Graduate Studies in Sustainability

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Sustainability

• Master of Science in Sustainability
• Dual Degrees: M.S. in Sustainability/MBA
• Graduate Technical Certificates
• Certificate of Graduate Studies in Sustainability

Steve Joiner, Dean, College of Leadership and Public Service
Michelle Steele, Associate Dean of Academics, College of Leadership and Public Service 
G. Dodd Galbreath, Director of Graduate Programs, Institute for Sustainable Practice

Core Faculty

G. Dodd Galbreath, Associate Professor of Sustainability

Other adjunct faculty, staff, guest lecturers and program advisors associated with the graduate program in sustainability are posted on the Institute website at www.lipscomb.edu/sustainability.

The mission of the Institute for Sustainable Practice is to develop and advance the practices and profession of sustainability through education, research, training and service to the community and the world. Sustainability refers to a holistic approach in the stewardship of people, the planet, prosperity and providence. The founding principles of sustainability translate to all professions, cultures, organizations, economic markets and natural environments.

Unlike most sustainability programs, Lipscomb University equips professionals from virtually any discipline with advanced expertise in sustainability, including students with non-science backgrounds. Entry-level course work establishes a foundation in sustainability principles. These include:  fundamentals of systems thinking, Earth systems, business management, entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility, social justice, leadership, multi-media communications, and the psychology of behavior change. Advanced courses allow students to earn technical knowledge and to specialize in sustainable food systems, renewable energy, green buildings and sites, green business performance, sustainability metrics, urban resilience, and water management. Students are also able to tailor course work to individual disciplines and interests through course assignments, elective study, independent research,  travel study with leading practitioners managing sustainability at scale, and a final capstone project, while earning third party certifications and accreditations. All courses are offered in a HyFlex course format meaning that students may choose on-campus, on-line or a hybrid learning format at any point during a course, switching back and forth as much as their schedule requires.

The Institute for Sustainable Practice offers four graduate study options: a Master of Science in Sustainability; a 2-year, dual degrees program with a Master of Science in Sustainability and Master of Business Administration resulting in two diplomas for less credit hours due to overlapping course work; a Certificate of Graduate Studies in Sustainability (a “half degree” option); and 7 technical certificates that can count toward our degrees. All study options begin with the same introductory course work allowing a student to choose the best path based on their initial course experience. All courses offer assignments that students can tailor to personal or career interests. Successful practitioners in sustainability and seasoned academics provide course instruction to combine the best of market experience and subject matter delivery. Course content, field study, sustainability travel, guest expert lectures, annual seminars and conferences provide insight into subject discovery, career networks and the best chances for professional success.

Lipscomb University was named one of the Princeton Review’s 413 Green Colleges in 2019. For five consecutive years, the university founded and sponsored Tennessee’s first Sustainable Business Summit bringing to Nashville leading sustainability pioneers such as L. Hunter Lovins, author of Natural Capitalism; Janine Benyus, author of Biomimicry;  Gary Hirshberg, founder and CEO of Stonyfield Farms organic yogurt company and the founder and senior editor of GreenBiz.com, Joel Makower. The Biomimicry Institute also named the university as its first faith-based affiliate member.

Nashville and the State of Tennessee provide excellent content for sustainability in practice. Local and regional highlights include: three Lipscomb University ground-sourced heating and cooling system buildings and Tennessee’s first LEED Gold Certified academic building; municipal buildings in Nashville will meet a 2025 clean energy goal due to a rapidly expanding solar PV industry; Nissan has invested $1.6 billion in electric car and battery technology and products; and a $1 billion LEED Platinum (first in the world) Volkswagen automobile plant is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Regionally, internationally significant natural resources abound: Middle Tennessee’s Duck River “is one of three hot spots for fish and mussel diversity in the entire world; East Tennessee’s Clinch and Powell Rivers have “historically had one of the richest assemblages of native fish and freshwater mussels in the world; and the Great Smoky Mountains is the most biodiverse park in our national park system.

Master of Science in Sustainability

The Master of Science degree consists of 30 hours of graduate course work. Since few universities offer such a degree, graduates achieve a competitive advantage for emerging sustainability positions. The degree is ideal for students from any discipline who seek a focused career in sustainability managing people and/or projects, including: corporate management, consulting; design, construction management, business performance, nonprofit development, project management, environmental planning and compliance, and sustainability certification.

Many students complete the program in 12-16 months, but credits are eligible for up to five years. The Master of Science in sustainability is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Dual Degrees Program: M.S. in Sustainability and MBA

The dual degrees program combines cutting edge business training with state-of-the-art training in sustainability resulting in two diplomas. Many professionals choose this option to optimize their competitiveness and to enhance their flexibility with credentials in two disciplines. Students enrolled in the dual degrees program will complete a select grouping of courses from each program (24 hours in sustainability and 24 hours in business). Successful completion of 48 hours of course work will earn students both diplomas, the M.S. in Sustainability and the Master of Business Administration. The dual-degrees option MUST be declared before the student graduates with either degree.

Graduate Technical Certificates

These certificates are designed to meet the short-term, technical needs of students who wish to study a particular aspect of sustainability and receive a distinction beyond course credit. These technical graduate certificates are narrowly-focused and skills-based experience. All courses earned in pursuit of technical certificates may be applied toward graduate degrees in the Institute for Sustainable Practice. These certificates are designed to meet the short-term, technical needs of students who wish to study a particular aspect of sustainability and receive a distinction beyond course credit. These technical graduate certificates are narrowly-focused and skills-based experience. All courses earned in pursuit of technical certificates may be applied toward graduate degrees in the Institute for Sustainable Practice.

Graduate Certificate in Building Systems

The nine-hour graduate certificate in building systems consists of the following courses: SU 6123 Green Building Design, Construction, and Operation; SU 6133 Renewable Energy Options and Design Applications; and SU609v Advanced Sustainability Study in Travel (New England or equivalent).

Graduate Certificate in Collaborative Competency

The twelve-hour graduate certificate in collaborative competency consists of the following courses: ICM 6113 Facilitating Dynamic Groups; SU 6203 Psychology of Sustainability;  ICM 5013 Negotiation and Settlement Processes; and one of the following courses: ICM 6053 Public Policy Conflict Management or ICM 6143 Organizational conflict.

Graduate Certificate in Corporate/Business Sustainability

The nine-hour graduate certificate in corporate/business sustainability consists of SU 6023 Sustainable Enterprise, SU 6063 Metrics of Sustainability, and one of the following courses: SU 6133 Renewable Energy Options and Design Applications; SU 6143 Sustainable Food Systems; SU 6083 Professional Experience, SU609v Advanced Sustainability Study in Travel (New England or equivalent); or SU 6123 Green Building Design, Construction, and Operation.

Graduate Certificate in Food Systems

The nine-hour graduate certificate in food systems consists of the following courses: SU 6143 Sustainable Food Systems; SU 6203 Psychology of Sustainability and one of the following courses: SU 609V Advanced Sustainability Study in Travel (New England or equivalent); SU 6133 Renewable Energy Options and Design Applications SU 6133; or SU 6003 Sustainable Earth Systems.

Graduate Certificate in Renewable Energy

The nine-hour graduate certificate in renewable energy consists of SU 6133 Renewable Energy Options and Design Applications and two of the following courses:  SU 6003 Sustainable Earth Systems; SU 6203 Psychology of Sustainability; or SU 609v Advanced Sustainability Study in Travel (New England or equivalent).

Graduate Certificate in Urban Resilience

The nine-hour graduate certificate in urban resilience is comprised of SU 6183 Urban Planning for Sustainability and Resilience and two of the following courses: SU 6203 Psychology of Sustainability; 6193 Water Management for Sustainability and Resilience; or ICM 5013 Negotiation and Settlement Processes.

Graduate Certificate in Water Systems

The nine-hour graduate certificate in water systems consists of the following courses: SU 6193 Water Management for Sustainability and Resilience; SU 6003 Sustainable Earth Systems and SU 6203 Psychology of Sustainability or SU 6183 Urban Planning for Sustainability and Resilience.

Certificate of Graduate Studies in Sustainability

The certificate consists of 15 hours of graduate course work and comprises one half of a master’s degree. The certificate is ideal for college graduates or masters degreed professionals of any discipline who seek additional professional credentials and fundamental skills in sustainability, without having to pursue a full graduate degree. Course work includes both theoretical and applied experiences for seasoned or new professionals.

Services and Benefits Common to all ISP Programs

1. All books, materials, and weekend meals are included in tuition unless otherwise noted during the admissions process (this does not include additional fees required for study in travel).
2. All assignments, homework submissions, exams and grading are completed electronically.
3. Professional, applied and real consulting experiences are available in every sustainability course.
4. Each Term I or II sustainability course meets 1 weeknight per week for 8  weeks. Full-term courses meet 1 night per week for 16 weeks. Other courses may meet as directed such as study in travel.
5. Graduate courses for graduate credit are open to undergraduates within 12 hours of graduation or may be taken as undergraduate credit courses altered for undergraduate requirements with the approval of the graduate director.
6. All certificate credit hours can be applied to current and future sustainability graduate degrees offered through ISP, as listed in the aforementioned program summary.
7. Certificates can be completed in three to eight months and the M.S. in 12 to 16 months, but all earned course credits can be applied toward a certificate or degree for up to five years.
8. Students have the opportunity to receive a personal library of the most recent and relevant sustainability literature and a professional sustainability tool kit that includes a sustainability resume, web pages, an electronic library of best practices, professional memberships and lifelong contacts.
9. Students have the opportunity to meet national and international sustainability leaders in-class lectures, at local events, through study in travel, at conferences and other additional events.
10. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and other professional credentials can be secured for partial or full graduate credit, depending on the format of the course.

Admission Policies and Procedures

A four-year undergraduate degree, background courses in business or environmental sciences, as well as prior relevant work experience, will most enhance the student experience, but are not necessary for successful completion of the program and professional advancement. In addition to meeting all Lipscomb University requirements for admission, each applicant to the graduate program in sustainability must submit the following:

1. Application Form. Each applicant must complete an application form. The application form is available at lipscomb.edu/admissions/graduate then click on “Apply by Program” to complete the online application.
2. Application Fee. Each application should be accompanied by a $50 nonrefundable application fee.
3. No Standardized Exam Required. 
4. Writing Sample. Students must submit a brief statement of interest and a writing sample that demonstrates clarity of thinking, reasoning ability, logic, and strong writing and communication skills. The statement of interest should summarize why the proposed course of study is desired, general learning objectives, and career goals. The writing sample should be an academic or professional document that has been previously written and perhaps evaluated in an academic or professional setting. Previously published work may also be considered.
5. References. Two letters of reference are required: one academic and one character reference. 
6. Official Transcript(s). Each applicant must submit an official transcript, showing degree conferral when appropriate, from all schools attended.
7. Health Form. Upon acceptance, each applicant must submit a completed health form signed by a health care provider. (To print a copy of the health form, visit www.lipscomb.edu/healthcenter/forms.)
8. FERPA. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act afford students certain rights of access to educational records; even if you are independent of your parents, you must submit this form prior to enrollment.
9. TOEFL. The Test of English as a Foreign Language is required for international students. (See section titled International Students for more information).

Note: The above referenced materials support a successful “final review” admission score equal to or greater than 30 points. Additional assessments may be provided for lower scores. All application items should be submitted to the office of graduate admissions at Lipscomb University no later than 30 days before the beginning of the month in which the student plans to enroll.  Candidates pursuing the dual degree must meet admission requirements for both the sustainability program and the MBA program.

Student Classifications

Students are admitted to graduate courses in one of five categories:

1. Graduate Student: one who has satisfied all admissions requirements stated above. A student with an incomplete admission file may be accepted conditionally into the program at the discretion of the program director until all documentation has been secured. Significant delays can result in holds for enrollment, suspension or expulsion.
2. Conditionally Admitted Student: one who has been admitted conditionally, at the discretion of the program director, without satisfying all admission requirements. Students admitted with the following criteria may be required to complete a minimum of nine hours of graduate work with a grade of “B” or above before the conditional admission is removed.

• From an unaccredited school or with a standardized admission score below admission requirements.
• A transfer student with a graduate GPA between 2.50 and 2.99. The transfer student must be in good standing at the previous institution attended. The transfer student may be accepted upon approval of Registrar and program administrators.
• A student who has not completed a bachelor’s degree program but who is within 12 hours of graduation. The student must be in good standing at the previous institution attended.

1. Non-Degree Student: one who has been admitted to graduate studies and has met all admission requirements except GPA. The student may take up to nine semester hours for graduate credit. Those hours may be applied toward a master’s degree if the student makes a grade of “B” or better in the courses taken for credit and if all admission requirements (GPA and entrance requirements) are met and the student is formally admitted to a graduate program as a degree-seeking student.
2. Visiting Student: one who is currently enrolled as a student in good standing at the post-bachelor’s level at another graduate school, wishes to take courses at Lipscomb and desires to have transcript evidence of course work done at Lipscomb provided for the school of primary enrollment.
3. Probationary Student: one who has been readmitted to a graduate program following academic suspension from the program.

Admission to a program does not imply admission to candidacy for the master’s degree. Only those students who meet the requirements for “Graduate Student” described above are eligible for candidacy.

Transfer of Courses

The director of the graduate program will evaluate all proposed course transfers up to 9 hours. More hours may be considered if each proposed course above 9 hours is largely equivalent to each specific SU catalog course substitution. All approved transfers must have earned no lower than a “B” to be considered for transfer.

Documentation

Students are required to provide satisfactory documentation of personal identification for off-site learning experiences required in many programs of graduate study at Lipscomb University. Failure to provide proper credentials will result in failure to complete the desired course of study. For complete policy, see section entitled Required Documentation for Off-Site (and Virtual Classroom) Learning Experiences in the opening section of this catalog.

Academic Policies

Course Load

A student enrolled for a minimum of six hours each semester is considered a full-time student. A student enrolled for less than six hours is considered a part-time student. No student will be permitted to enroll for more than 12 hours per semester without special approval from the director of the graduate program. See the section on “Projected Course Plan” for course schedules.

Academic Standing

1. Good Academic Standing: To remain in good academic standing, the sustainability program graduate student must maintain a cumulative 3.00 GPA and a 3.00 GPA on the most recent 12 semester hours of work or 2.5 GPA or higher for work toward a certificate.
2. Probation: Should the student’s cumulative graduate GPA fall below 3.00 for course work toward a diploma or below 2.5 GPA for course work toward a certificate, the student will be placed on academic probation. A student on academic probation will not be allowed to enroll for more than six hours during any term the probation applies.
   The probationary student is required to achieve a 3.00 cumulative GPA by the time the student has completed the next nine hours of course work.
   A course(s) may be repeated to achieve the requisite GPA. If the requisite GPA is attained, the academic probation status will be removed.
3. Suspension: If the requisite GPA is not attained, the student will be suspended from graduate studies at Lipscomb for the following semester, after which the student may apply for readmission. The student may be required to appear before the graduate committee.
   A graduate course in which a student has earned a “C” or “F” may be repeated. In such cases, only the higher grade will be used to compute the student’s GPA. Failing grades will provide no credit toward the degree but will be included in figuring scholarship level, unless replaced with a higher grade by repeating the course(s)..
4. Appeals: Appeals to suspension decisions should be made in writing to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. Appeals must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Monday of the week before classes begin for the term during which the student wishes to be readmitted.

Degree Completion Requirements

Residency

No period of formal residency is required.

Candidacy/ Degree Plan

During the course of pursuing the Master of Science in sustainability, the dual degree M.S./MBA, or the MBA concentration in sustainability, the student must be admitted to “candidacy.” For admission to candidacy the student must satisfy the following:

1. Complete all required undergraduate deficiencies if admitted on condition.
2. Complete at least twelve hours of graduate work.
3. Maintain a 3.00 GPA on all courses taken toward the minimum requirements for the degree with no incomplete grades and maintain a 2.50 GPA on all courses taken toward the minimum requirements for a certificate.
4. File a declaration of candidacy form (i.e., degree plan) with the graduate program and office of the registrar.
5. File a degree plan in the graduate program office which meets all requirements and is approved by the administrator of the graduate program. The degree plan must be filed during the second semester of graduate work in the program.

After admission to candidacy and approval of the degree plan, any catalog or concentration substitutions in the degree plan must be approved by the director of the graduate program. The application for candidacy must be filed before the beginning of the student’s last semester in the program. A degree plan or declaration of candidacy should project the minimum number of hours needed to enter the graduate program (leveling requirements or pre-requisites) as well as the minimum number of graduate courses required to successfully earn a diploma and coordinate these responsibilities with personal obligations. Leveling or other prerequisite requirements could add from one month or more to a projected program of study.  Committing fully to the graduate school experience means giving priority to courses, on-campus speakers, field trips, conferences, travel, team projects, individual maturation and professional growth, and interpersonal interactions.

Statute of Limitations

All requirements for the pursuing the Certificate of Graduate Studies in Sustainability or the M.S. in sustainability, must be completed within a five-year period from the time of initial matriculation. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the ISP graduate director.

Minimum Credits

The M.S. in Sustainability requires 30 hours of foundational and advanced sustainability course work; the dual degrees MS in sustainability/MBA requires 24 hours in each degree program; the Certificate of Graduate Study in sustainability requires 15 semester hours of foundational and advanced sustainability course work; technical certificates require minimum hours as stated (usually 9-12) and all course work is exclusive of hours accumulated to satisfy academic deficiencies.

Minimum GPA

The minimum cumulative grade-point average for graduation is a 3.00 for the minimum course hours required to earn a diploma or dual degrees, and 2.50 for a for the minimum course hours required to earn a certificate. No incomplete grades may exist within the minimum hours required. No grade below a “C” is acceptable for credit. Such grades will not apply toward degree completion.

Graduation

Students must register for graduation the semester in which all M.S. course work will be completed for graduation. Students who do not file their intent to graduate form in the registrar’s office by the end of the first week of their last semester may be delayed in graduating. Graduate students receiving degrees are hooded during the May and Dec. commencement exercises.

Appeals

Any exceptions to the above stated requirements would require approval by the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs in collaboration with the Dean of the College and the Program Director.

Financial Information

Tuition and Fees for 2021-22

Program of Study Requirements

• Dual Degrees: M.S. in Sustainability and Master of Business Administration

(Applied behavior analysis, biomolecular science, engineering management, exercise and nutrition science, health care informatics, information security, informatics and analytics, information technology management, clinical mental health counseling, psychology, software engineering and sustainability)

• Sustainability, M.S.

• Certificate of Graduate Studies in Sustainability
• Certificate of Graduate Studies in Sustainability: Building Systems
• Certificate of Graduate Studies in Sustainability: Collaborative Competency
• Certificate of Graduate Studies in Sustainability: Corporate/Business Sustainability
• Certificate of Graduate Studies in Sustainability: Faith-based Sustainability
• Certificate of Graduate Studies in Sustainability: Food Systems
• Certificate of Graduate Studies in Sustainability: Renewable Energy
• Certificate of Graduate Studies in Sustainability: Urban Resilience
• Certificate of Graduate Studies in Sustainability: Water Systems

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