Certificates of Undergraduate Study

Certificates of Undergraduate Study (CUGS)

Geographic Information Systems Foundations. This CUGS in Geographic Information Systems [GIS] Foundations 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. This Certificate of Undergraduate Study (CUGS) in GIS Foundations is intended to expose students 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. You can download the requirements for the CUGS here.

Sustainable Urbanism. Two global imperatives make knowledge of sustainable urbanism a critical topic in the 21st century: first, the majority of the world’s population is now urban; and second, the cumulative effects of urban life are generating the most pressing global environmental problems facing humanity. Cities, in short, are both the cause of major environmental problems and the solution. With our population expected to read 9.6 billion by 2050, humanity’s future is hinged upon our ability make cities sustainable: the capacity to meet the needs of the present, without comprising the needs of future generations. To support humanity in the 21st century, we must re-think the processes of urban environments in regards to both their built form and social practices. This Certificate of Undergraduate Study (CUGS) emphasizes the social and place-based dimensions of sustainability, from social issues to the role of communication technologies and aesthetics. Students in disciplines such as business, engineering, political science, psychology, communication, the natural sciences, and education will be exposed to key concepts, practices, and technologies in sustainability and their application to urban environments. This certificate in sustainable urbanism will position students from different disciplines for employment in the burgeoning green economy. 
You can download the requirements for the CUGS here.

Food Systems Planning. The Food Systems Planning CUGS is a way to obtain certification and thorough knowledge in the field of food systems. How we eat determines a large part of how we use the world. With this CUGS you come to understand the social, economic, and environmental benefits of a strong local/regional food system. You will learn where food comes from, how it is cultivated, processed and shipped, and how it interferes with many of the global challenges we are facing on Earth today. While gaining this knowledge you’ll understand the dynamic relationship between food and how it affects ecosystems, health care, power structure, and society as a whole in cities or rural areas. The American Planning Association is now incorporating food systems planning as an important dimension of its advocacy and professional training. This CUGS will provide students with a foundation in community and regional planning concepts along with a specific focus on how food can foster community and individual-level health, local and regional economic development, and food justice. Head here to learn more.
You can download the requirements for the CUGS here.

Environmental Humanities. The CUGS in Environmental Humanities is a program our department shares with Department of English at Rowan, with courses contributed also from History, Philosophy & Religion, and Writing Arts. This introduces students to the methods of the Humanities for interrogating the human contexts of environmental issues, which are crucial for effectively applying STEM findings and developments in complex cultural worlds. Also, this program offers students opportunities to explore how the critical thinking and communication skills they have developed in Humanities courses can be applied to STEM fields and career paths.
You can download the requirements for the CUGS here.

Environmental Policy & Economics. The CUGS in Environmental Policy & Economics is a program our department shares with the Department of Political Science and Economics at Rowan. This program provides students with an interdisciplinary approach to create and develop efficient ways to protect and enhance the world's economic and environmental resources. Students will learn how to design and assess the impact of environmental regulations and policies through an interdisciplinary approach using economics, geography, planning, public policy and sociology. Students will demonstrate particular knowledge of cost-benefit analysis, policy formulation and analysis, land use planning and sustainable economic development, and be able to address such questions as "What is the role of government in regulating the environment?"; "What tools exist to estimate the impact of environmental policies?", "How does geography/location determine economic development?", and "Are economic growth and environmental sustainability compatible?" Although this program is available to all students, it is primarily targeted to students in majoring in Economics, Political Science, Geography, Planning, Sociology and Environmental & Sustainability Studies. 
You can download the requirements for the CUGS here.