Greenhouse Gas Management and Mitigation, Undergraduate Certificate

In addition to University Requirements:

• Complete individual plan requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion	18
Major GPA	2.0
Highest Mathematics Required	MAT 114

Purpose Statement

The Undergraduate Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Management and Mitigation Certificate trains students in the foundations of climate change, the role of greenhouse gases in driving climate change, and the technical skills required to quantify GHG emissions and design effective emissions management and mitigation programs. Given the scale and challenges imposed by climate change, there is a strong and growing need for professionals with robust skills in tracking, reporting, and managing GHG emissions from companies and organizations. Individuals with a foundational knowledge of climate change and the best practices in quantifying and managing GHG emissions can also better speak to the issues and challenges associated with net zero emissions standards (and claims) and in the design of effective emission reduction strategies.

This undergraduate certificate in GHG management and mitigation provides students with a competitive edge in the job market. The curriculum is designed to build foundational knowledge of the factors driving global climate change, solutions to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions management, along with robust skills in GHG emissions quantification. The curriculum also introduces students to the emerging field of GHG emissions accounting and is designed to help students develop the skills needed to identify, verify, and report a corporation's or community’s GHG emissions. Students who complete the certificate program will have the GHG accounting and management skills required to help businesses, organizations, and communities make the case for climate action, track and report their GHG emissions, and design effective climate action plans.

The faculty directing this program are innovative educators and researchers who have worked with industry leaders to design a curriculum that produces career-ready graduates in the area of climate change action and greenhouse gas emissions quantification and management.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Differentiate how Earth’s climate has changed in the past versus the present in response to both natural and human factors.
• Evaluate how social, political, and/or cultural factors shape how society understands and responds to climate change and climate action.
• Quantify the greenhouse gas emissions within the organizational boundaries of a company or the geographic boundaries of a community using appropriate protocols and standards.
• Critique and validate the greenhouse gas emissions reported by others using recognized standards and procedures.
• Design potential pathways to manage and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and quantify the anticipated emission reduction for various mitigation measures.

Certificate Requirements

• Take the following 18 units:
  • ENV 115 (3 units)
  • EES 591, EES 592, EES 593 (9 units)
  • Select from the following (6 units):
    • ENV 360, ENV 371, ENV 415
    • GSP 362

• This certificate may be pursued and completed concurrently with a degree program or as a stand-alone certificate. Federal financial aid cannot be used if the certificate is completed as a stand-alone certificate.

• Students enrolled in this certificate may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:

• • Greenhouse Gas Accounting, Graduate Certificate

Additional Information

• Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

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