Certificates of Advanced Studies
CAS programmes aim to give greater depth or interdisciplinary breadth to an original academic qualification. They are aimed at university graduates who are working and wish to enhance their professional skills or specialise in a particular subject. They correspond to at least 10 ECTS credits and 150 contact hours and may involve written project work or a thesis. They are organised in the form of block courses or courses on fixed days of the week and last one to two years.
Certificate of Advanced Studies
This description is only available in English.
Cluster
Environment, Infrastructure & Architecture
Participants can use this programme as an experimental, collaborative space for exploring solutions to real-life problems while accessing a broad range of methodologies for complex decision making.
Programme structure
Programme description
The CAS ETH CDM builds the capacity of participants for complex decision making, especially related to sustainability and engaging with climate risks. Systems and design thinking concepts and methods are integrated from environmental science perspective. In small groups, participants engage with a real–world problem of their own choosing. Participants can expect to collaborate with peers, who possess a diverse range of expertise and perspectives, while being coached by ETH faculty.
Objectives
The CAS programme provides a diverse base of knowledge for problem framing and collaborative problem solving to provide participants with concepts and tools ready to be tested. Participants’ feedback in implementing these approaches will be re–adapted into the programme and the development of academic concepts. This provides a means by which knowledge can be co–created between industry, government and academic sectors.
Professional perspectives
Graduates of the CAS are able to lead complex projects affected by environmental uncertainties. Potential future employers can include:
- Government departments in charge of developing future alternatives to mitigate climate risks;
- Strategy units of technology, insurance or other firms affected by climate risks;
- International organisations and civil society organisations focused on alternatives for sustainable development and climate change.
Programme structure
There are 9 modules, each lasting 16 hours, over a 2-day session (Friday and Saturday). 150 hours of contact time in-class; 150 additional hours on assignments outside of class.
Tuition languages
English: 100 %
Degree
Certificate of Advanced Studies with the title ’CAS ETH in Collaborative Decision Making under Uncertainty’ (CAS ETH CDM)
Credit points
10 ECTS credits
Target group and requirements
Target group
Mid- to senior-level professionals responsible for project-specific or strategic decision making within their organisations.
Requirements
Master’s degree acknowledged by ETH or equivalent educational qualifications. Participants are, in their current positions, in charge of project-specific or strategic decision making within their respective organisations.
Required language skills
English: C1 (Group work may be conducted in the language most suitable for all members of each particular group.) - Show proficiency scales
Examination languages
English
Time and place
Start
Spring semester
Duration
1 year; 150 contact hours
Application period
01.06.-30.10. (later applications may be accepted upon request if places are still available)
Location
ETH Zurich
Tuition fee
CHF 8,500
Deregistration fee
Withdrawal until 30 days after admisson and before the beginning of the programme: free of charge
Withdrawal more than 30 days after the admission date and before the beginning of the programme: CHF 2,500
Withdrawal after the start of the programme: CHF 8,500
Application
Online-Application
?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsce.ethz.ch%2Fen%2Fapplication%2Fanmeldung.html&module=edu&id=1408" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://sce.ethz.ch/en/application/anmeldung.html
Questions about the application
ETH Zurich, School for Continuing Education, HG E 17-18.5, Rämistr. 101, 8092 Zurich, Tel. 0041 (0)44 632 56 59 , info [a] sce[.]ethz[.]ch
Additional application documents
Please also include a CV along with your online application.
Organiser
Programme management
Professor Michael Stauffacher (Programme Director), Professor David Bresch (Deputy Programme Director) and Dr BinBin Pearce (Programme Coordinator)
Information
ETH Zurich, Dr BinBin Pearce, Transdisciplinarity Lab - Institute for Environmental Decisions, CHN K 76.2, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, Tel. 0041 (0)44 632 79 30 , bin.pearce [a] usys[.]ethz[.]ch
Responsible body
ETH Zürich, Department of Environmental Systems Science (D-USYS), Institute of Environmental Decisions (IED)
Website
?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usys.ethz.ch%2Fen%2Fweiterbildung%2Fcas-eth-in-collaborative-decision-making-under-uncertainty--cas-.html&module=edu&id=1408" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.usys.ethz.ch/en/weiterbildung/cas-eth-in-collaborative-decision-making-under-uncertainty--cas-.html
Information material
?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usys.ethz.ch%2Fen%2Fweiterbildung%2Fcas-eth-in-collaborative-decision-making-under-uncertainty--cas-.html&module=edu&id=1408" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.usys.ethz.ch/en/weiterbildung/cas-eth-in-collaborative-decision-making-under-uncertainty--cas-.html
Subject(s)
Environmental Sciences
