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.

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 an application through our online admissions portal
Online graduate degree application with graduate degree application fee
Transcripts from each college or university attended
Personal statement
Résumé or curriculum vitae
Two letters of recommendation
GRE scores are NOT required but will be considered if submitted

Additionally, International students are required to provide necessary materials, as outlined by the Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions. The Department of Public Administration and Policy accepts the minimum Proof of English Proficiency requirements outlined by the university (TOEFL iBT: 80; TOEFL Essentials: 9; IELTS: 6.5 score, with no band below 5.0. Pearson PTE Academic: 53; Duolingo: 105). Proof of English Proficiency Waivers follow the graduate admissions policy and requests are sent to the Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions (OGRA).

Those wishing to be considered for a graduate assistantship must have their applications in by February 1; applications received after this deadline are considered on a rolling basis/space available basis or are deferred until the next semester. Applications are accepted for both fall and spring semesters.

Program Requirements

The Master of Science in (MS) Sustainable Communities is a 38-credit program and may be completed on either a full- or part-time basis.

Course Requirements

Core courses (14-16 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.

Required courses (12-16 credits)

Students must pass the required courses 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 (3-4 credits)
One from the Economic Development course list (3-4 credits)
One from the Social Equity course list (3-4 credits)
One from the Advanced Methods course list (3-4 credits)

Sustainability electives (6-8 credits)

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

Culminating project (4 credits)**

Two-credit courses in which students work with an instructor to complete a capstone or research project.

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

Notes:

*This class meets for an hour per week and 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 four colloquium credits, though they are welcome to attend every semester they are in residence.

**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

Grading Policies: Students who earn a grade of B- or below in any core (required) course must repeat that course and earn a grade of B or better. Students who fail to earn a B or better grade the second time they take a core (required) course will be recommended to the Graduate School for severance from the program. Students who fail to earn a 3.0 GPA in the first 12 credits will be placed on academic probation, and may be recommended to the Graduate School for severance from the program if the GPA is not above a 3.0 after the first 24 credits in the program. Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to graduate.

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.