Sustainable Systems MS

Program Overview

Sustainable Systems Master of Science Degree

Overview

The sustainable systems MS degree accepts students from any academic background and encompasses a wide range of interdisciplinary studies in sustainability science. Here, you won’t be restricted to one sustainability topic or methodology. You will comprehensively learn and experience the methods that lead to environmental, social, technological, and business success, working one-on-one with a faculty advisor to tailor the degree to your sustainability interests.

RIT's Sustainable Degree

In our sustainable master's program, you will start with a broad foundation of knowledge in environmental life cycle assessment, sustainable decision making, economic and policy strategies, and more. Then, you will have the opportunity to customize your degree in areas that suit your interests and career goals—such as renewable energy or mobility—as well as get the hands-on experience that employers are seeking. In as little as one year of study, you will be prepared to make sustainability decisions that you can apply to any career.

Not only will you be able to focus on an area that interests you, but you will be able to get hands-on in your projects with the use of one of our many labs or through design modeling tools. This degree allows you the flexibility to adapt your career over time and in response to the ever-changing developments in sustainability. The Golisano Institute for Sustainability is dedicated to groundbreaking sustainability research and its business applications. Our research facilities are second to none, and include a number of green buildings including Sustainability Institute Hall, a 75,000-square-foot, LEED Platinum-certified research building and multiple state-of-the-art research centers.

You don’t need a background in sustainability to apply to this program; just a desire to create positive change in the world. We accept applicants of all ages, from all backgrounds—from mechanical engineering to political science—and from all over the world. This ensures your learning experience comes from the classroom as well as from the perspectives of students with diverse experiences.

Sustainability Curriculum

Through a flexible and interdisciplinary curriculum, you’ll begin your degree in sustainable systems with core courses in industrial ecology, risk assessment, the economics of sustainability, and more. Several electives from across the university–in areas as diverse as from sustainable craft brewing and distilling to corporate social responsibility–allow you to tailor your degree around your talents and career goals.

Your degree culminates with a research thesis or a capstone project. Recent thesis examples include:

• Techno-Environmental Analysis of Generating Animal Feed from Wasted Food Products
• Fabrication and life cycle assessment of organic photovoltaics
• Characterizing adaptive capacity to climate change in developing countries: a case study on Peru

Sustainability Topics / Tracks

Sustainable Energy

• Sustainable Energy Systems
• Food-Energy-Water Nexus
• Energy Policy

Example research project: Inspection of wind turbine blades with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

Circular Economy

• Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Data Analysis for Sustainability
• Innovation Policy
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Example research project: Assessing a baseline case for reaching carbon neutrality in Monroe County by 2027

Sustainable Urban Systems

• Sustainable Mobility Systems
• Graduate Sustainable Communities
• Sustainable Building Metrics

Example research project: Evaluating strategies for sustainable renovation of RIT campus buildings

Careers in Sustainability

Graduates of the sustainable systems MS have a 100 percent placement rate, in part because of RIT’s dedication to career counseling and ongoing relationships with employers. This means that all of our graduates gain employment or choose to further their education shortly after graduating. And If you’re interested in pursuing a career more focused on academia or research, the master’s degree is also an excellent stepping stone to a doctoral program, such as RIT’s Ph.D. in sustainability, if you take the route of completing a thesis while here.

Sustainability Resources: RIT Advances Global Sustainability

Partnering locally and internationally with the communities in which we are engaged, RIT is continuing to advance sustainability efforts and build resiliency at home and around the world. Rochester, NY, is a hub for sustainability professionals and home to rich natural resources, such as fertile farmland and the nearby Finger Lakes. Many of our students share their passion for sustainability with the local community by volunteering on projects connected to K-12 education, community gardens, farmer’s markets, and more. In addition, you will connect with the global sustainability community by attending and presenting at professional conferences all over the world.

Curriculum for Sustainable Systems MS

Sustainable Systems (capstone option), MS degree, typical course sequence (semesters)

• First Year
  • ISUS-702 | Fundamentals of Sustainability Science | 3
  • ISUS-704 | Industrial Ecology | 3
  • ISUS-706 | Economics of Sustainable Systems | 3
  • ISUS-780 | Capstone (summer) | 6
  • ISUS-806 | Risk Analysis | 3
  • ISUS-808 | Multicriteria Sustainable Systems | 3
  • PUBL-810 | Technology, Policy and Sustainability (or approved substitute) | 3
  • Electives | 6
• Total Semester Credit Hours | 30

Sustainable Systems (thesis option), MS degree, typical course sequence (semesters)

• First Year
  • ISUS-702 | Fundamentals of Sustainability Science | 3
  • ISUS-704 | Industrial Ecology | 3
  • ISUS-706 | Economics of Sustainable Systems | 3
  • ISUS-806 | Risk Analysis | 3
  • ISUS-808 | Multicriteria Sustainable Systems | 3
  • Elective | 3
• Second Year
  • ISUS-790 | Thesis | 6
  • PUBL-810 | Technology, Policy and Sustainability (or approved substitute) | 3
  • Elective | 3
• Total Semester Credit Hours | 30

Admissions and Financial Aid

This program is available on-campus only.

• Offered | Admit Term(s) | Application Deadline | STEM Designated
  • Full-time | Fall or Spring | Rolling | Yes
  • Part-time | Fall or Spring | Rolling | No

Application Details

To be considered for admission to the Sustainable Systems MS program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete an online graduate application.
• Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
• Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent) is recommended.
• Satisfy prerequisite requirements and/or complete bridge courses prior to starting program coursework.
• Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Submit a personal statement of educational objectives.
• Submit two letters of recommendation.
• Entrance exam requirements: None
• Submit one writing sample, of your own work, in which you are the only author. This can be a report or paper from previous academic or professional work that reflects your critical thinking and writing abilities.
• Submit English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic), if required.

English Language Test Scores

International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following official English language test scores. Some international applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver.

• TOEFL | IELTS | PTE Academic
  • 88 | 6.5 | 60

Cost and Financial Aid

An RIT graduate degree is an investment with lifelong returns. Graduate tuition varies by degree, the number of credits taken per semester, and delivery method. View the general cost of attendance or estimate the cost of your graduate degree.

A combination of sources can help fund your graduate degree. Learn how to fund your degree

Additional Information

Prerequisites

The Sustainable Systems MS program requires that students gain mastery of key sustainability concepts and methods, several of which are quantitative in nature. Due to this, we require incoming students to have taken university-level calculus, statistics, and two courses in physical sciences (such as chemistry or physics).

MS/MBA Option

Students are eligible to earn an MBA in just one year after completing the Sustainable Systems MS. This combination of graduate degrees allows students to learn business, policy, engineering, and science behind our world's systems to gain knowledge to solve any sustainability problem. Admission to the MBA is automatic upon successful completion of the MS, with scholarship guaranteed. Students admitted to the program graduate as dual-degree holders—with both a Master of Science and an MBA—in just two years. For more details on this accelerated pathway, visit: Sustainable Systems MS & MBA.

Faculty

• Eric Williams
• Callie Babbitt
• Nathan Williams

Facilities

• Sustainability Student Lounge Space
• Eco-Design Lab
• Sustainable Innovations Lab

Related News

• February 5, 2025 GIS introduces master’s collaboration with Zurich University of Applied Sciences
• November 20, 2024 RIT professor helps to tackle energy access in rural Africa
• June 3, 2024 RIT to offer new pathway for earning MS in sustainable systems and MBA degrees

Program Outline

Students are also interested in: Environmental Science MS, Environmental, Health and Safety Management MS, Sustainable Engineering MS