Sustainable Trails Development Graduate Certificate

Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

This comprehensive certificate program covers advocacy, design/build, and post-build opportunities. It features asynchronous online courses, with a capstone project that you can complete either online or in-person during the summer. You can pursue the graduate certificate on its own or alongside a traditional graduate degree. The program aligns with local trail development and programming efforts, including WVU’s 2020 International Mountain Bicycling Association Trail Accelerator Grant. The Mon River Trails' induction into the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Rail-Trail Hall of Fame in 2020 and Morgantown's selection as the pilot city for the Youth Cycling Coalition in 2021 highlight the region's commitment to outdoor adventure.

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:

• Understand the benefits of trails development and explore funding strategies.
• Assess trail networks for skills progression and design features that reduce erosion and hazards.
• Select construction materials and methods to minimize environmental impacts and meet regulations.
• Estimate construction costs, understand contract agreements, and ensure quality control.
• Design effective interpretive signs for greenspaces.
• Develop management plans for trail systems, including volunteer management, maintenance, programming, and event planning.
• Plan post-build promotion, marketing, fundraising, and research.
• Apply sustainable trail design principles to real projects.

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.

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• 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.