Why Pursue a Graduate Certificate in High-Performance Design & Sustainability
The negative impacts of human activities on the environment are a major challenge threatening the survival of humans and other species, and built environments are a key contributor to environmental impacts. The Graduate Certificate in High-Performance Design and Sustainability provides students with the theoretical knowledge and applied skills to understand how buildings impact the environment and how building performance, in terms of operational energy, daylighting, occupant comfort/health, embodied energy, water conservation and reuse, and other relevant and emerging issues (such as biophilia) can be predicted, analyzed and used to improve buildings.
The Certificate in High-Performance Design and Sustainability provides students with the opportunity to gain understanding and skills in various aspects of sustainability and high environmental performance in the built environment. Students will acquire an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of high-performance design and sustainability and prepares them for further graduate studies in this area. This graduate certificate provides skills and knowledge complimentary to the pursuit of a professional career in the design and/or analysis of high-performance buildings and sustainability.
Admission & Application Requirements
Applications are submitted through the UTSA Graduate Application. Please upload all required documents (listed below) on your UTSA Graduate Application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure completion and submission of the application, a nonrefundable application fee, and all required supporting documents are on file with UTSA by the appropriate application deadline.
For international students, please note that student visas are not issued at UTSA for non-degree-seeking students, including certificate programs. For more information, visit our international students admission page.
| High-Performance Design & Sustainability (CERT) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Required Degree | Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or have proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution. | |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) Departments may consider GPA of last 60 semester credit hours | |
| Transcripts* | Required from all institutions attended; international transcripts must be recorded/translated to English | |
| Credential Evaluation | Required if you have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions. Submit an evaluation of your transcripts from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) directly from the graduate admission application platform | |
| English Language Proficiency | 550 TOEFL Paper / 79 TOEFL Internet / 6.5 IELTS / Duolingo 100 | |
| Purpose Statement | Required | |
| *Unofficial transcripts will be taken into consideration for admissions; however, if admitted into the program, you must submit official transcripts to the University. | ||
Application Deadlines
Applicants are encouraged to have their admission file completed as early as possible. All applications, required documents and letters of recommendation, if applicable, must be submitted by 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time on the day of the deadline. Deadlines are subject to change.
| High-Performance Design & Sustainability (CERT) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Completed applications will be reviewed for admission on a rolling basis. Decisions generally will be made and sent to applicants within 4 to 6 weeks of receiving the application. | |||
| Academic Year 2023-24 | Priority | International | Domestic |
| Fall 2023 | January 15 | June 1 | July 1 |
| Spring 2024 | Not Available | November 1 | November 1 |
| Summer 2024 | Not Available | April 1 | April 1 |
| Academic Year 2024-25 | Priority | International | Domestic |
| Fall 2024 | February 1 | June 1 | August 1 |
| Spring 2025 | Not Available | October 1 | October 1 |
| Summer 2025 | Not Available | March 1 | March 1 |
Funding Opportunities
Learn MoreCareer Options
UTSA prepares you for future careers that are in demand. The possible careers below is data pulled by a third-party tool called Emsi, which pulls information from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, other government databases and more to give you regional and national career outlook related to this academic program.
New and existing graduate students in “good standing” shall declare the intent to seek the Certificate by requesting permission to enter and complete the program. Students not currently enrolled in a graduate program may apply according to UTSA admission requirements for certificate programs as a special (non-degree-seeking) graduate student.
Term Offerings: Fall, Spring and Summer.
