An Overview of the IGERT Program
Urban infrastructure refers to engineered systems that provide water, energy, transport, sanitation, information and built environments for more than half of the world’s population living in cities today. With rapid population growth placing a strain on available and vulnerable resources (water, energy and materials), the need for high-performing, resilient, cost-effective, resource-efficient and environment-friendly infrastructure is being recognized globally as a key component of future urban sustainability. The goal of our IGERT project is:
The design, analysis and diffusion of sustainable urban infrastructures of the future through integration across the disciplines of engineering, architecture and planning, public affairs, and, health and behavioral sciences.
Graduate Program
To answer the central question (see above), UC Denver has developed a unique, inter-disciplinary integrated research and teaching program on Sustainable Urban Infrastructure across four graduate programs -- the College of Engineering, the School of Public Affairs, the College of Architecture and Planning, and the Health and Behavioral Sciences Program in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
The curriculum is being delivered at both the MS and PhD levels with courses team taught across the disciplines. Students with training in the physical sciences and mathematics, engineering, architecture and planning, social sciences, public affairs, and health and behavioral sciences may join the graduate program for study at either the MS or the PhD levels. While IGERT funding is only available for a limited number of PhD students, the graduate program described here would apply broadly to all MS and PhD students working in the area of infrastructures and sustainable development.
International and Fieldwork Opportunities
Fieldwork and international components of this curriculum are particularly strong, with students working with cities in the Denver Front range area, and in Chennai, India, to evaluate innovative technologies, urban planning, policy and community engagement strategies for urban sustainability.
How to Participate
There are three ways to participate in the University of Colorado Denver Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Program:
Stand Alone Certificat in Sustainable Urban Infrastructure:
Individuals participating in the certificate program will take the four core courses:
- Introduction to Sustainable Urban Infrastructure
- Defining and Measuring Sustainability
- Theories of Sustainable Infrastructure Managment
- Sector specific course
Upon completion of the four courses individuals would receive a certificate in Sustainable Urban Infrastructure. Students participating as associates do not have to be a degree seeking student at UCD.
As a Masters or PhD student enrolled in any academic program:
Students already enrolled in a masters or PhD program can take all four core courses, in addition to their required courses for their discipline. Upon completion students would receive a certificate in Sustainable Urban Infrastructure in addition to their degree. Students in this track would not be eligible for funding through the NSF IGERT Program but could potentially find funding via faculty research projects or other scholarships.
As a fully funded PhD student supported by the NSF IGERT Program:
As a fully funded IGERT PhD trainee, students will follow the curriculum developed for the program and follow requirements of the program. Fully funded PhD students are required to be enrolled in degree programs within one of the four participating disciplines: Civil Engineering, Architecture and Planning, Public Affairs, or Health and Behavioral Sciences.