We offer a variety of Certificates spanning environmental science, natural resources, environmental policy and law, geospatial sciences, and aquatic and marine biology. Students learn from the experts using innovative online technologies for course delivery from the pre-eminent University of Florida.
Certificate Programs
Sometimes a full degree is more than you need to accomplish your goals. For those students seeking less commitment, cost, and time than a master’s degree, we are pleased to be able to offer a wide range of certificates in environmental and natural resource subject areas that can help you further your career and gain the knowledge you need. UF students can also earn Certificates to add value and specificity to your degree program – students from all Colleges and departments are encouraged.
Graduate Certificates
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AQUACULTURE & FISH HEALTH
This Graduate Certificate aims to provide working knowledge of aquaculture and health of captive aquatic animals and/or familiarity with health issues in wild aquatic species.
This basic knowledge is critical for professionals working at facilities which house aquatic animals and marine mammals, including scientists at research laboratories and teachers involved with agriculture education in K-12 (for example, aquaculture in the classroom). This certificate also serves graduate students who have an interest in developing expertise in the fields of aquaculture and aquatic animal health.
Credits required: 12
Required Courses (for 6 credits total):
FAS 5015, Aquaculture I
FAS 5255, Diseases of Warm Water Fishes
Choose 2 or more electives from this list (for 6 credits total):
FAS 5203C/FAS 6932, Biology of Fishes
FAS 6165, Fish & Crustacean Nutrition
FAS 6154, Marine Adaptations
FAS 6176, Algae Biology & Ecology
FAS 6256, Fish and Aquatic Invertebrate Histology
FAS 6408, Aquaculture II
VME 6010, Aquatic Animal Conservation Issues
VME 6011, Aquatic Wildlife Health Issues
Students must earn a minimum grade of “B” in each course to earn the certificate. -
ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION
This Graduate Certificate aims to address the growing demand for ecological restoration professionals in areas such as restoration ecology, natural resource management, environmental science, environmental consulting, fire and wildlife ecology, watershed management, wetland sciences and wetland restoration, and mine rehabilitation.
Students obtaining the certificate will have acquired skills to assist them in understanding ecology, soils, and related biophysical sciences; designing restoration projects, synthesizing relevant primary information sources, such as technical reports and scientific publications; techniques used in ecological restoration, monitoring, and evaluation; and awareness of socio-economic, ethical, legal, and political dimensions of ecological restoration.
Credits required: 15
Required:
FOR 5157 Ecosystem Restoration Principles and Practice
Choose 4 Electives:
FAS 6360, Invasion Ecology of Aquatic Animals
FOR 5159 Ecology and Restoration of the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem
FOR 6151 Forest Ecosystem Health
FOR 6154 Analysis of Forest Ecosystems
FOR 6340 Physiology of Forest Trees
FOR 6934 Ecology and Restoration of Invaded Ecosystems
FNR 6628 Watershed Restoration and Management
FNR 6669 Policy and Economics of Natural Resources
HOS 6070 Plant Materials for Conservation and RestorationStudents must earn a minimum grade of “B” in each course to earn the certificate.
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ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION & COMMUNICATION
All environmental educators and communicators need a background in environmental science content, especially ecological processes and natural resource management, as well as skills in effective program design and delivery. This graduate certificate addresses issues related to education and communication as they relate to the management of the environment and natural resources. The coursework focuses on education and communication theory and practice.
Credits required: 11-12
Required Courses (6 credits)- FOR 6045: Science Communication and Public Education (3 credits)
- FNR 5072C: Environmental Education Program Development (3 credits)
Electives (choose two courses for 5-6 credits):
- AEC 6552: Evaluating Programs in Extension Education (3 credits)
- BSC 6038: Broader Impacts of Science on Society (2 credits)
- FOR 6005: Conservation Behavior (3 credits) or FOR6934: Conservation Behavior for Practitioners (3 credits)
- FOR 6934: Communicating Natural Resource Science with the Public (3 credits)
- FYC 6620: Program Planning and Evaluation for Human Service Delivery (3 credits)
- LAS 6291: Communication and Leadership (3 credits)
- LAS 6291: Facilitation Skills (3 credits)
- WIS 6934 Stakeholder Engagement in Natural Resources (3 credits)
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FOREST HEALTH & RESILIENCE
The Graduate Certificate in Forest Health & Resilience is a multidisciplinary program that addresses the current and emerging threats to forest health, the ecological, social and economic importance of forest health, and provides professionals with management tools to enhance forest resilience and minimize the impacts of forest health threats.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Describe the social, economic, and ecological contexts of forest health and resilience.
- Accurately diagnose tree health using established methodologies including an awareness of the various pitfalls in diagnoses.
- Analyze the occurrence of insect and pathogen outbreaks and the abiotic drivers responsible for tree die-offs, and interpret the effects on forest productivity and health.
- Formulate management recommendations for preventing, intervening, and/or restoring a forest in response to a disturbance or an insect/pathogen outbreak.
Credits required: 12
Required Courses (for 6 credits total):
FOR 6151 Forest Ecosystem Health
FOR 6155 Forest Ecosystem Resilience
Choose 2 electives (for 6 credits total):
FOR 6934 Ecology & Restoration of Invaded Ecosystems
FOR 6625 Issues in Southeastern Forest Health
FOR 5159 Ecology and Restoration of the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem
FOR 6340 Physiology of Forest Trees
FNR 6669 Policy & Economics of Natural Resources
ENY 5405 Insects as Vectors of Plant Pathogens
ENY 5006+L Graduate Survey of Entomology
FOR 6215 Fire Paradigms
ENY 6934 / FOR 6934 Bark and Ambrosia Beetle AcademyStudents must earn a minimum grade of “B” in each course to earn the certificate.
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GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS
This Graduate Certificate aims to address geospatial sciences including geographic information systems, remote sensing, image analysis, geostatistics, GIS programmming/scripting, web mapping, data visualization, and spatial modeling.
The use of geospatial data is an evolving field, both in principle and practice. This certificate allows working professionals to gain additional academic understanding/credentials in this field, such as: applying theoretical and technical knowledge of geospatial information sciences and the application of spatial analysis for research problems in resource conservation; design and implementation of research methodologies used in the application of Geomatics; utilizing digital spatial data resources for mapping and analysis tasks; use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to both document and analyze natural resources.
Credits required: 9
Required:
GIS 6116 Geographic Information Systems Analysis
SUR 5386 Image Processing for Remote Sensing
Choose 1 Elective:
SUR 5365 Digital Mapping
GIS 6103 GIS ProgrammingStudents must earn a minimum grade of “B” in each course to earn the certificate.
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NATURAL RESOURCE POLICY & ADMINISTRATION
The goal of this Graduate Certificate is to provide training and background in policy making, permitting, and administration for natural resource management professionals nationwide, and/or to focus the studies of law and environmental policy professionals towards natural resources.
Stakeholder and industry feedback has been unanimous with regards to the need for training, for traditional and non-traditional students, in environmental policy, analysis, human management, and organizational administration. This Graduate Certificate offers a means of obtaining the prerequisites to higher-level administration careers for professionals in the field as well as students seeking to round-out their education in natural resources.
Credits required: 12
Required
FNR 6669 Natural Resource Policy & Economics** required for students admitted Fall 2023 and beyondChoose 3 electives
FAS 6705 Fisheries Economics
FOR 6005 Conservation Behavior or FOR 6934 Conservation Behavior for Practitioners
FOR 6543 Natural Resource Economics Valuation
FNR 5625 Managing Public Lands & Waters
FOR 6934 Human and Organizational Management in Natural Resources OR AEB 5757 Strategic Agribusiness Human Resources Management
FNR 6061 Conflict, Collaboration, and Community Engagement in Natural ResourcesStudents must earn a minimum grade of “B” in each course to earn the certificate.
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QUANTITATIVE FISHERIES SCIENCES
This Graduate Certificate addresses marine resource population dynamics, quantitative fisheries assessment, and use of quantitative models in fisheries management decision making.
Students completing the Certificate will be able to: apply theoretical and technical knowledge of quantitative sciences (mathematical and statistical) to fisheries research and management problems; design and conduct quantitative fisheries stock assessments; provide fisheries management advice based on quantitative fisheries assessment and management strategy evaluations; analyze and synthesize quantitative fisheries assessment results for use in management decision making contexts such as fisheries commissions. NOTE: Students should have a strong background in statistics and/or a prerequisite course such as STA6166 or ALS5932.
Credits required: 11-12
Required Courses (8 credits):
FAS 6355C Fisheries Management
FAS 6337C Fish Population Dynamics
Choose 1 Elective Course (3-4 credits):
FAS 6339C Advanced Fisheries Stock Assessment (TBA)
FNR 6560 Bayesian Statistics
GIS 6116 GIS AnalysisStudents must earn a minimum grade of “B” in each course to earn the certificate.
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MAPPING WITH UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS
Please note that this is not an online program. Two-thirds of the courses required in-person fieldwork. This certificate focuses on the emerging area of mapping using small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). This certificate will enhance the geomatics education of graduate students and working professionals, addressing the needs of industry for individuals competent in the acquisition of high-resolution geospatial information. Topics will include foundational knowledge, vehicle and mapping systems operation, and geospatial applications.
Credits required: 9
Required: (9 credits total):
SUR6502C Foundations of UAS Mapping
SUR6940C Practicum in UAS
SUR6377 Geospatial Applications of sUASStudents must earn a minimum grade of “B” in each course to earn the undergraduate certificate.
Undergraduate Certificates
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ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, LAW, AND REGULATION
This certificate is primarily intended for on-campus bachelor's degree students. Please see the full information here.
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FIRE ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
This certificate is primarily intended for on-campus bachelor's degree students. Please see the full information here.
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RECREATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
This certificate is primarily intended for on-campus bachelor's degree students. Please see the full information here.
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URBAN FORESTRY
This certificate is primarily intended for on-campus bachelor's degree students. Please see the full information here.
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MAPPING WITH SMALL UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS
This certificate is primarily intended for on-campus bachelor's degree students. Please see the full information here.
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GEOMATICS
The 100% online version of this certificate is a standalone program that is primarily intended for working professionals in the survey field, who hold a bachelor's in something other than geomatics, and are seeking more educational credits to qualify to sit for their state's licensing exam. This certificate does not solely meet the requirements necessary for licensing. Please see the full information here.
On-campus bachelor’s degree-seeking students may be able to add the in-person version of this certificate, when space permits.
How It Works
Find out how to get started based on your student status.