Sustainability Solutions, MSUS
Administration, Climate, Development, Ecological, Environment, Future, Governance, Green, Interdisciplinary, Policy, Renewable, Resilience, Society, Technology, approved for STEM-OPT extension, economic
Do you want to learn how to develop and implement solutions to critical sustainability problems? Job applicants with sustainability knowledge and skills are in great demand. Join a career field where you can help create a sustainable future.
The Master of Sustainability Solutions program teaches you how to analyze and solve sustainability challenges in organizations and communities. You learn how to apply sustainability principles and approaches. You focus on developing solutions in concert with real-world stakeholders.
You benefit from both flexibility and guidance in your course selection. You can choose elective courses from faculty-curated lists that align with employment in private, public and nonprofit sectors. If you are unsure which sector is of greatest interest, courses in sustainability analytics are available to prepare you for careers across all sectors.
A distinguishing element of the program is its applied approach. You begin the program with a foundation in sustainability frameworks and methods, then you take electives in an area of interest and ultimately use this knowledge to develop solutions to actual sustainability challenges in real time.
Final courses include learning how to manage and carry-out sustainability projects. In the capstone experience, you collaborate with a company, a government agency, a community or a nongovernmental organization to develop a practical solution to a sustainability challenge. In lieu of a thesis, the capstone provides you with practical experience and a portfolio piece that positions you for today's competitive, knowledge- and skills-intensive job market.
This program may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training extension for up to 24 months. This OPT work authorization period may help international students gain skills and experience in the U.S. Those interested in an OPT extension should review ASU degrees that qualify for the STEM-OPT extension at ASU's International Students and Scholars Center website.
The OPT extension only applies to students on an F-1 visa and does not apply to students completing a degree through ASU Online.
- College/school:
Rob Walton College of Global Futures
- Location: Tempe
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes
This video provides an overview of the Sustainability Solutions, MSUS degree program at ASU.
Students can choose to create their own concurrent degree combination to match their interests by working with their academic advisor during or after their first semester of study. Some concurrent combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum; students should speak with their academic advisor for more details.
This degree is also offered as a concurrent program with the following:
This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. Accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for high-achieving students who want the opportunity to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of their master's degree. These programs feature the same high quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
30 credit hours including the required applied project course (SOS 593)
Required Core (6 credit hours) Other Requirements (15 credit hours) Focus Area Electives (6 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information For a list of approved courses that may fulfill the methods and competency mastery requirements, students should see the academic unit. No more than six credit hours of 400-level coursework can be included in the plan of study. The Graduate College policies and procedures for fulfillment of degree requirements must also be met.
SOS 508 Pathways to Sustainability (3) or SOS 510 Perspectives on Sustainability (3)
SOS 509 Leading Sustainability Transitions or SOS 511 Advanced Sustainability Problem Solving (3)
SOS 582 Project Management for Sustainability (3)
competency mastery courses (6)
methods courses (6)
SOS 593 Applied Project (3)
MSUS students specialize in a focus area and take six credit hours of elective coursework related to that area with approval by their academic advisor.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S.
applicants | International
applicants | English
proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Rob Walton College of Global Futures.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- statement of intent
- three letters of recommendation
- resume or curriculum vitae
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Letters of recommendation must be from three people who can attest to the applicant's academic and professional achievements. At least one letter should be academic in nature.
The statement of intent should not exceed 600 words and should explain the goals the applicant intends to achieve through the plan of study, describe how the applicant's background will contribute to success in the program, explain how completion of the degree will support long-term career goals, and elaborate on project ideas the applicant wishes to pursue as part of the program of study.
In order to promote access, students may submit a GPA petition if they don't meet the 3.00 GPA requirement for admission. More information can be found on the School of Sustainability graduate admission website.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 03/01 | Final |
Studying abroad is encouraged for graduate students. Nearly all of the Rob Walton College of Global Futures faculty-directed programs offer graduate credit. In addition, the Global Education Office offers more than 50 program opportunities, with programs on every continent.
Faculty-directed programs tend to be the best fit for graduate students; taking courses with ASU professors over the summer or during academic breaks offers students close mentorship and professional network growth in many fields of study while they earn ASU credit. Exchange program participation is also possible with careful planning.
Students can find programs specific to their interests on the Rob Walton College of Global Futures study abroad webpage, and additional opportunities and information on the ASU Global Education Office website. These sites also include additional information about applying for funding to support global travel.
Graduate students are also encouraged to apply for funding for international research, study and professional development through ASU's Lorraine W. Frank Office of National Scholarships Advisement.
Professionals who understand how to solve difficult problems and work with and draw from different disciplines are in high demand across sectors and industries. Graduates of the MSUS program have the knowledge base and skill set needed to create sustainability solutions in a variety of sectors including business, education, nonprofit, governmental and nongovernmental organizations. Graduates are trained to help organizations approach differing values and perspectives in a collaborative way, understand and explore the complexity of systems, plan for various future scenarios, and develop strategies for action.
Students can explore alumni employment data for career insights on theCollege of Global Futures employment data page.
Career examples include:
- chief sustainability officer
- environmental specialist
- industrial ecologist
- sustainability analyst
- sustainability consultant
- sustainability specialist
School of Sustainability
|
WCPH 3rd floor
SustainabilityGrad@asu.edu
480-727-6963
Admission deadlines
Program term definitions
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
