Sustainable Communities, MS

Location(s): Main Campus

Why Sustainable Communities?

Envision a world with a healthy environment? Want to create communities where people enjoy safe housing, uncontaminated food and accessible public services? Students seeking to create the next generation of clean, equitable and economically vital places should explore Binghamton University’s innovative master’s degree program in sustainable communities.

Interdisciplinary collaboration is at the heart of the 38-credit sustainable communities program. To ensure a balanced, holistic perspective, the curriculum integrates the three pillars of sustainability: environmental protection, social justice and economic vitality. This program allows students the flexibility to draw upon several academic disciplines including: anthropology, economics, environmental studies, geography, geology, human rights, political science and public administration. The flexibility of the program allows students to discover the areas of sustainability that interest them most and to create a pathway to job opportunities in different sectors and in different kinds of organizations.

The master’s degree program in sustainable communities at Binghamton University is the first sustainability-focused graduate degree offered by the State University of New York (SUNY) system and is one of the only master’s degree programs of its kind in the United States. Through this two-year program, students can pursue a Master of Science (MS) in Sustainable Communities.

Graduates acquire the knowledge and experience to become skilled problem solvers and policy makers; they become people who will champion more sustainable futures. The program aims to develop inspired local government leaders, non-profit professionals, analysts, consultants, policy makers and planners who can think broadly and act collaboratively. Binghamton students are expected to be on the forefront of the emerging and growing field of sustainability.

Outcomes of the Program

The goal of the master’s degree program in sustainable communities is to provide professionally-oriented students with the skills, knowledge, experiences and networks necessary to meet their career goals. Graduates should be able to:

Demonstrate an intellectual and experiential understanding of sustainability;
Conceptualize the origins and definitions of sustainability and interconnectedness of the environmental, social and economic dimensions;
Understand the ethical implications of decisions and actions across diverse cultural, political and social perspectives;
Communicate effectively about sustainability to different audiences and for different purposes;
Develop analytical skills for applying and assessing sustainability policies in various settings; and
Collaborate with and lead others to translate the needs of sustainable communities into policy solutions and public/private action.

The sustainable communities program draws its expertise and its classes from departments across the University. This provides students with a holistic perspective that better prepares graduates for real-world challenges. A minimum of 38 credits is required to receive a Master of Science in Sustainable Communities (culminating with a thesis).

Requirements and electives

Core courses (13-16 credits)
Required courses (12-16 credits)
Sustainability electives (six-eight credits)
Thesis or capstone project (four credits)

Admission Requirements

Applicants for graduate studies must have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution.

Required application materials:

All students must submit their online applications through the Graduate School.
Online graduate degree application with graduate degree application fee
Transcripts from each college or university attended
Personal statement
Professional writing sample or essay of 500-800 words (This can be something created for a class or for work. It does not have to be about sustainability, but should illustrate the strength of the student’s writing skills.)
Résumé or curriculum vitae
Two letters of recommendation
GRE scores are NOT required, but will be considered if submitted
During the application process, students are asked to apply to either the MA or MS program and choose one. Admission standards are identical and admission via either does not preclude the awarding of the other degree

Additional required application materials for international students:

Immigration and financial documentation
Proof of English proficiency, such as:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 100
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum overall band score of 7.0
- PTE Academic with a minimum score of 68
- College or university degree from an institution in the United States or in another English-speaking country listed on the Graduate School website

Program Requirements

Course Requirements

Core courses (15-16 credits)

Students are required to pass each of these core classes with a B grade or better, earning a lower grade will require the student to retake the course.

SUST 500 - Sust.Comm I: Theory & Practice
SUST 510 - Sust Comm 2: Policy & Practice
SUST 520 - Research Design and Methods
SUST 530 - Sustainability Colloquium l This class, which meets for an hour per week, must be repeated each semester the student is in residence. Students who might graduate early need a minimum of three colloquium credits. (Students take SUST 532 , SUST 534 and SUST 536 in subsequent semesters). Students in a dual or double masters degree program need only take this four times, though they are welcome to attend every semester they are in residence.

Required courses (12-16 credits)

Students are required to pass each Required class with a B grade or better; earning a lower grade will require the student to retake the course.

One from the Environmental Policy course list (three-four credits)
One from the Economic Development course list (three-four credits)
One from the Social Equity course list (three-four credits)
One from the Advanced Methods course list (three-four credits)

Sustainability electives (six-eight credits)

At least two courses totaling a minimum of six credits as electives related to area(s) of interest

Final project (four credits)

Two-credit courses in which students work with an instructor to complete either a:

Research project or thesis for a Master of Science in Sustainable Communities

SUST 588 - Prof Writing Seminar I (fall)
SUST 589 - Prof Writing Seminar II (spring)

Note:

Students must take both courses in the final two semesters of their time in the program. The courses may be taken in either order.

Additional Information About the Program

For more information on the Sustainable Communities MS program, please refer to the Sustainable Communities website. To apply to the Sustainable Communities MS program, please visit the University Admissions website.