2026-2027

Community Planning, Graduate Certificate

Department of Geography, Planning, and Recreation

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Beginning fall 2026, this plan will no longer be offered online; it will be offered in-person at the Flagstaff campus.

Transform communities and shape the future of urban and rural environments with our Community Planning Graduate Certificate. This graduate certificate program prepares you for a rewarding career in urban and community planning, a profession dedicated to enhancing the resilience and sustainability of places. Through this program, you will gain the knowledge, skills, and training necessary to create livable communities through professional planning practices and community advocacy in specializations including land use, environmental planning, transportation planning, land use law, and community health. Discover how you can make a real impact. If you are passionate about shaping communities and the built environment, this certificate offers the opportunity to turn that passion into meaningful action.

In the Community Planning Graduate Certificate program, you will learn to:

  • Apply foundational and advanced knowledge of professional planning practices.
  • Utilize applied technical skills with planning support systems.
  • Implement planning principles to create sustainable and inclusive communities.

    • Graduate certificate programs require a minimum of 12 credit hours. Many graduate certificate programs require more than 12 credit hours.
    • No more than one 400-level NAU course (3 - 4 units) may be used on a graduate certificate program.
    • No more than twenty-five percent of the units required for the certificate program may be transferred from another university.
    • A 400-level course (undergraduate course) completed at another university is not eligible for transfer credit.
    • A minimum grade point average of 3.0 must be achieved to obtain a graduate certificate. No more than three units of coursework with a Grade of "C" may be used in a certificate program.
    • A graduate student may pursue a graduate certificate concurrently with a graduate degree. Each graduate degree program must decide which, if any, certificate courses can be counted toward the graduate degree.
    • Students who are admitted to a graduate certificate program will be eligible for the official posting of the graduate certificate to their transcripts when all applicable coursework has been successfully completed and approved by the academic unit and the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.

  • Federal financial aid is not available for some certificates if the certificate is pursued and completed as a stand-alone certificate (i.e., not completed concurrently with a degree program). See the “Details” tab for additional information.

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 15
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Fieldwork Experience/Internship Fieldwork Experience/Internship may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Some online/blended coursework Required

Purpose Statement

The Community Planning Graduate Certificate is for students and professionals interested in urban and community planning. Through the program, students will acquire the foundational knowledge and practical skills necessary for an impactful career in the planning profession, including specializations such as land use, environmental planning, transportation planning, community development, and land use law. Graduates will be well-prepared for positions in the public and private sectors dedicated to community-led design and advancement of sustainable systems.

Student Learning Outcomes
 

  • Place and Community Development
    • Identify the major theories, techniques, and trends associated with place and/or community development.
    • Apply these concepts to analyze issues and create solutions.  
  •  Critical Analysis 
    • Identify, explain, and evaluate the major research methods and modes of inquiry within planning thought and practice.
    • Generate critical questions based on planning theory, applying systematic research processes consistent with disciplinary norms, and present findings. 
    • Effectively analyze and communicate community based data and technology using oral and visual methods. 
  •  Professional Development 
    • Conduct oneself and create work in a way that demonstrates the level competency, skill, and ethical behavior required of professional employment.
    • Present and defend a project with the purpose of generating new knowledge, or solving a problem or challenge within their profession or area of interest.
    • Present your work to general and professional audiences, articulating sustained, coherent explanations summarizing your project.
    • Effectively communicate complex ideas and analysis. 

Graduate Admission Information

  • The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.

    Admission requirements include the following:

    • Transcripts.
    • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.


    Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.

    Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

    International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

    • Essay/Letter of Intent/Personal Statement*
    • Recommendation(s)/Reference(s)*
Certificate Requirements

  • 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.

Additional Information

  • Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

This plan is no longer offered online; it is offered in-person at the Flagstaff campus.