The study of coastal resilience and translating findings into practice is important for coastal communities, as well as the natural and economic systems that depend upon them. As climate change impacts become more and more evident, disaster losses will continue to rise in the United States and across the world. Hazards of concern in these regions include storm surge and wind impacts from tropical storms, wildfires, extreme heat, and inundation of low-lying lands during regular tidal cycles. With more than 50% of the United States population and a majority of global population living in coastal areas, natural disasters along the coast are particularly devastating. The next generation must face these challenges head on and the need to educate tomorrow’s decision makers about coastal resilience will only become more pressing.

The Coastal Resilience Graduate Certificate Program provides students and professionals with advanced training needed to find professional employment in the field of coastal resilience. Upon completion of the Coastal Resilience Graduate Certificate Program, students will be able to: (1) apply knowledge in a variety of disciplines and have practical skills to address real-world problems in coastal resilience; and (2) find employment in agencies and businesses involved in research, scholarly, and problem-solving endeavors in the field of coastal resilience. In particular, the curriculum will provide students with academic and practice-based skills, knowledge and expertise to (1) explain threats to and impacts of natural hazards and disasters on natural and built environments and human communities; (2) describe human responses at a variety of scales (e.g., individual; international) to natural hazards and disasters; (3) apply theoretical concepts in coastal resilience to real-world and hypothetical scenarios; and (4) critically evaluate policies, programs, and plans for addressing the effects of coastal hazards and disasters.

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Requirements

Students take 15 credits to complete the certificate program. These are primarily in-person courses on the URI Main or Bay Campus. At this time, the certificate is not available online.

Students must take 9 required credits as follows:

3 credits from the following core Social Science and Policy Courses:
MAF 475 – Human Responses to Coastal Hazards
MAF 521 – Coastal Zone Law
NRS 514 – Climate Change Science and Policy
(Or other with approval from Grad Certificate faculty)

3 credits from the following core Natural Science/Engineering courses:
MAF 511 – Ocean Uses
GEO 577 – Coastal Geologic Hazards
OCG 440 – Geological Oceanography
OCG 569 – Oceanographic Processes
OCE 408 (Wave Mechanics and Littoral Processes)
OCG 493 – Special Problems And Independent Study In Oceanography
(Or other with approval from Grad Certificate faculty)

3 credits of Practicum:
NRS/MAF 510x – Field Practicum in Coastal Resilience
CVE/OCE591 – (Special Problems)
EVS 597 – Professional Internship in Environmental Science and Management
MAF 591/592 – Directed study with outside host (must be approved by
Grad Certificate faculty)

Note: Practicum credits must be advised by a URI faculty member. Faculty members affiliated with the Coastal Resilience Graduate Certificate include, but are not limited to:

Students must take an additional 6 credits of free electives from the core courses or from the following strengthening courses:

Engineered Systems
OCE 421 – (Fall semester) Coastal Structures Design
OCE 510 – (Fall alternate years) Engineering Ocean Mechanics
OCE 514 – (Fall alternate years) Engineering wave mechanics and
nearshore processes
CVE 477/577 – Environmental sustainability and Green Engineering
OCE 408 – (4 credit) Engineering wave mechanics and littoral processes

Community Systems
CPL 410 – Fundamentals of Community Planning Practice
CPL 434 – Introduction to Environmental Law
CPL 450 – Urban Design
CPL 483 – Land Development
CPL 485 – Environmental Planning
CPL 538 – Site Planning
CPL 539 – Environmental Law

Marine Affairs
MAF 461 – Coastal Zone Management
MAF 465 – GIS Applications in Coastal and Marine Management
MAF 475 Human Responses to Coastal Hazards and Disasters
MAF 582 – Coastal Ecosystem Governance
MAF 516 – Seminar on the urban waterfront
MAF 521 – Coastal Zone Law
MAF 484 – Environmental Analysis and Policy in Coastal Management
MAF 545 – Environmental Thought and Behavior
MAF 531 – Environmental Justice
MAF 564 – Port Planning and Policy
MAF 577 – International Ocean Law

Natural Systems
BES 551 – Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
NRS 501 – Foundations in Restoration Ecology
NRS 514 – Climate Change Science and Policy
NRS 555 – Applied Coastal Ecology
NRS 585 – Salt March Ecology
CPL 549 – Seminar in Ecological Planning
OCG 451 – Oceanographic Science
OCG 512 – Ocean Waves and Storm Surge Modeling

Business and Management Systems
BUS 435 – Topics in Insurance: Risk Management
BUS 443 – Organizational Design and Change

Other courses
LAR 444 – Landscape Architecture Studio III: Sustainable Design
LAR 445 – Landscape Architecture Studio IV
EEC 432 – Environmental and Resource Economics and Policy
EEC 440 – Benefit-Cost Analysis
EEC 535 – Environmental Economics
HPR 411/CVE 323 – Designing Sustainable Solutions for Developing Communities
OCG 508 – Global Environmental Change Education
GEO 491 – J-Term Indonesia (3 cr.)

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Admission Requirements

Applicants may come with a range of skills and expertise and a strong interest in coastal resilience. We encourage applications from many types of prospective students, including:

• Students enrolled in existing graduate programs at URI (e.g., Biological and Environmental Science, Marine Affairs, Oceanography, Ocean Engineering, MESM) who wish to obtain this credential in addition to their graduate degree
• Students who possess a Bachelor’s degree and want to improve their Coastal Resilience skills to enhance their employability
• Working professionals who require advanced training in Coastal Resilience

Note: We do not require either the subject or general GRE.

Please visit the international admission site for information about language requirements for international students.

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Application Instructions

New applicants (not currently enrolled in a Graduate Program at URI) should submit an online application through the URI Graduate School.

1. Visit https://gradcas.liaisoncas.org/apply/
2. Select your desired start term
3. On the GradCAS Login screen, create an account or login with existing credentials
4. The ‘Add Programs’ screen is where you’ll select your program. In the search bar, type in ‘Rhode Island’
5. Next to your Program, click the + button to add the Program to your application.
6. Now, on the ‘Application Screen’ you will need to create all four quadrants in order to submit your application.

Applications should include:

1. College transcripts certifying successful completion of a bachelors degree
2. Two letters of recommendation from peers, mentors, or colleagues attesting to the applicant’s ability to complete graduate-level coursework
3. A personal written statement explaining why the applicant is seeking a University of Rhode Island graduate certificate in coastal resilience
4. Updated resume

Existing URI graduate students should contact Dr. Becker with a request to apply and then fill out and submit a Request to Add a Degree Program form, which can be found on the Graduate School website under Forms: https://web.uri.edu/graduate-school/forms/. The certificate admissions committee may ask you for additional information once they receive the add form.

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Once in the program

The Graduate Certificate in Coastal Resilience is treated as full-fledged graduate program of the University of Rhode Island.  Students must follow standard graduate school guidelines, policies, and deadlines as they navigate the certificate. Important information resources for new students in the program can be found at:

The URI Graduate School
Grad School Forms

New students should meet with Dr. Austin Becker to develop a Program of Study. The Program of Study lists all the classes the student must take to complete the requirements for the certificate.

In the student’s final semester, a Intent to Graduate form must be completed.

Cost

Standard URI tuition and fee rates for graduate programs apply for the Certificate in Coastal Resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can credits/classes taken for another graduate degree count toward the certificate? Yes, as long as you are enrolled in both programs at the same time.
• Can I transfer in credits taken before being admitted?  Yes, you can transfer in 3 credits of graduate classes and apply them toward your certificate with approval of the program director.
• I have already taken one or more required classes  as an undergraduate, what do I do?  Dr. Becker will approve substitute classes for your Program of Study. You will work this out with them.
• How long does it take to get through the certificate program? It depends if you are a part-time or full-time student. It is possible to complete all the required classes in two semesters if you start in the  Fall.
• Can I start with a certificate and then move into a masters degree program? Yes, if you start in a certificate, your earned credits can count toward a masters degree at URI. You would need to apply for the masters program through the normal application process for that degree.

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Contact

For more information, contact Professor Austin Becker (abecker@uri.edu)