U.S. Green Building Council Approves Sustainability Studies Courses Offered by UC Berkeley Extension

First UC Extension to Offer USGBC-Approved Credits

BERKELEY, Calif., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- UC Berkeley Extension today announced its new designation as a U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Education Provider. USGBC sets the standards for the green building industry in the United States and abroad through its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System certification program. UC Berkeley Extension is the first continuing education program at the University of California, and one of the few public continuing education programs in the country, to offer USGBC-approved course credits.

With the Obama administration's budget proposal this week for $2.4 billion in energy efficiency and renewable energy programs—and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' prediction of a 30 percent growth over the next decade in top green jobs such as mechanical engineer, environmental engineer, environmental educator, and landscape architect—the demand is growing among professionals for more green industry education.

The UC Berkeley Extension sustainability courses approved by USGBC are designed to meet that growing demand. They include advanced courses in solar, sustainable construction, renewable energy, transportation, clean technology, and sustainability leadership and management. All USGBC-approved courses are rigorously peer-reviewed and approved for credit toward LEED Professional Credentialing Maintenance.

"We are delighted to work with the USGBC as an Education Provider," said Diana Wu, dean of UC Berkeley Extension. "These approved courses will directly benefit professionals who need to 'green' their skills and knowledge to stay competitive in this emerging green economy. Our goal is to earn USGBC approval of the majority of courses in our sustainability program to meet the education needs of this growing workforce."

"Education Providers play a pivotal role by working with USGBC to provide green building professionals with the diverse continuing education they need to grow their knowledge and their careers," said Rebecca Flora, USGBC's senior vice president for education and research. "Anyone interested in broadening and deepening their understanding of green building theory, techniques and trends will benefit from the diverse and quality course offerings from USGBC and its Education Providers."

UC Berkeley Extension's Sustainability Studies program includes more than 60 courses for professionals in emerging green industries. The program emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability in a broad range of important areas including green building design and construction, LEED, solar and renewable energy, climate change and land use planning, and clean technologies. This spring, UC Berkeley Extension offers several new sustainability studies courses, as well as two new specialized programs of study: Leadership in Sustainability and Environmental Management and Solar Energy and Green Building.

Founded in 1891, UC Berkeley Extension is the continuing education branch of the University of California, Berkeley. Extension offers 3,000 courses each year, including award-winning online offerings, free and low-cost public lectures, and more than 60 professional certificates and specialized programs of study. UC Berkeley Extension is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Learn more at extension.berkeley.edu.

SOURCE UC Berkeley Extension