Education

Professional Certification Program

The California Downtown Association, in partnership with California State University - San Bernardino’s College of Extended Learning is proud to offer the online CDA Professional Certificate Program. It’s especially designed for downtown development and economic redevelopment professionals, city administrators, elected officials, and anyone interested in learning about this exciting field.

Tailored to busy professionals, you’ll gain job skills and a total of 5.6 continuing education units (CEUs) by completing the four-course certificate program. Learn key concepts, laws and practices from specialists working in the field. Complete all four to become a Certified Downtown Professional, or take individual courses to strengthen knowledge in specific areas. Two courses are offered each year, allowing participants to complete the program in two years. Courses are not sequential and may be taken in any order.

Those who successfully complete the program will receive certification awarded by the College of Extended Learning designating them as a “Certified Downtown Professional” (CDP). In addition, students will earn continuing education credits (CEU’s), a nationally recognized measurement of continuing education, and a permanent transcript at the university will be created.

Registration/CEU Information
Each course is $495 and includes 1.4 CEUs. To register, for more information, or to request a Course Catalog, call the College of Extended Learning at (909) 537-5981 or visit http://cel.csusb.edu.

Course I

Course Title: Downtown Revitalization as a Practice: Context, Trends and Tools

Description: Surveys the history of downtown in the U.S.; provides approaches to, and tools for downtown revitalization programs, as well as a review of how downtown fits into the local economy; culminates with the changing role and current trends of downtowns in the modern economy.

Course II

Course Title: Legislation Governing Downtown Areas and Revitalization Activities

Description: Examines redevelopment law, BID legislation, non-profits, boards, working with local political authorities, historical preservation and other legislation. Learn the history of downtown revitalization programs in the U.S., how downtown fits into the local economy, and current trends.
Register now for the one-month spring 2010 course that begins on April 5.

Course III

Course Title: Promoting Downtown Programs and Businesses

Reviews the crucial work of promoting and attracting economic development to downtown; includes information on real estate activity, special events, the arts, marketing and special campaigns. Issues of image and perception within the media are covered also. You’ll examine legislation on redevelopment law and historic preservation, and learn how to work successfully with non-profits, boards, and local political authorities.
This will be held in Winter 2011 (final dates to be determined).

Course IV

Course Title: Downtown Capital Projects - Development & Implementation

The development of downtown capital projects from the perspective of planning, building and safety, CEQA, the bid process, project management, parking/traffic studies, pedestrians and public space.

This will be held in Winter 2011 (final dates to be determined).