George Washington University
AC-4: Graduate Program

As the world becomes increasingly urbanized, societies face new and complex challenges arising from intense economic pressure, increased inequality, and environmental degradation. Beyond a traditional role of guiding land use and development projects, contemporary urban planners are responsible for promoting more competitive, inclusive, and ecological cities. Moreover, they are increasingly responsible for addressing the dominant challenge of the 21st Century: anthropogenic climate change.

In our master’s degree in Sustainable Urban Planning, you will study cities through the lens of economic, social, and environmental sustainability. The program’s world-class faculty delivers state of the art courses, personalized mentoring, and firsthand insight on projects they have conducted in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. By working with them and your peers – inside of the classroom, and out – you’ll learn how to leverage knowledge of cities into forward-looking policy and action for advancing the goals of societies across the globe.

Employers across the public and private sectors are increasingly seeking scientists who specialize in creative ideas with minimal environmental impact. In GW's unique green chemistry program, students learn the science underlying today’s environmental challenges and develop innovative, greener solutions to address them.

The curriculum builds proficiency in both environmental chemistry and green chemistry, positioning graduates to find employment in this burgeoning field or to continue their education in chemistry and sustainability. Coursework combines intensive study of chemical toxicology, green industrial chemistry and rational design of safer chemicals with related courses in public health, policy and business. Students round off the program with a final capstone project with a real-world client.

The Environmental Resource Policy (ENRP) Program at GW offers a multidisciplinary approach to environmental and sustainability studies. This Master of Arts program prepares students to enter environmental policy careers in government, non-profit organizations, the private sector and environmental advocacy groups. If you are interested in environmental policy, here are five reasons why you should take a closer look at GW's ENRP Program. ENRP is built on a multidisciplinary curriculum that includes environmental economics, environmental law, public policy, research methods and a two-semester environmental science course. Faculty scholars with deep expertise will help you understand complex environmental policy issues and identify connections between specific issues and the relevant natural sciences. Learn to build policy on science-based evidence, an appreciation of economic incentives and a clear-eyed understanding of environmental law and politics.

https://sustainability.gwu.edu/degree-programs

With the rise of both the megalopolis and small cities alike, the global trend of urbanization shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. As people continue to gravitate towards urban living worldwide, we must contend with new challenges: Questions of local vs. national authority, the tensions and tumult of scarce resources, inequality and environmental degradation, among many others. Beyond their roles on infrastructure projects, urban planners are engaged in work that leads to cities that have a more socially stable, prosperous future.

Designed for working professionals, GW's Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Urban Planning is tailored to students seeking a credential in the field but who are not in need of a complete master’s degree. Taught by expert practitioners in the field who can provide you with firsthand insight on projects they have conducted with government agencies and private firms alike, you will learn how to leverage your knowledge into forward-looking economic, environmental and social frameworks and sustainable policies and actions for metropolitan regions all around the world.

The Graduate Certificate in Environmental Systems Management is designed for professionals in the engineering, business management, and related disciplines who are required to manage organizations faced with complex and rapidly changing environmental requirements in the United States and throughout the world. The program provides advanced education across the full spectrum of subjects central to the practice of environmental management, including not only the policy, management and high-level technical understanding underlying challenges in the environmental management area, but also the statutory and regulatory framework in which they are embedded, as well as social and policy considerations that are critically important in modern society.

GW’s proximity to the federal government, major environmental organizations and high-tech firms in the Washington, D.C. area allows certificate students to integrate their academic study with real-world practical experience and exposure to decision makers and top players in the environmental management field.

To provide a well-rounded education in energy engineering in the technical areas of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and mathematics, as well as policy oriented education in state-of-the-art renewable energy technologies, energy management, and design for energy efficient tools and buildings. The certificate program is designed to enable graduates to analyze energy consumption patterns and perform energy audits, manage energy generation projects, manage energy utilization and its economic impacts, and analyze energy options to achieve optimal energy efficiency.

https://sustainability.gwu.edu/degree-programs