What You'll Learn
The Environmental Policy and International Development Graduate Certificate explores the intersection of environmental science, global policy, and sustainable economic development. Through this four-course certificate, you’ll:
- Analyze the science of climate change, social adaptation of human communities, and diplomacy efforts born out of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.
- Gain environmental policy training that includes navigation, regulation, and legislation, including major environmental statutes as well as common and constitutional laws within the United States.
- Leverage tools for developing sustainable economies, such as economic valuation, value chain, and cost-benefit analysis.
- Lead effectively in a variety of organizational contexts using change management principles.
Courses
The Environmental Policy and International Development Graduate Certificate requires four courses from the following two groupings in the certificate course search.
Core Environmental Policy Certificate Courses
Choose at least two courses. You may select up to four courses.
Example courses:
- ENVR 113 International Political Economy of Decarbonization
- DEVP 142 The Economic Foundations of Global Development
- ENVR 199 Environmental Law and Policy
- DEVP 140 Management in the Context of Global Development
Elective Courses
You may select up to two courses; however, elective courses are not required.
Sample elective courses:
- MGMT 5027 Emerging Markets in the Global Economy
- ENVR 158D Waste Management Practices
- ENVR 148 Environmental Crises and Systems Collapse
Searching and Registering for Courses
Available course options vary by term. You can browse options for fall, spring, or summer in the certificate course search within the DCE Course Search & Registration platform.
Our Community at a Glance
Join a community of change agents.
You’ll meet peers who hold roles like sustainability manager, consultant, or analyst at NGOs, Fortune 500 companies, and government agencies.
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35
Average Age
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80%
Working Full Time
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24%
Students Outside the U.S.
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1.5 years
Average Time to Complete
Earning Your Certificate
Most of our certificates can be completed online and no formal application process is required to pursue a certificate.
To meet the requirements for the certificate, you must:
- Complete the four certificate courses for graduate credit.
- Earn at least a B grade in each course.
- Complete the courses within three years.
Learn more about pursuing a certificate and the process of requesting your certificate.
Build a Stackable Credential Pathway
Stackable credential pathways allow you to earn multiple credentials by completing courses that meet overlapping requirements. In the short term, you can earn a micro or graduate certificate. Once completed, those courses may count toward a master’s degree.
You can stack:
- The Circular Economics Microcertificate into the Environmental Policy and International Development Graduate Certificate.
- The Environmental Policy and International Development Graduate Certificate into either a master’s degree in sustainability or a master’s degree in global development practice.
Stackable pathways offer an efficient, cost-effective way to earn short-term credentials to help fill immediate skill gaps and acquire specialized knowledge while building a foundation for long-term success that showcases your expertise in the field.
Learn how to plan a stackable credential pathway.
Cost
Affordability is core to our mission. When compared to our continuing education peers, it’s a fraction of the cost.
| Our Tuition (2025–26 rate) | $3,440 per course |
|---|---|
| Average Tuition of Peer Institutions | $5,476 per course |
| Average Total Cost | $13,760 |
