Sustainability and Development

Achieving the joint objectives of sustainability and development is an unprecedented challenge for people and the planet. Poverty, inequality, hunger, climate change, pandemics and diseases, and biodiversity loss are among the greatest challenges we face. These challenges span the globe, affecting people and contexts ranging from the city of Detroit to rural areas in Malawi. The Sustainability and Development (SusDev) specialization at the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) seeks to give sustainability and development equal prominence, acknowledging that both incremental and systemic change are essential for meeting sustainability and development objectives, and that there are complex trade-offs to consider when trying to achieve both goals. The SusDev specialization prepares you to analyze, address, and catalyze social change to meet the joint objectives of sustainability and development in a wide range of contexts.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT?

By completing the Sustainability and Development specialization, you are uniquely prepared to meet the rapidly growing need for trained professionals working across the spectrum of sustainability and development-related sectors and organizations at local, national, and global scales. SusDev students: 

• Develop expertise in conceptual and theoretical issues associated with sustainability and development

• Understand the real-world practices that improve human well-being and support major sustainability transitions through new institutions, policies, and behaviors

• Learn the methods and skills necessary to analyze and implement new visions and practices for greater sustainability and human well-being

CURRICULUM

Sustainability and Development specialization faculty have expertise in multiple disciplines including economics, political
science, public policy, sustainability science, geography, and public health. Our courses have a unique focus on the following areas:

• Poverty and inequality analytics

• Analysis of institutions and governance

• Design and evaluation of policies and programs

• Sustainability transitions/transformation science

Our curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students interested in working in the United States on sustainability and development challenges and in global contexts.

This PIES framework is reflected in the suite of courses available to SusDev students to complete both core course requirements and course electives.

SKILLS

To achieve social change for sustainability, you need an interdisciplinary set of skills. In addition to strengthening fundamental critical thinking, writing, collaboration, and communication skills, the SusDev specialization provides the opportunity to develop essential skills and topical areas of expertise including:

• Adaptation and Transformation
• Co-production and Stakeholder Engagement 
• Cost-benefit Analysis
• Data Visualization 
• Environmental and Resource Governance
• Fieldwork Preparation and International Cooperation
• Impact Evaluation 
• Institutional Analysis 
• Participatory and Community-based Research 
• Project Management
• Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis
• Spatial Data Analysis and Remote Sensing 
• Survey Design
• Sustainable Intensification

CAREERS

As a graduate of the Sustainability and Development specialization, you are prepared for careers in local, state, and federal level government, international organizations, nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations, civil society organizations, think tanks, management consulting firms, and the private sector. SusDev faculty and staff and the SEAS Careers Services team will help you narrow your interests and hone your skills to be competitive in the job market.

Visit the SusDev Careers Page for more information.

SUSDEV EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

SEAS students have the opportunity to participate in numerous extracurricular events organized by the SusDev team. Students have played essential roles in coordinating events as well as participating as presenters themselves. Students are also always encouraged to provide suggestions for and feedback on events and offerings related to their professional development.

Past events include conferences like the Sustainability and Development Conference, small topic-specific workshops like Everyday Adaptations to Climate Change, and special guest speakers studying and working in sustainability and development.

PATHWAYS ALLIANCE FOR CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION (PACT)

SusDev and Environmental Justice faculty (Andy White, Arun Agrawal, and Kyle Whyte) are co-founders of the Pathways Alliance for Change and Transformation (PACT), a small, strategic coalition of Indigenous Peoples and local community led research and activist institutions and academic allies. PACT’s vision is to catalyze the transformation of systems at all levels to support the priorities and values of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and their organizations. The core strategy to achieve PACT’s vision is to strengthen the self-determination of emerging Indigenous and community scholar-activists, strengthen Indigenous and community-led research, and deepen the relationships between them within and across regions. Read more about PACT here.

MASTER TRACK CERTIFICATE 

The Sustainability and Development MasterTrack Certificate (MTC) is a series of online courses in Coursera designed to introduce you to the main theoretical ideas and practical skills required to deal with complex sustainability and development problems. The MTC provides learners with an in-depth understanding of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the methods and skills necessary for designing innovative solutions to sustainability and development problems. The courses are self-paced and, once validated, learners can earn credits toward a residential master’s degree in the Sustainability and Development specialization at SEAS.