Issues surrounding sustainability impact every aspect of our lives. Our program can prepare you to become a sustainability professional who can implement practical strategies for businesses, government agencies, schools, and community organizations.
Why Earn a Master's in Sustainability?
The world needs solutions for our energy crisis and the rising impact of climate change. While technology has advanced, we also need leaders to craft new policies and encourage change.
Sustainability is now a division in nearly all large companies, universities and governments. With a master's in sustainability, you will be ready to lead in those positions.
You'll learn how to meet the needs of people and organizations without harming future generations. You'll combine science with ethics to reduce waste and consumption. You'll find novel ways to preserve natural resources and environments. With your degree, you'll be a leader in government and the private sector at all levels.
Why Study Sustainability at CSUN?
The Big Picture
CSUN's M.A. in Sustainability will equip you with knowledge and skills to meet the challenges of sustainable practices. You'll learn best practices and the regulatory framework to make pro-environmental decisions. You'll balance structural changes with financial considerations. With this holistic view, you'll find solutions that lead to a brighter future for all.
Interdisciplinary Degree
Our program draws faculty from across CSUN's departments. You will learn about sustainability from experts in a variety of fields. This includes geology, engineering, media, and marketing. You'll also study how environmental issues impact the economy, global health, and local communities.
Four Specializations
You will be able to choose one of four specializations based on your interest and career goals.
- Environmental Science, Water Resources and Technology: Master the technical skills you need to map, analyze and manage natural resources.
- Community Well-Being and Social Justice: Learn the causes of inequities in communities. Address challenges in accessing healthcare and clean energy, air and water.
- Corporate Sustainability: Study how to implement sustainable practices in businesses with financial and quantitative analysis.
- Sustainability Policy and Government: Develop leadership skills to lead planning projects and developments that have sustainability-based goals.
What You'll Learn
In the Sustainability M.A., you'll gain the knowledge and skills to find solutions on a leadership level. In your core courses, you'll learn the fundamentals of sustainability. You'll study how to find environmental solutions within business spheres and government regulations. You will also choose a specialization track to focus your electives. Finally, you will complete a culminating experience.
In your core courses, you will take:
- Foundations of Sustainable Systems
- Resource Use and Management
- Regulatory Framework for Sustainability
- Mixed Methods in Sustainability Research
- Sustainable Business Practices
The rest of your courses will depend on your specialization.
Environmental Science, Water Resources and Technology
Study chemistry, geography and geology to understand how to utilize our natural resources. Choose from courses that interest you such as:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Field Studies in Geography
- Hydrogeology
- Water Quality and River Restoration
- Foundations in Geographic Information Science
Community Well-being and Social Justice
Learn how to improve the health of communities through just and sustainable practices. Your classes will include:
- Environmental Justice and Health
- Medical Geography
- Ethics and Social Justice in Human Nutrition
- Mental Health in Families
- Epidemiology
- Air Pollution and Health
Corporate Sustainability
Study sustainable business practices from finance to manufacturing to tourism. You'll take classes such as:
- Financial Accounting Reporting
- Consumer Advocacy and Education
- Corporate Consumer Affairs
- Lean Manufacturing Systems
- Engineering Economy and Financial Analysis
- Sustainability in Hospitality and Tourism
Sustainability Policy and Government
Learn to create planning projects that promote sustainability health and equality. Your classes will include:
- Environmental Health Law
- Politics of Globalization
- Planning for the Natural and Built Environment
- Social Policy, Environmental Justice and the City
- Sustainable Development and Environmental Impact analysis
- Policy Analysis and Implementation
You will also complete a culminating experience to synthesize and apply your knowledge and skills. You may choose to write a thesis or complete a graduate project. You will creatively address a local, regional or global problem and create a sustainable solution that you can defend.
Careers & Outcomes
Students with a master's degree in sustainability are employed in the public and private sectors in positions such as:
- Environmental technicians and engineers
- Community and regional planners
- Environmental restoration specialists
- Water and wastewater engineers
- Climate scientists
- Landscape architects
- Sustainable food and health specialists
- Business and management designers and analysts for sustainable communities
Sustainability starts here.
Promote earth-friendly habits on campus and in our community. At CSUN's Institute for Sustainability, you can volunteer for local events, apply for grants and serve as a consultant. Join us to raise awareness and help our community thrive.
Admission Information
To be considered for admission to CSUN as a master’s student, you will need to:
- Meet university requirements.
- Meet department requirements for the Master of Arts in Sustainability.
- Apply to both the university and the specific graduate program of interest.
Learn more about applying for a master’s program at CSUN.