Syllabus
A Sustainable Landscape Professional Certificate will be awarded by Sonoma State University, School of Extended Education to students who fulfill the following requirements:
- Attendance at all 6 courses
- Completion of a Student Project/Practicum
Students who complete this training will be able to present themselves as a Sustainable Landscape Accredited Professional and utilize the program logo on their business correspondence and marketing materials.
The program curriculum has as its primary goal the education of the various practicing professionals in the landscape design, installation and maintenance fields in sustainable landscape practices. Landscapes, managed plantings adjoining buildings, provide not only an aesthetic enhancement to the built environment but can also enhance natural systems, create habitat for many wildlife species and act as a buffer to minimize / eliminate built-environment impacts on natural systems.
The program curriculum also has the goal of meeting the requirements and embracing the principles contained in several regional and national green or sustainable landscape standards / guidelines. These standards include the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED, Build It Green's GreenPoints, Alameda County's Bay-Friendly Landscape Guidelines, and the Sonoma County Water Agency's Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper Guidelines.
The SSU program synthesized the intent of the above-mentioned standards/guidelines and developed six program courses:
- Ecological Principles
- Site Assessment and Development
- Soils Resources
- Water Resources
- Plants and Plant Communities
- Operation & Maintenance
We acknowledge that many of the specific topics covered in an individual course have direct relevance to more than one course. As an example, when selecting plants, soil and water considerations are of critical importance. The program intent is to emphasize the inter-relatedness of all the components of a landscape. But in order to present the subjects within a format and structure that has the semblance of logic and is easily managed by students, divisions have been made.
The complete set of program courses will be offered twice per year; Cycle One, January to June; Cycle Two, July to December. The narrative below gives a description of each course. The last section of the syllabus gives more information about the intent and structure of the Student Project/Practicum.
Course 1 - Ecological Principles - Instructor: Geoff Hall
This course presents the questions we should be asking at every stage of the development process to keep us on an ecological track. Practices that increase our understanding of surrounding ecosystems and natural systems in general are clearly detailed with the idea of optimally integrating the building, natural systems and the community. With newly introduced federal, state and local storm water and potable water regulations and a push for development projects that meet high environmental standards, the demand for sustainable landscape practices is increasing rapidly.
Topics to be covered include:
- Ecological Systems Interaction · Development Impact Mitigation
- Native Flora and Fauna Survey · Climate Zones and Microclimates
- Native Flora and Fauna Protection Plans · Integrated Design Process
- Ecological Restoration Techniques · Lifecycle Assessment
Course 2 - Site Assessment and Development - Instructor: Geoff Hall
At the heart of an ecological approach is thorough site analysis. Sun, wind, water, soil, people, plants, animals, community, history, and the "kitchen sink" all play a vital role in the effectiveness and efficiency of your design. We explore tools and techniques for gathering and organizing site analysis data. How can we increase building, site, and system performance by optimizing relationships between existing site characteristics and proposed development?