Sustainability science examines the dynamic relationships between humans and the environment with a focus on the vulnerability and resilience of coupled human-environment systems. The Master of Science in Sustainability program is designed for recent graduates, current professionals, and practitioners who wish to contribute meaningfully to the work in sustainability. Students will receive training in methodologies relevant to the social and natural sciences, develop their proficiency in the use of geospatial analysis tools, and hone skills relevant to policy implementation and organizational leadership. Students graduating from this program will be able to address global environmental challenges within their local communities and can lead sustainability initiatives in government agencies, private sector positions, and not-for-profit and non-governmental organizations.
Learning Objectives
- Identify and apply relevant interdisciplinary knowledge, skills, and personal and professional values appropriate to the science of sustainability.
- Evaluate critical issues in the science of sustainability.
- Apply technologies, software, and other appropriate quantitative and qualitative methodologies to support problem-solving and collaboration in a sustainability context.
- Create presentations, reports, and other deliverables that analyze and address critical sustainability issues.
The required courses in the graduate program provide students with foundational knowledge and skill sets in sustainability-related topics. The course objectives are aligned with program-level objectives 1 through 3 above. The culmination of a student’s graduate work is a report as part of a collaborative project-based practicum with an organization, or a thesis. The report or thesis will be aligned with program level objectives 1 through 4 above.
Program Options
Students need to complete one of two of the following options and select one (1) of five (5) tracks:
1) Practicum Option: This option involves completing a practicum with an organization or agency. Students apply appropriate analytical problem-solving techniques to complete an assigned project focused on solving an environmental problem. Students completing a practicum would ideally complete 4 credits of GC 591 Capstone/Practicum in Sustainability in the Fall semester of their second year. During the Winter semester of their second year, students would register for 4 credits of GC 598 Directed Studies to finish their deliverable as part of their practicum.
2) Master’s Thesis Option: This option entails an individual, independent research project that generates new knowledge and is designed to contribute to scholarship. This option is recommended for students who aim to pursue a PhD degree or are interested in research-oriented careers. Students need to have identified a faculty advisor that will guide them in completing their thesis and have that faculty member agree to serve as an advisor. Students completing a thesis would ideally complete 4 credits of GC 598 Directed Studies with their advisor as instructor of record in the Fall Semester of their second year to make progress on their thesis document. During the Winter semester of their second year, students would register for 4 credits of GC 599 Thesis in Sustainability to finish their deliverable.
