 credit hours)
  • URPL 6653 - Natural Resource Planning and Management (3 credit hours)

Admissions Requirements

View the admissions requirements for the School of Public Affairs.

Events for prospective students

Which MPA is Right for Me? (Webinar)
| 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Cost/fee: Free
During this one-hour webinar, you will learn about the School of Public Affairs' three different versions of the Master of Public Administration program (i.e. traditional, executive, accelerated). Specifically, we will discuss structural, curricular, and cost similarities and differences. You will have the opportunity to submit questions throughout the presentation.
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