Program: Sustainability Leadership MA - University at Buffalo

Apr 09, 2025

WORKING 2025-2026 Graduate Catalog

In this program, students will master the knowledge and techniques required to work in a wide range of professional sustainability positions. The program can prepare students for further graduate work (PhD) or research, teaching and administrative positions in both the public and private sectors as well as academia. In collaboration with advisors, students will customize a set of courses based on educational or work experience, professional aspirations, and project content. Students have the opportunity to investigate across a wide variety of disciplines and propose solutions to real-world socio-ecological problems.

Required Core (6 credits)

SSN 501SEM - Fundamentals of Sustainability Credits: 3
SSN 601TUT - Sustainability Professional Skills Capstone Credits: 3

Electives & Culminating Experience (24 credits)

Elective Courses (18-24 credits)

Select at least one course from each core area total the number of credits, with culminating experience, to reach minimum 30 degree credit hours. Please note that course options are subject to change from semester to semester.

Environmental/Ecology Elective

Select 1 from:

ARC 541LEC - Introduction to Environmental Systems Credits: 3
ARC 573LEC - Environmental Systems 2 Credits: 3
ARC 575LEC - Environmental Systems 3 Credits: 3
ARC 566LEC - Urban Design: Case Studies Credits: 3
or
URP 566LEC - Urban Design: Built Environment Case Studies Credits: 3
BIO 507LEC - Advanced Ecology Credits: 3
CE 512LEC - Special Topics Credits: 3
CE 512 Course Title: Petroleum Engineering (when offered)
CIE 563LEC - Air Pollution Credits: 3
CIE 569LEC - Brownfield Restoration Credits: 3
EVS 509LEC - Advanced Ecology Credits: 3
EVS 511LEC - Marine Ecology Credits: 3
or
BIO 511LEC - Marine Ecology Credits: 3
GEO 515LEC - Conservation Biogeography Credits: 3
GEO 549LEC - Fluvial Geomorphology Credits: 3
GEO 570LEC - Integr Environment Mgmt Credits: 3
GLY 514LLB - Hydrogeology Credits: 3
GLY 528LEC - Geologic Hazards & Risk Credits: 3
IE 521LEC - Sustainable Manufacturing Credits: 3
MAE 500LEC - Special Topics Credits: 1 - 6
MAE 500 Course Title: Renewable Energy (when offered)
URP 573SEM - Environmental Land Use and Physical Planning Credits: 3
URP 578SEM - Environmental Planning Methods for Sustainability Credits: 3

Social/Cultural/Human Elective

Select 1 from:

APY 619SEM - Political Ecology: Nature, Capital and Climate Change Credits: 3
CIE 500LEC - Special Topics Credits: 3
CIE 500 Course Title: Ethical Perspectives on Engineering Sustainability (when offered)
EEH 521LEC - Global Health Credits: 3
EEH 550LEC - Environmental Health Credits: 3
EVS 517LEC - Sustainability and American Culture Credits: 3
PSC 666SEM - Environmental Politics Credits: 3
SOC 546SEM - Environmental Sociology Credits: 3
URP 604SEM - Food Systems Planning Credits: 3
URP 605SEM - Built Environment and Health Credits: 3
URP 568SEM - Environmental Planning and Policy Credits: 3

Economics/Business Elective

Select 1 from:

ARC 545SEM - Technical Methods in Ecological Practices Credits: 3
or
ARC 546SEM - Technical Methods: Ecological Practice II Credits: 3
CIE 500LEC - Special Topics Credits: 3
CIE 500 Course Title: Ethical Perspectives on Engineering Sustainability (when offered and if not used in above core)
ECO 512LEC - Environmental Economics Credits: 3
EVS 543SEM - Business, Sustainability, and Society Credits: 3
URP 522SEM - Economic Development Planning Credits: 3
URP 538SEM - Economic Concepts and Contexts for Planning Credits: 3
URP 568SEM - Environmental Planning and Policy Credits: 3

Leadership Elective

Select 1 from:

EVS 560SEM - Leadership in Sustainability Credits: 3
GEO 503SEM - Geography Seminar Credits: 3
MGB 607LEC - Motivation and Leadership Credits: 3
MGB 625LEC - Power and Influence Credits: 3
MGB 670LEC - Team Building Credits: 3
MGI 617LEC - Workforce Performance Management Credits: 3

Communication Elective

Select 1 from:

COM 540SEM - Persuasion and Social Influence Credits: 3
COM 629SEM - Top: Credits: 3
COM 629 Course Title: Entertainment Education for Health Promotion and Social Change (when offered)
COM 640SEM - Risk Communication Credits: 3
COM 684SEM - Special Topics Credits: 3
COM 684 Course Title: Science Communication (when offered)
ENG 503SEM - Professional Digital Communication Credits: 3
ENG 510SEM - Technical Communication Credits: 3
ENG 520SEM - Professional Writing Credits: 3

Tools/Data Analysis Elective

Select 1 from:

CIE 532LEC - Statistical Methods in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering Credits: 3
COM 518LEC - Statistics I Credits: 3
GEO 505LLB - Univariate Stat in Geog Credits: 4
GEO 506LLB - Geographical Informat Sys Credits: 4
GEO 509LEC - Multivariate Stat in Geog Credits: 3
GEO 553LLB - Remote Sensing Credits: 4
GEO 577LEC - Environmental Statistics Credits: 3
GLY 519LLB - Environmental Geophysics Credits: 3
GLY 529LEC - Analysis of Geol Data 1 Credits: 3
GLY 560LLB - GIS for Earth Scientists Credits: 3
SOC 504SEM - Introductory Statistics for the Social Sciences Credits: 3
SOC 531SEM - Qualitative Research Methods Credits: 3
SOC 607SEM - Multiple Linear Regression Credits: 3

Culminating Experience: Project (0-6 credits)

EVS 695TUT - Graduate Research Guidance Credits: 1 - 6

Total Credit Hours: 30

3.0 Degree GPA required

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)

1) Define sustainability and identify major sustainability challenges

2) Identify and analyze environmental and ecological dimensions of sustainability

3) Identify and analyze social dimensions of sustainability, including ethical and justice considerations

4) Identify and analyze economic dimensions of sustainability

5) Analyze and interpret multiple perspectives related to decision-making and leadership

6) Communicate about issues of sustainability to diverse audiences

7) Analyze qualitative and/or quantitative data for making key decisions about sustainability

8) Investigate sustainability problems from a multi-disciplinary and systems perspective

Hybrid (some of the degree requirements can be fulfilled online)

Full/Part Time Options

Full Time
Part Time

Credits Required

30 Hours

Time-To-Degree

2 Years

Application Fee

$75

SED Statement

This program is officially registered with the New York State Education Department (SED).

Online programs/courses may require students to come to campus on occasion. Time-to-degree and number of credit hours may vary based on full/part time status, degree, track and/or certification option chosen. Time-to-degree is based on calendar year(s). Contact the department for details.