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Boston University’s Metropolitan College

Applied Sustainability Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Applied Sustainability at Boston University’s Metropolitan College (MET) provides a unique interdisciplinary perspective on what it takes to make urban and economic development compatible with the natural environment, while promoting greater social, economic, gender, and racial justice.

A recent International Finance Corporation Report from the World Bank estimates that cities in emerging markets alone have the capacity to generate cumulative climate-smart investments to the tune of more than $29.4 trillion. By 2030, six key sectors, including green buildings, public transportation, electric vehicles, waste, water, and renewable energy, will attract a majority of this investment. This strong focus toward green values makes it an opportune time to add to your credentials in the field of sustainability.

Coursework in BU MET’s Applied Sustainability program guides you through the foundations of environmental planning; current theories and practices of sustainability; methods for managing and optimizing important primary resources such as energy, food, and water; urban risk management techniques beyond climate change; and the social, political, legal, and economic aspects of the global green movement. Throughout the program, you will develop an e-portfolio of the work that you produce.

Applied Urban Informatics Graduate Certificate

For those seeking to develop their grasp of data analysis as a tool to help them assess and meet the challenges of the urban environment, BU MET’s Graduate Certificate in Applied Urban Informatics approaches urban issues using existing and emerging forms of data, along with analytical and computational techniques. Coursework will help you develop analytic and computational skills, with focus on those needed to work with varied data sources to inform policy decisions in a range of government, nonprofit, and private organizations.

Admissions Requirements

For details on how to apply, financial assistance, tuition and fees, requirements for international students, and more, please visit the BU Metropolitan College admissions page.

Annual Tuition and Fees

$567–$1,005 per unit

Student Demographics

Programs at Boston University’s Metropolitan College are ideal for busy working adults who seek credentials and skills they can apply strategically throughout life. BU MET’s Applied Sustainability graduate certificate and Applied Urban Informatics graduate certificate are appropriate for individuals currently in roles as sustainability professionals as well as those seeking to enter this expanding and high-demand field. Architects, facilities managers, city planners, and IT experts have the opportunity to fill gaps in their existing knowledge, whereas those just beginning careers in these and related fields will gain the foundation to make green thinking central to their work from the outset.

Additional Program/Campus Details
  • Certificate-to-Degree Pathway—BU MET graduate certificate programs can serve as building blocks to a master’s degree. The graduate certificates in Applied Sustainability and Applied Urban Informatics share specific courses with the Master of Science in Urban Affairs and Master of Science in City Planning degree programs.
  • Competitive Tuition—Our part-time rates are substantially lower than those of the traditional, full-time residential programs yet provide access to the same high-quality BU education.
  • Comprehensive Financial Assistance—Our services include scholarships, graduate loans, and payment plans.
  • Boston University is a full member of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning.
  • Boston University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (formerly the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc.).
Related Programs

We invite you to explore a range of related programs at BU’s Metropolitan College:

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