Certificates of Graduate Study (COGS)

Sustainability Studies. The COGS in Sustainability Studies offers students a credential demonstrating their understanding of applying sustainability concepts in the ‘real world’. Research in STEM fields has resulted in amazing advances in our societal ability to generate solutions to environmental challenges, but there is frequently a disconnect between the solutions and their implementation. The COGS in Sustainability Studies, and the courses that comprise the program, are aimed at helping STEM students understand avenues for implementing comprehensive sustainability solutions. Similarly, the University lacks a pathway for students pursuing graduate degrees in business, education, social sciences, humanities, or communication arts to include coursework on sustainability and environmental issues as a part of their education. The COGS in Sustainability Studies is also a useful avenue for these non-STEM students to strengthen their environment and sustainability skill set. You can view the requirements for the COGS here.

Urban & Regional Planning. The COGS in Urban & Regional Planning introduces students to theory and practice of Urban & Regional Planning. Students will survey the discipline’s history and major theoretical advancements before achieving an in-depth understanding of environmental and community planning practices. Students will also learn the major regulatory frameworks operating in the State of New Jersey as well as nationally recognized ethical principles to guide a successful career in planning. You can view the requirements for the COGS here.

Geospatial Science & Methods. The COGS in Geospatial Science & Methods provides an introduction to how information becomes data that can be presented visually in the form of a map, to communicate to an audience, yield new analytical insights, or present patterns and relationships unavailable in other forms and continues to advanced analytical modes using various spatial data types. This COGS in Geospatial Science & Methods is intended to expose students with previous undergraduate experience in disciplines such as engineering, disaster management and emergency preparedness, public health, business, social sciences, communication, the natural and environmental sciences, and education to key concepts, practices, and techniques in GIS and their application to geospatial/environmental problems. With three required courses, students can demonstrate their competence and familiarity with key spatial data preparation, analysis, and visualization techniques that may complement and enhance preparedness for a wide variety of occupations and disciplines. This COGS is specifically targeted toward students who do not yet have a background in geospatial methods, such as those coming from Engineering, Planning, Biosciences, Humanities, or other disciplines, but it could complement the previous experience of students who had taken some coursework in Geography and GIS (especially by focusing on advanced courses in the choice bank).  With this program, students from across the university can integrate geospatial data and methods into their chosen graduate curriculum. You can view the requirements for the COGS here.

Sustainable Business. The COGS in Sustainable Business will offer graduate students a credential demonstrating their understanding of applying sustainability concepts in the ‘real world’. The COGS in Sustainability Business, and the courses that comprise the program, are aimed at helping students in diverse graduate disciplines understand avenues for implementing comprehensive sustainability solutions. The Sustainable Business COGS builds on the existing expertise in the Department of Geography, Planning & Sustainability in the School of Earth & Environment at Rowan. While the courses comprising the program are housed in the Department, the program should be attractive from graduate programs in STEM, business, education, social sciences, humanities, and communication arts departments at the University. The courses may be offered online. You can view the requirements for the COGS here.