Sustainability, MS
Climate, Economy, Energy, Environment, Food, Global Warming, Justice, Pollution, Science, Society, Supply Chain, Water, approved for STEM-OPT extension, ethics, 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 that addresses critical sustainability challenges.
The Master of Science in sustainability is a research-oriented degree program that culminates in writing either a thesis or publishable scientific paper.
The program focuses on knowledge generation and investigating potential solutions to sustainability challenges, and it prepares students for designing and conducting transdisciplinary research. This master's degree program is best suited to students inclined toward natural sciences, economics, engineering or related quantitative 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 the ethical insights that 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 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, MS degree program at ASU.
32 credit hours and a portfolio (MIP), or
32 credit hours and a thesis, or
32 credit hours including the required capstone course (SOS 596)
Required Core (11 credit hours) Electives (15 credit hours) Culminating Experience (6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information The taught-course element of the program is evaluated through course-specific examinations, research papers or applied projects and is considered to have been successfully completed if the student obtains a GPA of 3.25 or higher. Graduate College policies and procedures for fulfillment of degree requirements also must be met. Approved general electives subjects include the following: SOS, ASB, ART, PAF, SGS, POS, SOC, PSB, PHI, COM, CPP, CRD, ESS, NTR, MCO, GCU, SCM, HPS, HST, JHR, JMC, JUS, LAW, LES, PUP, SBS, STS, TDM and URB.
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 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)
SOS 589 is taken twice for two credit hours total.
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 3.25 (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 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 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 with expertise in sustainability frameworks and interdisciplinary 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 wicked sustainability problems.
Students can explore alumni employment data for career insights on theRob Walton College of Global Futures employment data page.
Career opportunities for graduates of this program include:
- chief sustainability officer
- energy analyst
- environmental economist
- industrial ecologist
- natural science manager
- operations consultant
- research associate
- sustainability specialist
- zero waste consultant
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.
