Sustainability and Climate Change Policy

This graduate certificate, a collaboration between the School of Public Policy and the School of Law, is designed to prepare students for the dynamic, evolving landscape of climate and sustainability policy. Interest in the area of climate and sustainability policy is expanding rapidly among graduate students in multiple programs throughout Northeastern and among professionals who may be considering graduate coursework at Northeastern. This certificate provides students from multiple backgrounds an option for gaining interdisciplinary skills and perspectives in climate and sustainability policy. Given the growing need in every organization, including private sector, public sector and nonprofits, for professionals with knowledge and training in how to respond to the rapidly changing policy and regulatory frameworks in climate and sustainability, this certificate is open to JD, master's, and PhD students throughout the university. This certificate is also available to professionals who have not yet been admitted to one of Northeastern’s graduate programs.

More Details

The Sustainability and Climate Change Policy certificate is designed to prepare students for the dynamic, evolving landscape of climate and sustainability policy. This certificate provides students from multiple backgrounds an option for gaining interdisciplinary skills and perspectives as well as the knowledge and training in how to respond to the rapidly changing policy and regulatory frameworks in climate and sustainability.

• Collaboration between School of Public Policy and School of Law
• All students will take a 1 semester hour practicum course where they will explore in depth a specific proposed or existing policy or regulation and prepare a legal brief or policy analysis.

Admissions Dates

Fall 2020: August 15

Spring 2021: December 15

Once your application is submitted, received, and processed, you will be able to access your Application Status Check. If you are required to provide further information regarding your proficiency in English, you will be able to complete the requirement in several ways, depending on your familiarity with English, and the frequency with which you use English each and every day:

• Non-native English-speaking applicants will be required to submit official and valid results from one of the following English Language Tests:
  • C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (Cambridge English)
  • Duolingo English Test (DET)
  • IELTS Academic
  • PTE Academic
  • TOEFL Internt-based Test (CEEB Code: 3667) Northeastern will accept either the in-person version completed in a test center, or the TOEFL iBT Home Edition
• However, based on your academic environment and the primary instructional language in either your high school or university, you may be eligible for a waiver. All waivers must be submitted through your Application Status Check. For additional information and to determine whether or not you are eligible for a waiver, please read the section below on waiving the English proficiency requirement.

Please note: Northeastern’s Admissions Committee reserves the right to request proof of English language proficiency from any applicant, regardless of citizenship or first language, at any time during the evaluation process.

• 1.Create your application

  Submit your application through The Common Application or the Coalition Application (both are accepted). Once you have created your application, please select Northeastern University to directly submit your application to us. Application fee of $75 or need-based fee waiver* *Northeastern accepts need-based fee waivers from the Common Application, the Coalition Application, as well as organizations such as the College Board and ACT, or in a written request from a school official.

• 2.Submit all required materials

  Double check to make sure that you have submitted all required materials. Even if your application has been submitted, we cannot begin reviewing your file until all of your required materials have been received. For applicants applying for the 2022-2023 academic year, Northeastern University is test-optional and does not require standardized testing to complete an application for admission.

• 3.Check your application status

  Within seven days of applying, you should receive a confirmation email containing your Northeastern University ID number and instructions for setting up your Application Status Check account. To ensure all of the necessary documents have been submitted, and for updates or information about your application, visit your application status check.