The Earth Institute and Columbia University’s School of Continuing Education developed the new Master of Science in Sustainability Management to formally train and educate sustainability practitioners. The program draws upon the most sophisticated environmental measurement tools, cutting-edge environmental science, and world class management and policy studies to help students fully understand the systematic and organizational role of sustainability in any organization. Our common goal is to create a sustainable economy, society and environment. Steve Cohen, executive director of the Earth Institute and director of the M.S. in Sustainability Management says, “A decade from now, all excellent managers will be sustainability managers. Just as the definition of excellent management today includes effective financial, human and information management, soon it will also include effective sustainability management.”
The M.S. in Sustainability Management draws upon the University’s years of experience in bridging research and practice. The program melds academic leadership, scientific rigor and professional practice to form a unique, interdisciplinary community dedicated to making lasting advances in global sustainability practice. It takes a bold and innovative approach to sustainability that prioritizes the protection of Earth’s systems and resources as well as the spread of social and economic opportunities. This program provides practical training for both full-time and part-time students seeking to further their careers as sustainability professionals or transition into a sustainability field.
The M.S.in Sustainability Management requires the successful completion of 36 credits divided among five comprehensive content areas:
To learn more about our curriculum developed to train and educate sustainability practitioners for a broad range of fields and to hear from current faculty and students, watch our new video.
The following courses have been developed specifically for the Sustainability Management program:
In addition to the courses designed specifically for the program, sustainability management students can take classes across Columbia’s graduate schools, including the School of International and Public Affairs, the Mailman School of Public Health and the Law School, as well as in the many academic departments that constitute the Graduate School of Arts and Science.
The Integrative Capstone Workshop serves as the culminating educational experience for students in the M.S. in Sustainability Management Program, enabling them to apply the practical skills and analytical knowledge learned through the curriculum into an applied project, giving students hands-on managerial experience. The workshop also serves the purpose of sharpening the students’ analytical and communication skills by allowing them to apply their previous experience and knowledge gained from the program to real-world problems. The workshop program is specially designed to integrate the distinct fields introduced in the program as students and faculty work to address critical sustainability management issues.
The capstone workshop is offered in the fall and spring semesters. Students will work in teams and undertake special analytic projects as consultants for public and nonprofit agencies, increasing their understanding of the real-world constraints under which sustainability managers operate. Current and previous workshop clients include New York City Mayor' s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the city of Philadelphia, and GreenBlue. The required outputs for the workshop are a project control plan (PCP), a midterm briefing to the class, a final briefing to the class and the client, and a final report. The specific form of the report generated by each project is negotiated between the agency, the faculty advisor and the members of each consulting team.
The final reports and briefings from previous editions of the Integrative Capstone Workshop can be found below:
Spring 2012
Fall 2011
Spring 2011
Courses are taught by an expert faculty, including renowned practitioners in fields ranging from environmental law to alternative energy financing and researchers who are leaders in the fields of earth science, engineering and environmental management. The program utilizes environmental and sustainable development research and practitioner experience to provide practical training in sustainability management to a new generation of professionals who will address critical interdisciplinary issues.
The M.S. in Sustainability Management program welcomed its first class in the fall of 2010 and graduated its first students in spring of 2011. The program’s students represent a cross-section of the industries and organizations currently incorporating sustainable initiatives into their day-to-day operations as well as those who are looking to make a career switch. Most of the program’s students are enrolled in the program on a part-time basis, taking between 3 and 9 credit points per semester. These students are often practicing sustainability professionals who take advantage of the program’s evening course offerings while working full time during the day. The program also has a strong cohort of full-time students who are enrolled in 12 or more credit points per semester. Students can complete their degrees in as little as one calendar year before graduating. The program's students are dedicated not only to mastering the theory and science of sustainability, they are passionate about putting their education into practice.
The Earth Institute is affiliated with 30 academic programs at Columbia University and has developed numerous innovative courses training students to understand and address the pressing and complex issues of environmental protection and sustainability. The Earth Institute, with its 30 research centers and programs, is conducting and applying interdisciplinary scientific research to address many cross-cutting issues, while training a new generation of problem solvers to tackle these issues in all areas of society. Finding solutions to one problem involves tackling other related challenges within complex systems. This is at the core of sustainability management.
The Earth Institute also hosts seminars and events in the field. Expert panel discussions on bringing sustainability into routine management decisions and New York City as a sustainable city are two examples of events designed to complement the sustainability management curriculum. Students enrolled in the M.S. in Sustainability Management are an integral part of the Earth Institute’s engaging and forward-looking community.
Admission to the program is highly selective. Prospective students interested in learning about the program and meeting with program directors and faculty are encouraged to contact Allison Ladue, Program Manager, by email at aladue@ei.columbia.edu or by phone at (212) 851-9361.
For more information on how to apply to the M.S. in Sustainability Management, please visit Columbia’s School of Continuing Education.
To submit an online application, please complete an online application form.
Office of Admissions
203 Lewisohn Hall
2970 Broadway, Mail Code 4119,
New York, NY 10027-6902.
(212) 854-9666
ce-info@columbia.edu
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.;
Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Allison Ladue
Program Manager
Hogan Hall, Level B
2910 Broadway, MC 3277
New York, NY 10025
(212) 851-9361
aladue@ei.columbia.edu
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