Sustainable Urban Communities (Certificate), Program Information

Program Faculty

Program Director

Laurel McSherry, FAAR, FCELA, ASLA

Associate Professor

319 CBEIS

Tel: (443) 885-1861

E-Mail: laurel.mcsherry@morgan.edu

Program Faculty

Laurel McSherry, FAAR, FCELA, ASLA

Associate Professor

Archana Sharma, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Sarah Trautvetter, PLA, ASLA

Assistant Professor

Program Description

The Graduate Certificate Program in Sustainable Urban Communities is designed for students who are interested in enhancing their knowledge of issues associated with urban sustainability in a multi-disciplinary and comprehensive fashion.  This includes professionals who influence, create, or provide policies, services, and designs relative to urban populations and communites.

This 15 credit asynchronous online program consists of core introductory and synthesis courses (6 credits),  restricted electives within one of three areas of concentration (6 credits), and free electives selected from offerings outside the chosen area of concentration (3 credits).   

The core requirements introduce concepts, issues, terminology and definitions; historical context and precedent; theories, principles and best practices; and tapply skills and knowledge in a comprehensive capstone project.  The core requirements also provide students with the opportunity to explore  various dimensions of urban sustainability prior to the selection of an area of concentration.

Areas of concentration enable the student to delve deeper into a particular aspect of urban sustainability (community, design and construction, or the natural systems in urban areas) The concentration area will also inform the basis for the Capstone Project.

Courses selected from otheroutside the chosen area of concentration ensures a multi-disciplinary examination of urban sustainability and helsp students to:  .

• Understand the complexity of sustainability as it relates to cities and urban communities;

• Comprehend the interrelationships between public policy, infrastructure, public health, and economics;

• Recognize the role of indivisuals and communities as agents of ecological sustainability with their larger urban and regional contexts; 

• Become competent in the application of acquired knowledge in helping to solve complex urban problems.

Program Objectives

The Graudate Certificate in Sustainable Urban Communities prepares students for careers or positions of influence in public policy development, planning, and community design relating to urban sustainability.  Major educational objectives inlcude:

• Provide students with the skills and knowledge associated with various aspects of urban sustainability through a combination of theory, science and practical application;

• Utilize an interdisciplinary teaching approach;

• Encourage students with diverse backgrounds and interests to workcollaboratively in addressing urban issues in a sustainable fashion;

• Develop leaders knowledgeable of the interrelationships between biophysical and socio-cultural systems and processes, as they relate to urban communities; and

• Provide students with an opportunity to pursue topics of interest and in depth through a capstone project.

Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate Program in Sustainable Urban Communities, students will have: 

• Gained general knowledge of the concepts and principles of sustainability in an urban context.

• Developed an understanding of the primary regulations, guidelines, best practices, current and anticipated changes affecting Sustainable Design and Construction (LEED, SSI, ESD, etc.).

• Acquired a comprehension of the diverse and complex nature of urban sustainability.

• Obtained knowledge of a specific aspect of urban sustainability (such as, sustainable construction, urban agriculture, residential design, environmental issues, public policy development, etc.).

• Demonstrated the application of an interdisciplinary approach to addressing complex urban problems.

• Exhibited practical application of the skills and knowledge acquired through a capstone project. 

• Earned credits that can be applied to a graduate degree.

• Earned continuing education credits.

General Requirements

Candidates for the Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Urban Communities must satisfactorily complete the minimum of academic credit hours within a selected area of concentration in addition to a Capstone Project.

Please refer to the Morgan State University School of Graduate Studies Graduate Catalog, Standards of Scholarship section for graduate student responsibilities, as well as academic regulations and procedures governing student status. 

Admission

To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Urban Communities, an applicant must: 

• Have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. 

• Possess an undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. Students who possess a cumulative undergraduate GPA of between a 2.5 and <3.0 may be considered for conditional admission.  Post-bachelor’s undergraduate credits will not be used to enhance GPA requirements for admission to graduate study. 

• Submit an application for admission to the School of Graduate Studies.  All required documents must be submitted as directed by the School of Graduate Studies prior to program review and admission decision.  

• Use the application system to arrange for two letters of recommendation to be placed with the application.  These letters must be from officials or faculty members of institutions previously attended who are acquainted with the applicant’s ability for graduate study or from employment supervisors where applicable. 

• Submit a typed exposition regarding the applicants personal academic and professional plans and the reasons for selecting Morgan State University. 

Applicants who meet the minimum eligibility requirements and submit the required documentation are not guaranteed admission. 

Program Course Requirements 15 credits

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Sustainable Urban Communities 15 credits

Plan of Study

The plan of study must meet the Program Course Requirements and will be structured within these requirements to satisfy the objectives of the student.  At the initial conference (virtual or face-to-face) with an advisor, a preliminary plan of study will be established, and this will be reported to the School of Graduate Studies (using the SGS Plan of Study Form) for placement in the student’s official file.  At this time, any anticipated exceptions or anticipated transfer credits will be noted. The estimated time for completion of the Program Requirements and submission and approval of the Capstone Project (CSUC 502) is eighteen (18) months, although the structure of the program supports completion of the Program within a twelve (12) month period.  Changes to the plan of study will be reported to the School of Graduate Studies. The student and the advisor will sign the form submitted to the School of Graduate Studies.