Certificate Programs

Sustainable Design

Sustainable design has become a driving force in the design professions, and our courses offer the opportunity to become an educated participant in this movement. Courses are available both on campus, and fully online in partnership with BuildingGreen, Inc., a trusted source of unbiased information for building industry professionals concerned with environmental performance.

Our courses are ideal for individuals interested in integrated design, technical expertise in green building, or a general understanding of the sustainable design movement. All courses in the sustainable design program are approved for Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) continuing education learning units (LUs) for architectural registration requirements.

Many of our courses have been endorsed and are included in the USGBC’s Education Providers Program, at the Application/Implementation level. The courses were thoroughly reviewed by the USGBC’s Professional Development Committee, and they are included in the Education Providers Program as highest-quality offerings.

Participants in our instructor-led, online courses can login at their convenience from any location with Internet access. Please visit the What to Expect Online page for more information about the online courses. On campus courses meet at the BAC in Boston’s Back Bay area. Offered in eight-week segments throughout the year, courses are led by practicing design professionals and green building experts. Courses may be taken individually, or applied to the Sustainable Design Certificate that is offered at the undergraduate or graduate level.

Sustainable Design Certificate
The certificate program is an option for individuals that are seeking LEED accreditation, or that are already LEED accredited and are seeking more in-depth knowledge. To earn the Sustainable Design Certificate, students must complete six of the approved courses.

New course options are added periodically so please refer back to this page and check the online CE Course Schedule for specifics, such as course availability, required textbooks and other important course information. You may review all course descriptions in the Sustainable Design Program through the Course Descriptions page.

Courses Available for Spring 2008

Without prerequisites:

  • Sustainable Design as a Way of Thinking
    • March 24 - May 16: online
    • March 26 - May 14: on campus
  • Site Design, Landscaping and Site-Water Issues
    • March 26 - May 16: online
  • Materials, Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality
    • March 25 - May 16: online
  • Green Practice: Energy and Air Quality
    • TBA: online
    • March 27 - May 15: on campus
  • Smart Growth Planning
    • March 25 - May 16: online

Some prerequisites required (visit the online CE Course Schedule for specifics):

  • Environmental Systems
    • March 26 - May 16: online
  • Sustainable Design in Practice
    • March 24 - May 16: online
  • High Performance Buildings & the LEED Rating System
    • March 25 - May 16: online