Certificate in Sustainable Policy and Planning
With increasing urgency, organizations and governments require leaders to design and implement sustainability-focused policy and planning practices that help communities improve in the present without compromising the future. The USC Price graduate Certificate in Sustainable Policy and Planning develops analytic and methodological skills and provides students an interdisciplinary curriculum centered on key environmental and sustainability issues in policy and planning.
Courses
The Certificate in Sustainable Policy and Planning consists of 12-15* units of graduate course work.
Students take PPDE 634 and either PPDE 660 or PPDE 665.
| Required Courses (8 units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| PPDE 634 | Methodology, Methods and Tools for Urban Sustainability | 2,3,4* |
| PPDE 660 | Environmental Policy Design and Analysis | 4 |
| PPDE 665 | Economic Impact Analysis: Methods and Applications | 4 |
* 4 units required
Students select 4 to 7 units of electives.
| Elective Courses (4-7 units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH 519 | Sustainability in the Environment: Infrastructures, Urban Landscapes, and Buildings | 3 |
| ENE 502 | Environmental and Regulatory Compliance | 4 |
| ENE 505 | Energy and the Environment | 4 |
| GEOL 525 | The Science of Climate Change | 4 |
| MOR 566 | Environmental Sustainability and Competitive Advantage | 1.5, 3 |
| PPD 587 | Risk Analysis | 4 |
| PPD 619 | Smart Growth and Urban Sprawl: Policy Debates and Planning Solutions | 4 |
| PPD 621 | Environmental Impacts | 4 |
| PPD 690 | Alternative Dispute Resolution | 4 |
| PPD 692 | Transportation and the Environment | 4 |
| PPD 694 | Coastal Policy and Planning | 4 |
| PPDE 632 | Sustainable Cities | 4 |
| PPDE 640 | Environmental Planning and Analysis | 4 |
| PPDE 644 | Land Use and Transportation Planning | 4 |
Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
Current USC Graduate Students — Applicants for the Certificate in Sustainable Cities who are currently enrolled in a graduate program at USC (and are in good standing with a 3.0 GPA) need only submit the appropriate paperwork for adding the certificate program, which may be obtained from the student services advisor in RGL 102.
Prospective Applicants — Applicants for the Certificate in Sustainable Cities who have not matriculated at USC must make a formal application at the USC Graduate Admission website.
Applicants must submit the following items:
- Official transcripts from ALL institutions attended must be sent directly to [email protected].
- Resume (upload via online application)
- A Letter of Recommendation (uploaded via online application)
Deadlines:
July 1 – Fall Semester
Please contact the USC Price Office of Admissions at [email protected] for more information.