Sustainability, MA
Climate, Economy, Energy, Environment, Food, Future, Global Warming, Pollution, Society, Supply Chain, Water, approved for STEM-OPT extension, ethics, resources, sustain, urban
Interested in investigating current and emerging global threats and their potential solutions? Collaborate with peers and faculty to generate new ideas and perform research in order to address critical sustainability challenges.
The MA in sustainability is a research-oriented degree program that culminates with writing either a thesis or publishable scientific paper.
The program focuses on knowledge generation and investigating potential solutions to sustainability challenges and prepares students to design and conduct transdisciplinary research. Although the graduate degree programs emphasize the integration of a broad range of expertise, this program is best suited to students inclined toward transdisciplinary science, humanities, planning or related fields and who are interested in a career in research or academia.
Students learn how different disciplines view and approach the challenges of sustainability in theory, research and practice. They develop academic and technical skills as well as ethical insights that can help them understand, research and provide solutions to complex sustainability challenges at the local, regional, national and global levels.
All sustainability graduate students understand the need for a transdisciplinary approach to solving sustainability challenges; can communicate their work to professionals in other disciplines, to policymakers and to the general public; and have the breadth of vision to incorporate the interconnectedness of social, economic, environmental and technical systems into their research. They have the critical thinking skills necessary to approach sustainability challenges from a systems perspective, the ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams, and the technical skills to formulate and solve problems at the appropriate scale.
This program may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training extension for up to 36 months. This OPT work authorization term 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 the degree through ASU Online.
- College/school:
College of Global Futures
- Location: Tempe
35 credit hours and a thesis, or
35 credit hours including the required capstone course (SOS 596)
Required Core (14 credit hours) Electives (15 credit hours) Culminating Experience (6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information SOS 589 is a one-credit-hour course students take twice for two credit hours total. Approved general elective subjects include the following:
SOS 510 Perspectives on Sustainability (3)
SOS 520 Research Design and Methods for Sustainability (3)
SOS 525 Social-Ecological-Technical Systems: Domains and Interfaces (3)
SOS 581 Synthesis for Sustainability Research (3)
SOS 589 Community of Graduate Student Scholars (2)
methods (3)
normative dimensions of sustainability (3)
general electives (9)
SOS 596 Capstone: Scientific Paper (6) or
SOS 599 Thesis (6)
The taught-course element of the program is evaluated through course-specific examinations, research papers or applied projects and is considered successfully completed if the student obtains a GPA of 3.25 or higher. Graduate College policies and procedures for fulfillment of degree requirements must also be met.
SOS, ASB, ART, PAF, SGS, POS, SOC, PSB, PGS, PHI, COM, CPP, CRD, ESS, PGV, NTR, MCO, GCU, SCM, HPS, HST, JHR, JMC, JUS, LAW, LES, PUP, SBS, RTM, STS, TDM, URB
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the 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 3.25 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 (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.
The statement of intent should not exceed 600 words and should describe how the applicant's background will contribute to success in the program and describe how completion of the degree will support long-term career goals. The statement should elaborate on key research questions the applicant wishes to address or problems to solve as part of the plan of study, and it should identify potential faculty advisors.
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.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/15 | Final |
Studying abroad is encouraged for graduate students. Nearly all of the 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 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 with expertise in sustainability frameworks, interdisciplinary research and strong research skills are in high demand across industries, including business, academia and government. Skills in critical thinking, teamwork, sustainability problem-solving and research are valuable to businesses and institutions burdened by sustainability problems.
From the School of Sustainability's 2022 alumni employment survey, 100% of master's degree program respondents are either employed or pursuing continuing education. Of those employed, 100% of respondents have jobs directly related to sustainability.
Career opportunities for graduates of this program include:
- chief sustainability officer
- conservation program lead
- disaster relief manager
- environmental restoration planner
- program director or manager
- research associate
- sustainability communications specialist
- sustainability instructor or teacher
- sustainability specialist
- zero waste consultant
School of Sustainability
|
WCPH 3rd floor
SustainabilityGrad@asu.edu
480-727-6963
Admission deadlines
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
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. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. 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.
