Conservation Leadership (Graduate Certificate)
This interdisciplinary certificate in Conservation Leadership was developed, and is implement by Old Dominion University, in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as a part of a long-term, sustainable program of conservation-related service-learning, internships, and leadership programs. The certificate will facilitate the development of the next generation of professionals who can address the challenges for conservation posed by a changing climate and sea level rise.
Conservation Leadership (Graduate Certificate)
Description
What is Conservation Leadership at ODU like?
This interdisciplinary certificate in Conservation Leadership was developed, and is implement by Old Dominion University, in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as a part of a long-term, sustainable program of conservation-related service-learning, internships, and leadership programs. The certificate will facilitate the development of the next generation of professionals who can address the challenges for conservation posed by a changing climate and sea level rise.
Program Highlights
What makes Conservation Leadership at ODU unique?
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One of the core courses is a mentored internship, preferably at a USFWS or related facility
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One course (3 credit hours) is designated as a service-learning course in which the student will be engaged in a project at a USFWS (or related) facility
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All four mandatory courses are built on learning by experience in research of real-world problems
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Open to students from all programs, as we aim for a highly diverse set of academic disciplines within the student population
Careers
What are some careers in this field?
Check out these ideas from ODU Career Development Services and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is the midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.
Sustainability Specialists
$75,740
MEDIAN SALARY
Address organizational sustainability issues, such as waste stream management, green building practices, and green procurement plans.
Chief Sustainability Officers
$196,050
MEDIAN SALARY
Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.
Conservation Scientists
$64,850
MEDIAN SALARY
Manage, improve, and protect natural resources to maximize their use without damaging the environment. May conduct soil surveys and develop plans to eliminate soil erosion or to protect rangelands. May instruct farmers, agricultural production managers, or ranchers in best ways to use crop rotation, contour plowing, or terracing to conserve soil and water; in the number and kind of livestock and forage plants best suited to particular ranges; and in range and farm improvements, such as fencing and reservoirs for stock watering.
Environmental Economists
$112,650
MEDIAN SALARY
Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.
Courses
What are some courses offered in Conservation Leadership at ODU?
OEAS 658:
Participatory and Agent-Based Modeling, Simulation, and Visualization
Many societal challenges are ?wicked problems,? i.e., social or cultural problems that are difficult or impossible to solve. The class will introduce the students to the theory of wicked problems, engage them in transdisciplinary approaches to address such problems using collaborative strategies such as participatory modeling combined with conceptual and agent-based models. Scenario-based simulations and visualizations will be used to explore possible futures and to create foresight related to wicked problems. Prerequisites: OEAS 566/BIOL 566 or permission of the instructors.
BIOL 566:
Introduction to Mitigation and Adaptation
Students will be introduced to the science underpinning mitigation of human-induced changes in the Earth system, including but not limited to climate change and sea level rise, and adaptation to the impacts of these changes. The course will cover the environmental hazards and the opportunities and limitations for conservation, mitigation and adaptation. Cross listed with OEAS 566.
OEAS 567:
Sustainability Leadership
In this class, students will discover what makes a leader for sustainability. They will consider a range of global and local crises from a leadership point of view in the context of sustainability science, which addresses the development of communities in a rapidly changing social, economic, and environmental system-of-systems environment. The course will be based on taking a problem-motivated and solution-focused approach to the challenges considered. The course includes a service learning project focusing on a leadership experience in solving a real-world environmental problem. Prerequisite: BIOL 566 or OEAS 566.
Requirements
What are the requirements to apply for Conservation Leadership at ODU?
Students entering the Certificate program in Conservation Leadership should meet the minimum university admission requirements (Graduate Admission)
All degree-seeking applicants admitted to the certificate program must meet ODU requirements for graduate admission: an earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited institution or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution. Those whose native language is not English must submit a minimum score of 230 on the computer-based TOEFL or 80 on the TOEFL iBT.
Non-degree seeking students are required to have these same credentials, though documentation is not required. Ultimately, students must apply to the program in order to obtain the certificate.
The certificate requires four core courses (3 credit hours each) and one elective (3 credit hours).
Cost
Tuition and Fees
Estimated rates for the 2022-23 academic year. Rates are subject to change. Anyone that is not a current Virginia resident will be charged non-resident rates. That includes international students.
Virginia Resident
Per Credit:
$ 571
Non-Resident
Per Credit:
$ 1,394
Technology Delivered Courses Outside Virginia and/or the United States
Per Credit:
$ 595
Ways to Save
Here are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending ODU. For more information visit University Student Financial aid
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available to graduate students at Old Dominion University. Financial aid may be available in the form of University fellowships, tuition grants, and research assistantships. In addition to the financial aid offered by the University, graduate students may be eligible for aid and student loans administered by other agencies. For information about part-time employment, scholarships, and student loans, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Next Steps
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PROFESSOR
Name:
Hans-Peter Plag
Location:
INNOVATION RESEARCH BLDG, RM 3211 4111 MONARCH WAY, NORFOLK, VA, 23529
Email:
Office:
757-683-5335
Graduate Admissions
Location:
1000 Rollins Hall, Norfolk, VA 23529
Phone Office:
757-683-3685
Fax:
757-683-6512
Email:
gradadmit@odu.edu
International Admissions
Location:
2101 Dragas Hall, Norfolk, VA 23529
Phone Office:
757-683-3701
Fax:
757-683-3651
Email:
intladm@odu.edu
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