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Sustainable Trails Development Graduate Certificate

May 15, 2023

Next Start Date

6

Courses Required

$671

Cost Per Credit Hour

18

Total Credit Hours

Open Doors to a Better Path Forward

The Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Trails Development, offered by the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, welcomes students from various fields who are interested in trails development, programming and management, as well as design. The demand for sustainable trails has increased in recent decades, and outdoor recreation can be a major economic driver for communities. While there are professional organizations offering short trainings, this curriculum is both more in-depth and more accessible. The program covers advocacy, design/build, and post-build opportunities. It features asynchronous online courses, with the capstone project offered either online or in-person (during the summer). Students may complete the graduate certificate on its own, or with a traditional graduate degree.

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Learning Formats

Online Asynchronous


Start Dates

May 15, 2023
August 16, 2023
January 8, 2024

Curriculum developed and taught by faculty from

Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design

Degree Awarded: Sustainable Trails Development Graduate Certificate

Program Details

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Outdoor recreation can be a major economic driver for communities. Knowledge of sustainable trails has also increased in recent decades. The graduate certificate program in Sustainable Trails Development provides a great synergy with local trail development and programming efforts, including WVU’s 2020 International Mountain Bicycling Association Trail Accelerator Grant. The Mon River Trails were inducted to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Rail-Trail Hall of Fame in 2020, and Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine proclaimed WVU the best large college for outdoor adventure in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. In addition, Morgantown was selected in 2021 as the pilot city for the Youth Cycling Coalition.

The Sustainable Trails Development curriculum covers:

  • Advocacy: benefits of trails, funding sources, fundraising, planning for skills progression and shared use;
  • Design/build: site-responsive design, sustainability, construction materials/costs;
  • Post-build: volunteer/community engagement, interpretation, and ongoing assessment/maintenance.

The extra flexibility of a graduate certificate program allows students to complete the program either on its own, or with a traditional graduate degree, such as the Master’s in Landscape Architecture or PhD in Human and Community Development.

Program Website


Admission Requirements

  • Application
  • GPA: 2.75 or higher
  • Applicants whose first language is not English must submit TOEFL scores to demonstrate English language proficiency. (Minimum scores: 550 paper; 213 electronic)
  • Resume, and statement of purpose

Admissions

Admissions are rolling: most students will begin the certificate program in August. It is possible for students to begin with the online course RESM 440 in the summer.

Estimated Tuition and Fees

Sustainable Trails Development Graduate Certificate requires 18 credit hours to complete. Cost per credit hour is $671 for residents and non-residents.


Total Degree Cost

$12,078 – Residents and Non-Residents

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Financial Aid

Students enrolled in certificate programs are not eligible for financial aid. Visit Student Financial Support & Services for additional information.


Career Paths

Students who graduate from WVU Online with the Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Trails Development may be prepared for the following careers. These are only a few examples of some of the many opportunities that will be open to you with this degree. Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for some positions.

Urban and Regional Planner
Projected Growth: 8% or higher *Bright Outlook

Construction Manager
Projected Growth: 8% or higher *Bright Outlook

Social and Community Service Manager
Projected Growth: 8% or higher *Bright Outlook

Sustainability Specialist
Projected Growth: 5-7% *Bright Outlook

Project Management Specialist
Projected Growth: 5-7% *Bright Outlook

Public Land/Range Manager
Projected Growth: 5-7% *Bright Outlook

Information Security Analyst
Projected Growth: 11% or higher *Bright Outlook

Fundraising Manager
Projected Growth: 8% or higher *Bright Outlook

General and Operations Manager
Projected Growth: 5-7% *Bright Outlook


Information about careers on this list comes from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).

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