Master of Arts - Sustainability Studies (Non-Thesis)

With occupations changing to include environmentally conscious knowledge, "green" vocations are in higher demand. The need for environmental protection services is creating excellent job opportunities for those with advanced degrees. The graduate degrees in sustainability studies prepare committed leaders to address emerging sustainability issues. Students completing the program will have the technical skills to formulate and solve problems at the appropriate scale, as well as the breadth of vision to recognize the interconnectedness and complexity of human-environment systems. The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Sustainability Studies is designed for students inclined toward the humanities, arts, communication, urban or regional planning or related fields. The Master of Science (M.S.) in Sustainability Studies is designed for students inclined toward social sciences, natural sciences, economics, policy, ethics or related fields. The program has a thesis and a non-thesis option and is tailored to accommodate both full-time and part-time graduate students. The mission of the sustainability studies program is to engage students on issues of sustainability with an emphasis upon interdisciplinary perspectives. The program trains students to: apply critical thinking and methodological skills engage in an awareness of environmental and social ethics understand sustainability issues from scientific, social and policy perspectives Graduates of the program can actively respond to the sustainability challenges facing Texas, the nation and the world by addressing issues of sustainability in government, education, nonprofit, research and industry settings. Students in the sustainability studies program will graduate with methodological, statistical and critical thinking skills, giving them a competitive edge in the emerging sustainability market. Students wishing to continue their studies will be prepared for admission to doctoral programs, while others will be ready to fill important positions in local, state or federal government, regulatory agencies, nongovernmental organizations, consulting firms and other relevant industries. The current master's program includes more than 40 faculty from 11 departments and schools and five colleges who are scholars actively involved with the program. Faculty members include researchers engaged in projects spanning many sustainability-related fields, award-winning teachers and leaders in professional societies within their disciplines.