The mission of the Certificate in Sustainability Planning is to provide students with a better understanding of society’s land use and natural resource systems, with a particular emphasis on the factors that contribute to or constrain their level of sustainability. The program aims to give students the knowledge and skills needed to identify and address barriers to sustainability and to formulate strategies to create more sustainable practices, systems and institutions. Using a holistic and integrated approach, the program emphasizes the interdependence of sociocultural, biophysical and political-economic dimensions of sustainability, especially as they relate to urban or other subnational regions.
Which department am I in?
College of Humanities and Sciences
Study options
Full Time
(1 Year)
Tuition fees
$33,746.00 (28,47,283)
per year
Food and housing - 19,724 Annual
Application deadline
01/10/2026
Start date
January 2027
Venue
Virginia Commonwealth University- Monroe Park Campus
707 W. Broad St.,
Richmond,
Virginia,
23284, United States
Entry requirements
For international students
Completion of an official application formThree letters of referenceLetter of intent describing interest in applying for the Certificate in Sustainability PlanningAn official transcript showing successful completion of a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university with a minimum grade point average of 2.7 (out of 4.0) in the last 60 hours of undergraduate studyAll courses in the graduate Certificate in Sustainability Planning may be applied to meet the requirement of the Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree. However, successful completion of the certificate does not guarantee admission into the M.U.R.P. degree program.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.