Environmental Assessment
The Graduate Certificate in Environmental Assessment provides excellent opportunities for practicing environmental professionals to stay abreast of new technologies and current government regulations. Individuals who already have a master’s degree and want to update their skills or those who want to broaden their knowledge in the field may be interested in the certificate program.
The Graduate Certificate in Environmental Assessment is intended for working professionals who seek advanced study but are not looking for a master’s degree. The EA certificate helps students to gain the knowledge and skills to tackle the difficult environmental challenges of the 21st century and stay abreast of new information and technologies.
The certificate, which is also available to current NC State students enrolled in non-EA graduate programs, forms the basis for the Master of Environmental Assessment Program.
Eligibility
Admission to the certificate program requires proof of completion of a bachelor’s degree in an environmental, science, natural resources or related degree. Experience in the environmental field may be substituted for students with a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field. All applicants should have a minimum 3.0 grade point average. Interested individuals should be prepared to submit a personal statement, a resume identifying educational preparation and work experiences, and official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework.
With proper notification, students are not required to be enrolled continuously. The certificate must be completed within four (4) calendar years from the date the student starts the first course. Awarding of the certificate requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 or better in all of the required courses.
Technology and Software Requirements
At NC State University, Online and Distance Education courses are offered and supported using various delivery formats. Most Environmental Assessment courses make use of asynchronous scheduling, which means that students do not have to access them at a specified time for the majority of the course materials. However, most courses do have some times set aside for synchronous meetings. In addition, some courses may require visits to campus (or a remote location) for assignments or exams. Courses will provide content through an online Learning Management system such as Moodle and online meeting technologies such as Zoom. Students will interact with the faculty through email, online discussion groups, and chat and video conferencing sessions.
Non-Degree Continuing Education Options
Are you looking for professional development or want to give graduate school a try before committing to a certificate or degree program? Try a course or two from the Environmental Assessment Program as a Non-Degree Studies (NDS) student.
The following are recommended stand-alone courses that serve as an introduction to graduate certificate and degree programs:
- EA 501 Environmental Stressors
- EA 502 Environmental Risk Assessment
- EA 505 Environmental Law and Policy
- EA 508 Data Analysis in Environmental Assessment
Those interested in taking individual graduate-level courses without enrolling in a degree or certificate program must first enroll as a Post Baccalaureate Studies (PBS) Non-Degree Studies (NDS) student.
Career Prospects
The Graduate Certificate in Environmental Assessment is designed to support working professionals seeking deeper knowledge of environmental policy, regulations and developments. Many of our graduates use the knowledge and credentials provided by this graduate program to advance their careers as engineers, project managers, policy makers and advisors. Others work in an advisory capacity as an environmental planner, scientist, or compliance specialist.
