Sustainable Development, MS

This is the first version of the 2023–24 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.

This interdisciplinary program equips students with higher-order learning skills as well as more practical, applied preparation for a variety of careers in sustainable development. The program’s goal is to produce trainees with not only the fundamental and theoretical understanding expected from more traditional graduate degree recipients, but also the highly marketable, professional skills of someone graduating from an applied field of study.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

  • analyze problems, conduct research, and make policy recommendations on topics related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), and anticipate the social, economic, political, technological, human health, and environmental impacts of their proposed interventions;
  • communicate science effectively and responsively with diverse audiences, from technical peers to potential employers, policymakers and the public, as well as communicate across modern forms of media intended for public engagement and dissemination of advances toward sustainable development goals; and
  • demonstrate qualities essential to thrive across a range of careers, including interpersonal skills (e.g., collaboration, teamwork, and cultural competence), problem-solving abilities (e.g., inquiry, critical thinking, and creativity) and professional strengths (e.g., work ethic, responsible conduct, management, and leadership).