Program Overview

The Sustainability Science program prepares students professionally for a broad range of sustainability-focused careers in industry, government, or the non-profit sector.  Students will graduate with: (1) a systems-based foundation for analyzing current environmental challenges; (2) pragmatic training and field experiences; (3) critical thinking and communications skills; and (4) knowledge and understanding of the interrelated scientific, social, economic and political underpinnings of environmental problems, solutions, and practices. Our proposed program is practice/career-based, and students will complete a 4-credit project with an NGO, government agency or company.

Students in the program will select one concentration area from among 4 options: Environmental Quality and Human Health, Sustainable Food Systems and Agriculture, Water Sustainability and Climate Change, and Urban Sustainability.   Because the program combines core classes and a chosen area of concentration, students will build a strong intellectual foundation for analyzing interconnections between social, economic and ecological systems, and will also develop expertise depth within a given domain.  

The Sustainability Science students often interact with fellow-students from other closely-related graduate programs at the University, including Environmental Conservation (Green Building concentration, and Water, Wetlands and Watersheds concentration), Geosciences, Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, and Architecture, so there are unique opportunities to build a professional network across a wide range of disciplines.

The 33-credit degree comprises core classes, a concentration area and 2 additional elective courses. 

Core requirements: a set of 4 courses and 2 seminars which cover the intellectual foundation of sustainable systems (environmental, social/urban and economic) and introduce a systems-based approach to understanding their interconnectedness.

Concentration: students gain rigor and depth from selecting at least 3 classes from within a given track (and approved by their committee).

Independent Project/Internship: related to the student’s chosen concentration.

Two Electives: classes meant to broaden students’ knowledge of sustainability issues beyond their own specific concentration.

Course Requirements and a detailed list of courses are available here: Courses/Requirements

Additional information is available on the program website http://eco.umass.edu/degree-programs/sustainability-science/.