Gillian Bloomfield
Associate Director of Online Programs, Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative (ELTI)
Please review the information below and contact us for further inquiries.
Yes. This program is an offering of the Yale School of the Environment and the Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative (ELTI) at Yale University.
Faculty members and experts from the Yale School of the Environment present key concepts, introduce each week, attend live discussions and advise participants throughout the program. ELTI mentors and international guests also make contributions to the program. (See Instruction Team)
Your mentors from the Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative (ELTI) are experts in online education. They will provide you with guidance to use the course platform, complete course work, address scheduling constraints and connect with your instructors, peers and guests. They are available to help you to stay on track throughout the program.
No. This professional certificate is a not-for-credit, non-degree-bearing program. As a result, we are unable to provide transcripts. Participants who complete the program receive an official digital certificate of completion (see below for more information).
The TFL program is currently an approved provider of continuing education units (CEUs) through:
Please check these institutions' websites for more information on documentation and eligibility requirements. If you belong to a different professional society that offers continuing education credits, please contact us to discuss options.
Participants who successfully complete the program receive an electronic certificate signed by the Dean of the Yale School of the Environment and the Director of the Environmental Leadership & Training Initiative at Yale University.
Yes. Participants must successfully complete all four online courses and the capstone project course to receive their signed certificate. Guidelines for successful completion will be provided at the start of the program. Your ELTI mentors will be available to assist you throughout the program and provide guidance to help you meet the completion requirements. The one-week field course is optional.
All required courses and coursework takes place online in dedicated online learning platforms. The optional in-person field course happens in an ELTI field site in the tropics.
Each online course contains eight modules with recorded video lectures, case studies, readings, assignments, quizzes, and a suite of online tools for you to learn at your own pace. The program also includes weekly live sessions, where you can connect in real-time with program instructors and peers. The yearlong capstone project course contains detailed guidance and expert feedback for you to develop or improve an implementable project plan.
The optional field course includes site visits and field exercises so you can apply what you learned online into practice on the ground.
Yes. You can take the program from anywhere, as long as you have internet access (See Technical Requirements). Exception: due to US export control regulations, we cannot admit individuals based in certain sanctioned countries.
Yes. We, designed this program to allow you to work full-time while completing the program. Most coursework can be completed "asynchronously" at a time that works for you during the week. We record our weekly live sessions, in case you cannot attend due to personal or professional obligations.
You will need to dedicate approximately 5 - 6 hours per week during each 8-week online course. This typically includes:
The program starts annually in June and runs for one year. There are four 8-week online courses, a yearlong capstone project course, and an optional one-week field course. There are weeklong breaks between the online courses. See Important Dates
All the required parts of the program are online. There is an optional one-week, in-person field course in an ELTI field site in the tropics.
You will have access to Yale materials and experts.
The minimum requirements are:
Participants are admitted to the program through a competitive admissions process. Please note that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.
To apply to this program, you must submit:
No, there is no prerequisite coursework.
Yes. Participants do not need a U.S. visa to enroll or participate in the program. Depending on your citizenship, you may need a visa to participate in the optional field course.
No, you do not need to submit standardized test scores to apply.
The cost of attending this program is USD $7,500. For an additional USD $2,500, participants can attend a one-week field course in the tropics. (See Admissions and Cost)
Limited scholarships are available on a competitive basis. To be considered for a scholarship, you must submit a completed scholarship form in your program application. We recommend seeking out additional opportunities for tuition support, such as fellowships or grants. Employers may offer support for continuing education. (See Scholarships)
We would be happy to consider discounts for groups and organizations. Please contact us to discuss options.
Contact us by email at tropicalcertificate@yale.edu. Questions? Be sure to check out our FAQ page for answers to commonly asked questions.