Community Risk and Resilience Certificate - CTCRRG

Environmental Studies Program
Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service
Building 21, The Ridges
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio 45701
740.593.9381
gvsinfo@ohio.edu

Delivery Mode: Online

Terms of Entry: Spring, Summer

Terms of Entry Requiring Program Permission: None

Enrollment Eligibility: Degree-seeking or non-degree status

Program Overview

The Community Risk and Resilience Certificate serves community leaders: planners, economic development professionals, community health workers, state and local agency personnel, and others in skill development in applying resilience theory toward building community well-being, with a particular focus on the impacts of climate change. Resilience is a new approach to managing the impacts of climate change including flooding, drought, unseasonable temperatures affecting resources and food systems, wildfires, and others. The coursework builds skills in resilience in response to multiple stressors, risk management and communication, community engagement, and specific climate change related knowledge and practice.

This is a part time program. Classes are offered Spring (1 course) and Summer semester (2 courses). Students entering in Spring, taking the normal load of two courses per term, 7 weeks each, complete the program in 6 months.

Certificate Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Describe the concept of resilience,
• Develop a communication strategy for engaging a community,
• Characterize community risk according to social, environmental, and infrastructure,
• Describe the value of community engagement, and
• Evaluate different approaches to climate change adaptation and resilience.

Opportunities upon Completion

Employment categories of graduates from resilience programs, including planning, emergency management, and environmental specialist are all projected to be growth areas with 5-10% growth estimated. Additionally, Climate Change Business Journal has estimated “the United States climate adaptation & resilience services market at $650 million in 2018. Growth has been in the double digits and the forecast is for that rate to continue in the short term at 12-15% per year to at least 2022.” Professionals already working in communities recognize the need for additional training and education in climate change adaptation and resilience, and employers have identified the need for better communication and community engagement skills, improved understanding of climate change, and crisis and risk management as key areas for improved education and training.

Certificate Relationship to Parent Degree Program

The parent program of this graduate specialized stackable certificate is the Master of Sustainability, Security, and Resilience  (MSSR).

A student who wants to enroll in this certificate does not need to enroll in or complete the MSSR degree. However, completing this certificate does fulfill three required courses in the ten-course degree. Students admitted to this certificate may also seek admission to the MSSR degree, and/or the MSSR program’s other certificates. Two or three certificates also “stack” toward the degree. Previously submitted application materials will be reused as much as possible, as determined by the MSSR Program Director.

Complementary Certificates

• Environmental Change Management and Leadership Certificate  - CTEMLC
• Planning Resilient Systems Certificate  - CTPRSG

Further Information

Link to Program: https://www.ohio.edu/voinovich-school/sustainability-security-resilience/certificates

Admission Requirements

Applications for admission will be evaluated based on the applicants experience, personal statement, and letters of recommendation. The personal statement should address the applicant’s career goals and motivation to join the program. A prospective student’s professional experience will be evaluated with an admission preference for multiple years (2 or greater) in a related field. One letter of recommendation is required, however up to three may be submitted; it is preferred that the letters of recommendation are written by the prospective student’s current or past supervisor. Admission of a student with an undergraduate GPA less than 3.0 will be considered with a demonstrated track record in a related field.

A student may transfer up to 8 semester hours of courses into the Master of Sustainability, Security, and Resilience, with a maximum of one course (up to 4 hours) in any single associated complementary certificate. Requests for transfer must meet university eligibility rules and must be reviewed and recommended by the student’s advisor, approved by the program director, and the Dean of the Voinovich School. Courses recommended for transfer credit must significantly meet the outcomes of the course for which it is being substituted.

International Students

An I-20 cannot be issued based on admission to this program.

Completion Requirements

Complete a minimum of 9 credit hours with a cumulative Ohio University graduate GPA of at least 3.0 and no certificate course grade below C+, as follows: