UC Irvine Extension Launches Certificate Program in Sustainable Community Planning

University of California (UC), Irvine Extension announced the launch of its new Certificate Program in Sustainable Community Planning & Development, developed to meet the needs for interdisciplinary planning and development continuing education training that focuses on incorporating sustainability into community environments.

The first of its kind, this program is designed to provide leaders and emerging leaders with the skills necessary to guide smart growth, identify sustainability best practices, implement public policy applications and enhance collaborations for commercial, mixed use, residential, civic centers and parks from small to large metropolitan sites. Interested parties may register in August and begin taking courses for this program starting this fall.

“Our new certificate program was developed to provide participants an opportunity to gain the real-life skills necessary to incorporate elements from civil engineering, architecture, environmental and land use planning, community infrastructure, landscape architecture, transportation policy, water management, ecosystems design and community health; and implement public policy applications to improve and enhance quality of life in communities,” said Kirwan Rockefeller, Ph.D., director of Sustainability Leadership at UC Irvine Extension. “These elements are increasingly important considerations in climate action plans, regulatory compliance of California’s legislation (i.e., SB375, AB32, and AB1881) and greenhouse gas inventories.

“The risks of climate changes primarily impacts virtually all of the ecosystem services on which humans rely, and as such our urban, community and natural landscapes must adapt to these ecological changes to achieve long-term sustainability.”

Designed with an interdisciplinary focus, many courses allow LEED AP professionals from various career fields an opportunity to gain approved U.S. Green Building Council continuing education training. Many businesses can benefit from the grants associated with the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act designed to promote sustainable community planning and development.

UC Irvine Extension’s Certificate Program in Sustainable Community Planning & Development will include five required courses for 15 quarter units. The program is open to individuals seeking a career change and those who currently plan, design, construct and maintain urban environments. LEED professionals seeking continuing education credits are also good candidates for this certificate program.

Source: UC Irvine Extension