Program: Sustainable Policy and Planning Certificate - University of Southern California

Apr 01, 2025

USC Catalogue 2019-2020

This graduate certificate program provides students with a foundation in policy and planning issues in sustainability and the environment. The certificate develops analytic and methodological skills and provides students the knowledge to understand the increasing importance of issues surrounding the environment and sustainability in policy and planning.

For admissions information, please visit the Price Website. The Department of Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis will provide advisement.

The Certificate in Sustainable Policy and Planning consists of 16-18 units of graduate course work:

Required Courses (10 units)

PPD 568 Environmental Governance and Sustainability Units: 2
PPDE 634 Methodology, Methods and Tools for Urban Sustainability Units: 2, 3, 4 (4 units required)
PPDE 660 Environmental Policy Design and Analysis Units: 4

Elective Courses (6-8 units)

Students select 6 to 8^* units of electives.

ARCH 519 Sustainability in the Environment: Infrastructures, Urban Landscapes, and Buildings Units: 3 ^*
ENE 502 Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Units: 3 ^*
ENE 505 Energy and the Environment Units: 4 ^*
GEOL 525 The Science of Climate Change Units: 4
MOR 566 Environmental Sustainability and Competitive Advantage Units: 1.5, 3 ^*
PPD 587 Risk Analysis Units: 4
PPD 619 Smart Growth and Urban Sprawl: Policy Debates and Planning Solutions Units: 4
PPD 621 Environmental Impacts Units: 4
PPD 690 Alternative Dispute Resolution Units: 4
PPD 692 Transportation and the Environment Units: 4
PPD 694 Coastal Policy and Planning Units: 4
PPDE 632 Sustainable Cities Units: 4
PPDE 644 Land Use and Transportation Planning Units: 4

Note:

^*If students select 3-unit courses, they will take 6-7 units of electives. Others will take 8.