Gain a comprehensive introduction to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), its legislative foundation and its practical applications to public and private projects. Through case studies, project-based work and real-world examples, you’ll learn the CEQA process step by step, including exemptions, preliminary review, environmental documentation, public participation, mitigation and agency decision-making.
The course emphasizes how and when CEQA applies, how environmental documents are selected and prepared and how to navigate compliance requirements with confidence. You’ll also examine how recent guideline amendments, legislation, tribal consultation requirements and case law shape CEQA practice. By the end of the course, you’ll have the practical knowledge to meaningfully contribute to CEQA compliance efforts and environmental review processes.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the purpose, structure and legislative intent of CEQA
- Identify projects subject to CEQA and determine when exemptions apply
- Describe each step of the CEQA process from preliminary review through project approval
- Differentiate Negative Declarations, Mitigated Negative Declarations and Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs)
- Evaluate threshold determinations and the circumstances requiring preparation of an EIR
- Summarize public notice, review, tribal consultation and agency decision-making requirements under CEQA
- Recognize the role of mitigation, monitoring, supplemental review and judicial review in CEQA compliance
Skills You Will Gain
- CEQA compliance workflow management
- Environmental document selection and evaluation
- Regulatory and statutory interpretation
- Threshold and impact analysis
- Public review and stakeholder coordination
- Mitigation planning and monitoring
- Legal risk awareness in environmental review
Course Format and Pacing
This is an online remote learning course delivered through UC Davis CPE’s learning management system, Canvas, with a supplemental live session hosted on Zoom. The course consists of approximately 6.5 hours of content, combining pre-recorded lectures with a mandatory live Zoom session led by the instructor(s).