Curriculum

Curriculum

A minimum of 38 credits is required to receive a Master of Science in Sustainable Communities.

Requirements and electives:

  • Core courses (15 credits)
  • Required courses (12-16 credits)
  • Sustainability electives (6-8 credits)
  • Thesis or capstone project (4 credits)

Core courses (15-16 credits)

SUST core courses introduce the three pillars of sustainability: environmental policy, economic development and social equity. Students will explore the interactions between these principles, basic ecology and environmental science, local and organizational governance, and concepts of sustainability to think critically across complex, interconnected systems.

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Required courses (12-16 credits)

Sustainability is more than environmental protection; it includes social equity as well. These required courses are designed to provide each student with a well-rounded perspective necessary in the field of sustainability today.

  • One Environmental Policy course (3-4 credits)
  • SUST 550 Community and Economic Development (3 credits: SPRING ONLY))
  • One Social Equity Course (3-4 credits)
  • One Advanced Methods Course (3-4 credits)

SUST Classes Available to Fulfill Required Courses*

Course

Title

Requirements Satisfied
SUST 550 Community and Economic Development Economic Development
SUST 523 Policy Analysis

Environmental Science/Policy; Advanced Methods
SUST 581G Environmental Politics

Environmental Science/Policy; Social Equity
SUST 582 Sustainable Cities and Regions

Environmental Science/Policy; Social Equity
SUST 551 Intro to Management/ Leadership in NFP Social Equity
SUST 552 Issues in Not-For-Profit Admin Social Equity
SUST 570 Indigenous Knowledge & Environment Social Equity
SUST 5XX Sustainability Action: Evidence, Tools, and Expertise Social Equity, Advanced Methods
SUST 515 Program Evaluation Advanced Methods
SUST 516 Performance Analysis Advanced Methods
SUST 597 Sust Independent Study Topic Dependent

*Relevant courses from ENVI, GEOG, GMAP, and other departments are also accepted with advisor approval.

Sustainability electives (6-8 credits)

At least two additional courses as electives related to area(s) of interest. 

Culminating Project

You will take SUST 588 Professional Writing Seminar I and SUST 589 Professional Writing Seminar II during your final two semesters. In these two 2-credit workshops, you will research, develop, and write a final project on a topic of your choice. Under the professor's guidance, you will use this project to dig deeper into a sustainability subject that interests you, allowing you to demonstrate the knowledge and skills you have acquired throughout the program.

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