Sustainability, M.S.

Master of Science in Sustainability Concentrations

Master of Science in Sustainability Concentrations

As part of the trans-disciplinary sustainability academic program, concentrations offer the ability to hone specialized knowledge and skills in one area of application. Additionally, concentrations demonstrate a specific student’s academic and professional preparation. Each student must select a concentration, whether it is from the options below, or is customized in consultation with the graduate director. Concentrations should be selected as early as possible, ideally after completing principles of applied sustainability and before selecting electives. All “open topic” course assignments and research paper topics ideally should align with the chosen concentration.

Building and energy systems. Prepare for careers in the built environment related to construction, facilities management, real estate, site design, and other development practices. Required courses: SU 6123 Green Building Design, Construction, and Operation, SU 6133 Renewable Energy Options and Design Applications, 1 applicable SU elective and integration of building and energy systems study in SU 6043 and SU 609v (15 hrs.).

Food systems. Focus on sustainable, organic, local and profitable agriculture systems for production, processing, products, retail, service, distribution and/or trade. Required courses: SU 6143 Sustainable Food Practice, 2 applicable SU electives and integration of food systems study in SU 6043 and SU 609v (15 hrs).

Urban resilience. Earn knowledge and expertise in urban resilience and associated regional and rural systems. Required courses: SU 6183 Urban Planning for Sustainability and Resilience; 2 applicable SU electives from the current curriculum and integration of urban resilience study in SU 6043 and SU 609v (15 hrs).

Renewable energy and energy efficiency. Focus on the adoption, management and maintenance of renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency practices. Required courses: SU 6133 Renewable Energy Options and Design Applications, 2 applicable SU electives, SU 6043 and SU 609v (15 hrs).

Customizable concentration. Create a unique concentration of study that is founded on the student’s prior profession and/or undergraduate discipline. Examples include sustainability applications in business performance, health care, hospitality, event management, tourism and water management. Integrate the customized concentration in 3 applicable SU electives, SU 6043, and SU 609V (15 hrs).

Collaborative competency. Earn skills to more effectively engage multi-stakeholder groups. Required courses: ICM 6113 Facilitating Dynamic Groups; ICM 5013 Negotiation and Settlement Processes; and 1 of the following courses: ICM 6053 Public Policy Conflict Management or ICM 6143 Organizational Conflict; and integration of collaborative competency applications in 1 applicable SU technical elective and SU 609v (15 hrs).

General Schedule for Independent Study Courses

Traditional Semester: Independent study courses follow a semester-long format. Independent study means the student designs and directs their own course of study, with guidance and oversight from a course professor as follows:

• Identify a practitioner project, individual certification, and/or research proposal topic within your approved  concentration desired for study.
• Schedule a consultation with a course facilitator who posts a course assignment outlining the independent study proposal criteria (available in your learning dashboard). The student develops an outline of learning objectives, course expectations, timelines, deliverables, and types of documents to be submitted in the first course assignment.
• Check-in with the course facilitator on the agreed schedule to ensure: (1) the independent study and assignment deliverables are being submitted as agreed, and (2) that the learning objectives are being achieved.
• Complete the agreed course of study and submit deliverables to the course facilitator for grading, prior to the date for final course grade submission, per the study proposal.