California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
BUSA-40739
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
This introductory course provides a comprehensive overview to one of the most important environmental laws in California. Participants will learn about the purpose and intent of CEQA, the CEQA review process, and the types of projects that are subject to CEQA review. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, and case studies, students will gain a deeper understanding of the CEQA process.
Topics Include:
- The history and evolution of CEQA, including its legal foundations and legislative history
- The types of projects subject to CEQA review, including public and private projects, and the different levels of review required for different types of projects.
- Strategies for successfully navigating the CEQA review process, including the preparation of environmental impact reports and the development of effective mitigation measures.
AICP Credit
AICP members can earn Certification Maintenance (CM) credits for this activity. For a list of additional AICP CM Events at UC San Diego Extended Studies go to American Planning Association.
CM | 17 |
CM | 1 | Law
Course Information
Course sessions
Section ID:
Class type:
This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
Textbooks:
No textbook required.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 7/14/2025
Schedule:
Instructor:
Kristin Blackson, M.S.
Environmental Services Manager, Michael Baker International
Kristin Blackson is an environmental planning manager with 15 years of experience in the preparation and management of CEQA and NEPA documents, land use planning, entitlement and project management. Blackson was with the County of San Diego’s Planning Department from 2000 to 2015. At the County, she managed senior environmental staff and was responsible for CEQA compliance for several county departments. Currently, Kristin is a Vice President at WSP. The list of projects she has managed is comprehensive and includes master planned communities, wind and solar projects, programs and ordinances, specific plans, major and minor use permits, tentative maps, tentative parcel maps, administrative permits, variances, site plans, vacations and pre-application meetings. Blackson received a master's in environmental science from the University of San Francisco and a bachelor's from UC Santa Barbara.
Section ID:
Class type:
This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
Textbooks:
No textbook required.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 8/25/2025
Schedule:
Instructor:
Kristin Blackson, M.S.
Environmental Services Manager, Michael Baker International
Kristin Blackson is an environmental planning manager with 15 years of experience in the preparation and management of CEQA and NEPA documents, land use planning, entitlement and project management. Blackson was with the County of San Diego’s Planning Department from 2000 to 2015. At the County, she managed senior environmental staff and was responsible for CEQA compliance for several county departments. Currently, Kristin is a Vice President at WSP. The list of projects she has managed is comprehensive and includes master planned communities, wind and solar projects, programs and ordinances, specific plans, major and minor use permits, tentative maps, tentative parcel maps, administrative permits, variances, site plans, vacations and pre-application meetings. Blackson received a master's in environmental science from the University of San Francisco and a bachelor's from UC Santa Barbara.
Section ID:
Class type:
This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
Textbooks:
All course materials are included unless otherwise stated.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 10/6/2025
Schedule:
Instructor:
Kristin Blackson, M.S.
Environmental Services Manager, Michael Baker International
Kristin Blackson is an environmental planning manager with 15 years of experience in the preparation and management of CEQA and NEPA documents, land use planning, entitlement and project management. Blackson was with the County of San Diego’s Planning Department from 2000 to 2015. At the County, she managed senior environmental staff and was responsible for CEQA compliance for several county departments. Currently, Kristin is a Vice President at WSP. The list of projects she has managed is comprehensive and includes master planned communities, wind and solar projects, programs and ordinances, specific plans, major and minor use permits, tentative maps, tentative parcel maps, administrative permits, variances, site plans, vacations and pre-application meetings. Blackson received a master's in environmental science from the University of San Francisco and a bachelor's from UC Santa Barbara.
