certificate

Environmental Studies

Designed for those who want to make a real difference in the world, this program provides a multidisciplinary perspective on a variety of environmental issues. You'll also acquire a strong foundation for understanding the complex relationship between humans and the environment. This certificate is offered mostly online.

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This program is perfect for...

Students interested in environmental studies
Students seeking to pursue environmental graduate degrees
Environmental professionals seeking career advancement
Professionals looking to change careers

What you can learn.

Understand the interrelationships between humans and the natural environment
Think critically about current environmental issues and recommend effective and creative solutions
Analyze and interpret physical geography data, complex global patterns, and processes of the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere
Formulate environmental research questions and hypothesis to evaluate solutions to complex real world issues

What our students say about our certificates.

What our certificates have done for our students.

85%

feel a certificate helped them enhance their careers

1 in 4

received a salary increase after starting a certificate program

50%

switched careers after completing a certificate program

85%

recommend a certificate program to others

Source: UCLA Extension Certificate Graduates Survey

Courses

Click below to view the required and elective courses, if applicable, for this program.

Required (4)

Required Courses

Climate Change, Energy, and the Environment

PUB PLC X 461

Typically Offered: Winter, Summer

People and the Earth's Ecosystems

GEOG XL 5

Typically Offered: Fall

Earth's Physical Environment

GEOG XL 1

Typically Offered: Winter

The Ocean Environment: An Ecosystem Perspective

ENVIRON X 14

Typically Offered: Spring

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Estimated Cost Breakdown

All courses in this program are paid for individually, unless otherwise noted. An application form is required to establish candidacy in this program. From the 'Apply Now' button, complete the online application and pay the application fee if applicable.

Application & Candidacy Fee

200.00

Estimated Program Tuition

3480.00

Estimated program textbook/materials

250.00

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*The Application & Candidacy Fee establishes your candidacy in the program for a period of time covering normal progress toward completion and may allow you to access a variety of program benefits.

Internships
Available

Approved for
International Visa

VA Benefit
Eligible

Federal
Financial Aid

**Federal Financial Aid Gainful Employment Disclosures

The U.S. Department of Education requires colleges and universities to disclose certain information for any financial aid eligible program that, “prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation”. This information includes program costs; occupations that the program prepares students to enter; occupational profiles; on time completion rate; and for the most recent award year: the number of students who have completed the program, the number of students who complete the program within the estimated duration, the job placement rate, and the median Title IV and private loan debt incurred by those who complete the program. For gainful employment information for this program, visit our Financial Aid page.

International Students

International students are welcome to take the Environmental Studies Certificate, however, all four courses are in the online format. Since international students must take at least 12 units (typically 3 courses) every quarter to maintain F-1 Visa requirements of which only one can be online, it is recommended that international students complete the Sustainability Certificate and Environmental Studies Certificate simultaneously, since Sustainability courses can be taken on-ground or online.

The Sustainability Certificate is comprised of 5 courses, while the Environmental Studies Certificate is comprised of 4 courses. Together, that is 9 courses: completing three courses each quarter for a total of three quarters fulfills the visa requirements and will earn you two certificates in very related fields. This is a recommended schedule for American students as well.

Environmental Studies Advisory Board

Rebecca Shipe, UCLA Professor, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

Dr. Carol Armstrong, Chief of Staff to Deputy Mayor Barbara Romero, Los Angeles River Works

Stephanie Landregan, Program Director, Landscape Architecture, Horticulture and Gardening, UCLA Extension

Scott Hutchinson, Program Director, Arts, UCLA Extension

Michelle Kinman, Clean Energy Advocate, Environment California/Environment California Research & Policy Center

Bahram Fazeli, Director of Research & Policy, Communities for a Better Environment

Kaya Foster, Student Program Director, Sustainable Works

Noah Garrison, Environmental Science Practicum Director, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

Nurit Katz, Chief Sustainability Officer, Executive Officer, Facilities Management, UCLA, Extension Instructor

Michael Smith, National Chapter Representative, California Association of Environmental Professions, Extension Instructor