The Sustainable Trails curriculum welcomes students from various fields who are interested in trails development, programming and management, as well as design.
Request InformationThe demand for sustainable trails has increased in recent decades, and outdoor recreation can be a major economic driver for communities. Knowledge of sustainable trails has also increased in recent decades. While there are professional organizations offering short trainings, this curriculum is both more in-depth and more accessible.
The graduate certificate program in Sustainable Trails Development provides a great synergy with local trail development and programming efforts, including WVU’s 2020 International Mountain Bicycling Association Trail Accelerator Grant. The Mon River Trails were inducted to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Rail-Trail Hall of Fame in 2020, Blue Ridge Outdoors proclaimed WVU the best large college for outdoor adventure in the southeast and Mid-Atlantic, and Morgantown was selected in 2021 as the pilot city for the Youth Cycling Coalition.
The curriculum covers:
Advocacy: benefits of trails, funding sources, fund-raising, planning for skills progression and shared-use
Design/build: site-responsive design, sustainability, construction materials/costs
Post-build: volunteer/ community engagement, interpretation, and ongoing assessment/maintenance
The extra flexibility of a graduate certificate program allows students to complete the program either on its own, or with a traditional graduate degree. Let WVU open doors to a better path forward.
18
3 semesters part-time (at 6 credits)
6 semesters part-time (at 3 credits)
Applicants to the Sustainable Trails graduate certificate must meet the university’s requirements for admission to a graduate program. In addition, applicants should have introductory level knowledge of computer science and use. No specific course or level of experience is required; however, the expectation is a level of competence with computer use and experience with applications involving word processing, spreadsheets, etc.
Visit the Graduate Admissions page.
| Required Courses | Credit Hours | Rotation | Length of Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| LARC 532: Recreation, Trails, and Community Development | 3 | Fall | Second 8 weeks |
| RESM 440: Foundations of Applied GIS* | 3* | Fall/Summer | Summer: 10 weeks
Fall: 16 weeks |
| LARC 534: Sustainable Trails: Design Concepts | 3 | Spring | First 8 weeks |
| LARC 535: Sustainable Trails: Design Detailing | 3 | Fall | Second 8 weeks |
| RPTR 536: Sustainable Trails: Activation/Engagement | 3 | Spring | Second 8 weeks |
| LARC 537: Sustainable Trails Practicum Experience | 3 | Spring | 16 weeks |
| Total Hours | 17-18 |
*Note: RESM 443: Intro GIS for Trail Planners (2 cr), when offered, can be substituted for RESM 440 (3 cr), but is not planned for the 21–22 academic year.
*Alternate schedules are possible for students beginning in Spring or for those looking for an extended timeline (two academic years to complete).
LARC 532: Recreation, Trails, and Community Development. 3 Credits. Using outdoor recreation as a facilitator of community development, this course will provide a preview of comprehensive trail planning strategies guiding sustainable trail development, including the benefits of trails (economic, health, and social), strategies for stakeholder engagement, funding, activation and programming, and evaluation. Online, 3-credit graduate course, cross listed with LARC 332 (for undergraduate students).
LARC 534: Sustainable Trails: Design Concepts. 3 Credits. Plan trail networks according to current best practices, responding to site topography and aesthetics while incorporating skills progression and accessibility for trail users of all skill levels. Online, 3-credit graduate course, cross listed with LARC 334 (for undergraduate students).
LARC 535: Sustainable Trails: Design Detailing & Drainage. 3 Credits.
Refine trail masterplans for costing, bidding and construction documentation with
site-specific detailing and specifications, while incorporating stormwater management
best practices and ecological restoration principles. Online, 3-credit graduate
course, cross listed with LARC 335 (for undergraduate student).
LARC 537: Sustainable Trails: Practicum Experience. 3 Credits.
Engage directly in a trail project’s design, construction, maintenance and/or monitoring,
through a service-learning capstone project in sustainable trails development.
Work with stakeholders and community representatives directly to support recreation
economy development. Can be repeated for credit: students can enroll for 1, 2,
or 3 credits at once. Online, graduate course, cross listed with LARC 437 (for
undergraduate students). Offered in-person or online.
RESM 440: Foundations of Applied GIS. 3 Credits. The goal of this course is to introduce Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and build foundations in its use to allow students to solve spatial problems. Specifically, the course will teach students necessary spatial and quantitative analysis methods to solve problems in many interdisciplinary applications. The course will focus on the elements and capabilities of a GIS by emphasizing acquisition, management, manipulation, and analysis of data for the solution of spatial problems. This course is designed to build students’ confidence and familiarity with GIS technology through the use of timely and appropriate local applications and datasets for West Virginia and beyond class. Offered summer (10 weeks, online), fall (16 weeks, online) or spring (in-person, 16 weeks).
RESM 443: Intro GIS for Trail Planners. 2 Credits. Introduce
technical skills to support site analysis and mapping geographic constraints for
trail planning, focusing on technological tools available to new GIS users. The
goal of this course is to introduce Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and build
foundations in its use to allow students to solve spatial problems. Specifically,
the course will teach students necessary spatial and quantitative analysis methods
to solve problems that relate to trail design. The course will focus on the elements
and capabilities of a GIS by emphasizing acquisition, management, manipulation,
and analysis of data for the solution of spatial problems. This course is designed
to build students’ confidence and familiarity with GIS technology through the use
of timely and appropriate local applications and datasets for West Virginia and
beyond. This is an 8-week, online asynchronous course for two academic credits.
RPTR 536: Sustainable Trails: Engagement. 3 Credits. Develop
management plans, incorporate interpretive signage, and activate greenspace and
public trails with civic engagement while planning for post-construction maintenance.
Online, 3 credit hours, cross listed with RPTR 436 (for undergraduate students).
For program-specific questions regarding curriculum content, course offerings, etc:
Vaike Haas
Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture
Phone: (304) 293-5661
Email:
Vaike.Haas@mail.wvu.edu
For questions about the online admissions process:
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