Any student currently enrolled in a graduate degree program offered by the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado Boulder may apply for concurrent enrollment in the Mortenson Center Graduate Certificate. Students interested in completing the certificate must submit a Certificate Enrollment Form signed by the student's academic advisor prior to being able to register for Mortenson courses.
Certificate Requirements
Students earn the certificate by satisfactorily completing 12 credit-hours approved by the Mortenson Center, with a grade of B- or higher in each course or module.
The following courses are required:
- CVEN 5919: Global Development for Engineers (Fall only - open to all engineering graduate students on a space available basis)
- CVEN 5939: Global Development Practicum (3 credits)
Certificate students start with Global Development for Engineers, which introduces students to the complexities of the international development industry, providing a survey approach to understanding major historical outcomes, theories, institutions, policies, alternatives and critiques. The Global Development Field Practicum provides students with a field-based opportunity to synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired in Mortenson Center courses and other learning experiences and to apply theory and principles in a situation that approximates professional practice in global engineering. Students typically fulfill the Sustainable Community Development Field Practicum requirement the summer after the first academic year in the program. Learn more about previous practicum placements here.
The remaining six credit hours are to be completed as approved courses or one-credit modules offered by the Mortenson Center or Affiliate Faculty (listed below). The Mortenson Center offers courses as sequences of 5-week modules, with each module worth one credit-hour. The following sequences are currently offered:
A. Principles
B. Project Management
C. Field Methods
- Introduction to Humanitarian Aid
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Refugees & Displacement
E. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
- Drinking Water
- Sanitation and Hygiene
- Water Quality Lab
- Household Energy Use and the Services Provided
- Combustion of Solid Fuels
- Heat Energy Conversion Technology
Once Certificate Coursework is Completed
Upon completion of the four required courses, students must request the certificate be added to their transcript by contacting Mortenson Center Program Coordinator Sarah Goodroad at sarah.goodroad@colorado.edu. Mortenson Center staff will check to ensure that the requirements have been met and will then notify the Registrar's office so that the designation is added to the student's transcript.