Program Overview

Introduction to the Master of Arts in Sustainability Program

The Master of Arts in Sustainability program is an innovative and distinctive one-year program that combines social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, management, and law. This interdisciplinary approach provides students with unparalleled opportunities to engage with professionals beyond the university campus.

Program Overview

The program's mission is to educate the next generation of leaders in sustainability and place them where they can be most effective. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a high-caliber education, preparing them to enter the workforce or create new ventures to address social, economic, and environmental demands in their respective fields.

Program Structure

The program consists of four core courses, as well as elective courses and a two-credit practicum in Applied Sustainability. In the summer following the second semester, students will complete a research thesis or internship.

Courses

The program offers a range of courses, including:

• SUS 600: Communications Workshop
• SUS 601: Professional and Leadership Skills
• SUS 602: Scientific Literacy
• SUS 603: Natural Capital Valuation and Ecosystem Services
• SUS 625: Environmental Decision-Making
• SUS 630: Global Coastal Management
• SUS 691: Special Topics
• SUS 694: Internship
• SUS 695: Individual Study
• SUS 701: Global Human Systems
• SUS 702: Sustainable Organizational Management
• SUS 703: Natural Science for Sustainability
• SUS 704: Environmental Law and Policy
• SUS 705: Applied Sustainability 1
• SUS 706: Applied Sustainability: Creativity and Impact
• SUS 710: Sustainable Urban Planning and the Built Environment
• SUS 715: Environmental Sustainability in a Global Context
• SUS 720: Sustainability Practices and Policy in a National Context
• SUS 791: Thesis Research

Faculty

The program is led by a team of experienced faculty members, including:

• Program Director Eric Stottlemyer
• Professors Miles Silman, John Knox, Dick Schneider
• Associate Professor David Phillips
• Assistant Professor Rowena Kirby-Straker
• Professor of Practice Scott Schang
• Affiliate Faculty Elise Barrella, Jon Clift, James Cooper, Michael Curley, Rebecca Dickson, Elizabeth Pierce, Charlie Schwarze, Nancy Winfrey

Admission Criteria

Candidates for the program typically have an accomplished mid-career professional background or are recent undergraduates from an accredited institution of higher education. There are no specific prerequisites required for admission to the program.

Career Opportunities

The integrated curriculum of the program prepares students to join the vanguard of the sustainability movement, generating extensive and diverse opportunities for graduates in both large and small private businesses, as well as in NGOs and government bodies.