Sustainable Trails Development Graduate Certificate

Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

Build the Future of Outdoor Adventure

The Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Trails Development from WVU’s Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design equips you with the knowledge and hands-on skills to design, build, and manage sustainable trail systems. Whether you're advancing your career or pursuing a passion, this flexible, online program prepares you to lead real-world trail projects that support recreation, health, and community development.

• Comprehensive Curriculum: Learn the full lifecycle of trail development—from advocacy and design to post-build management and promotion.
• Hands-On Capstone: Complete a final project online or in-person during the summer to apply your skills in a real-world setting.
• Sustainability Focus: Master environmentally responsible construction methods, erosion control, and regulatory compliance.
• Community Impact: Explore the economic, public health, and social benefits of trail systems, and how to engage stakeholders and secure funding.
• Trail Management Expertise: Develop plans for maintenance, volunteer coordination, programming, and event planning.

The curriculum for the Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Trails Development is designed to provide you with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in trails development. You will learn about the economic, public health, and social benefits of investing in trails, as well as strategies for funding and stakeholder engagement. The program covers various aspects of trail design, construction, and management, ensuring you are well-equipped to handle real-world projects.

With this certificate, you will be able to:

• Summarize the benefits (economic, public health, social) of investing in trails development and outline funding strategies for trail development and facilitate meaningful stakeholder engagement.
• Assess trail networks for skills progression, responding to site topography and aesthetics and recognizing design features that reduce soil erosion and control hazards from trail construction.
• Select appropriate construction materials and construction details to minimize environmental impacts and adhere to regulatory requirements.
• Estimate construction costs related to trail construction, demonstrate understanding of effective written contract agreements, and suggest measures for quality control during construction.
• Design informative and effective interpretive signs for greenspace.
• Identify key components of an effective management plan for a trail system, and plan effective strategies for: volunteer management, trail maintenance, greenspace programming, special event planning and broad civic engagement.
• Strategize for post-build promotion and marketing, ongoing fundraising, and post-build research / assessment.
• Apply principles of sustainable trail design / development to a real trails project.

Admission is rolling for the Fall and Spring semesters. Most students will begin the certificate program in the Fall. It is possible for students to begin with the online course RESM 440 in the summer.

Create an account and complete the WVU Online admissions application

• For the application, you will need to provide:
• Current resume
• Statement of purpose
• Names and email addresses for three persons acquainted with your professional work, experience, or academic background who can provide letters of recommendation

• It is preferred that official transcripts be sent via an online, secure service such as eScrip-Safe, National Student Clearinghouse, or Parchment to GraduateAdmissions@mail.wvu.edu.
• Alternatively, sealed, untampered, physical official transcripts can be mailed directly to:
WVU Hub
P.O. Box 6004
Morgantown, WV 26506

Tuition and fees are usually not the only educational expenses you may have while pursuing a degree. You may have other costs such as books, supplies, and living expenses. Visit the Estimate Costs and Aid webpage to estimate and plan for other potential expenses.

Tuition per credit hour is listed on the page of your program of interest. Please note, tuition and fees are reviewed and subject to change at the start of each academic year.

• Learn More about Tuition and Financial Aid
• Explore All WVU System Tuition and Fees
• Understand Restrictions on University Tuition Waivers

With the growing recognition of the importance of sustainable practices in outdoor recreation, there is an increasing need for professionals who possess the knowledge and skills to create and manage trails that balance human enjoyment with ecological preservation. This demand is driven by government agencies, non-profit organizations, land management entities, parks and recreation departments, and tourism sectors.