URI offers new online certificate in Community Planning
KINGSTON, R.I. – Oct. 27, 2025 – There is increasing workforce demand for community planners who are equipped to address complex environmental, social, and economic problems, and the University of Rhode Island’s Department of Landscape Architecture has designed a flexible new program to prepare both working professionals and current students to meet those needs.
Offered through the College of the Environment and Life Sciences, the Community Planning Graduate Certificate gives students the opportunity to pursue professional training in sustainable community planning, now through a fully online option. The online certificate, which officially launched in September 2025, was created out of a recognized need by local and statewide agencies for more planners in the state.
“Communities are under increasing pressure to plan for issues such as climate resilience, equitable development, infrastructure needs, and changing demographics,” says Jane Buxton, program director. “As a result, there’s a growing need for professionals who understand sustainable and strategic approaches to development and can help guide decision-making at multiple scales.”
The University currently offers an in-person Graduate Certificate in Community Planning, and now an online counterpart to offer greater flexibility for both professionals and students. Buxton highlights the expanded reach of the online format, noting that it opens the program to students from anywhere, not only those already part of the URI community.
“Planners play a critical role in shaping how everyday life functions for our communities,” notes Buxton, “making this an especially urgent priority.”
Community planning impact
Community planning is an essential component of environmental science, as it informs and shapes how societies are integrated into the surrounding physical environment. It offers opportunities for innovation in a wide range of environmental fields, from land use, natural resource management, sustainability and climate resilience, to ecological development, public health, and ecosystem services (the natural processes or functions of the ecosystem that directly benefit us). Students are presented with various opportunities for growth and development as they explore opportunities within community planning.
“Beyond specific job titles, students gain a deeper understanding of how planning decisions shape communities and environments,” Buxton says. “This enables them to be more effective contributors to interdisciplinary teams, to participate more meaningfully in planning processes, and to advance professionally in roles that involve shaping policy, development, and community outcomes.”
The University of Rhode Island offers a vast range of degree and certificate programs across departments, providing interested students with valuable, comprehensive, interdisciplinary programs that prepare them for professional work in their chosen field. As a land-and-sea grant institution, the University remains committed to providing students with the education to address pressing issues in informed ways. For a full list of online programs, visit URI Online.
This story was written by Yvonne Wingard, Communications Fellow in the College of the Environment and Life Sciences.
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