Graduate Certificate in Climate Adaptation

The Climate Adaptation Certificate provides a comprehensive graduate-level credential delivered in a highly flexible format for students who want to enhance their professional work with expertise in climate. Students may complete the certificate online (asynchronous) or in person. The certificate is the ideal choice for professionals who need a versatile option to further develop their knowledge of climate adaptation. Our alumni and current students include individuals from established institutions such as the Weather Channel, engineering firms, and students enrolled at NC State from a variety of programs including education and policy. The twelve-credit Climate Adaptation graduate certificate enables professionals to integrate climate adaptation practices into their existing organizational frameworks by providing expertise in science, risk analysis, as well as tools in policy analysis, communications and geospatial analytics.

Applicants must meet one of the three following requirements:

be a graduate of an accredited four-year college or university and have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4-point scale in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate study;
have a master’s degree;
be a degree student in good standing in an NC State University graduate program.

Provide Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a total score of at least 80 on the Internet-based Test (iBT). Minimum test scores for each section:

Listening: 18 points
Reading: 18 points
Writing: 18 points Speaking: 18 points for admission, 23 points for TA appointment where TA has direct verbal interactions with students, 26 points for TA appointment where TA presents lectures in the class or laboratory

The maximum total score for the iBT is 120 with each section worth 30 points.

Provide International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores with an overall band score of at least 6.5. Minimum test scores for each section are listed below:

Listening: 6.5
Reading: 6.5
Writing: 6.5
Speaking: 6.5 for admission, 7.0 for TA appointment

Computer-based TOEFL scores must be 213 or higher (with at least 17 on three sections and no section score below 13). The paper-based test requires a score of 550 or higher (with scores of 50 on at least two of the three sections and no section score below 45).

Application Deadlines

Fall: Fall Application Deadline: August 1st
Spring: Spring Application Deadline: December 15th