Sustainable Systems Master of Science Degree
Sustainable Systems
Master of Science Degree
Develop a comprehensive understanding of the many facets of sustainability. In as little as one year, this sustainability degree will teach to you apply sustainability science principles to any field to help solve the world’s grand challenges—including pollution, food scarcity, public health crises, and more.
Overview
Sustainable systems accepts students from any academic background and encompasses a wide range of interdisciplinary studies in sustainability science. Here, you won’t be restricted to one sustainability topic or methodology. You will comprehensively learn and experience the methods that lead to environmental, social, technological, and business success, working one-on-one with a faculty advisor to tailor the degree to your sustainability interests.
In the sustainable systems MS, you will start with a broad foundation of knowledge in environmental life cycle assessment, sustainable decision making, economic and policy strategies, and more. Then, you will have the opportunity to customize your degree in areas that suit your interests and career goals—such as renewable energy or mobility—as well as get the hands-on experience that employers are seeking. In as little as one year of study, you will be prepared to make sustainability decisions that you can apply to any career.
Not only will you be able to focus on an area that interests you, but you will be able to get hands-on in your projects with the use of one of our many labs or through design modeling tools. This degree allows you the flexibility to adapt your career over time and in response to the ever-changing developments in sustainability. The Golisano Institute for Sustainability is dedicated to groundbreaking sustainability research and its business applications. Our research facilities are second to none, including Sustainability Institute Hall, a 75,000-sq.-foot, LEED Platinum certified research building and multiple state-of-the-art research centers.
You don’t need a background in sustainability to join this program; just a desire to create positive change in the world. We bring in students of all ages, from all backgrounds—from mechanical engineering to political science—and from all over the world so that your learning experience comes not just from the classroom, but from the different perspectives of fellow students.
Plan of Study
Through a flexible and interdisciplinary curriculum, you’ll begin your degree with core courses in industrial ecology, risk assessment, the economics of sustainability, and more. Several electives from across the university will allow you to further tailor your degree to your talents and career goals, from sustainable craft brewing and distilling to corporate social responsibility.
Your degree culminates with a research thesis or a capstone project. Recent thesis examples include:
- Techno-Environmental Analysis of Generating Animal Feed from Wasted Food Products
- Fabrication and life cycle assessment of organic photovoltaics
- Characterizing adaptive capacity to climate change in developing countries: a case study on Peru
Potential Tracks
Sustainable Energy
- Sustainable Energy Systems
- Food-Energy-Water Nexus
- Energy Policy
Example research project: Inspection of wind turbine blades with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
Circular Economy
- Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Data Analysis for Sustainability
- Innovation Policy
- Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Example research project: Assessing a baseline case for reaching carbon neutrality in Monroe County by 2027
Sustainable Urban Systems
- Sustainable Mobility Systems
- Graduate Sustainable Communities
- Sustainable Building Metrics
Example research project: Evaluating strategies for sustainable renovation of RIT campus buildings
Enhanced Career Opportunities
Our graduates have a 100 percent placement rate, in part because of RIT’s dedication to career counseling and ongoing relationships with employers. This means that all of our graduates gain employment or choose to further their education shortly after graduating. And If you’re interested in pursuing a career more focused in academia or research, the master’s degree is also an excellent stepping stone to a doctoral program, such as RIT’s Ph.D. in sustainability, if you take the route of completing a thesis while here.
Community Involvement
Rochester, NY, is a hub for sustainability professionals and entrepreneurship. Students in the sustainable systems degree program are often regularly involved with local companies and organizations, from teaching about sustainability practices at inner-city high schools to completing a capstone project for companies including Rochester Regional Health or Wegman's Food Market's corporate headquarters.
Featured Work
How can forecasting changes in electronic waste inform circular-economy planning?
Dr. Callie Babbitt
In brief: Project: “Forecasting electronic waste flows for effective circular economy planning”
Does energy storage make the U.S. electric grid cleaner?
Dr. Eric Williams
In brief: Project: “How much wind and solar are needed to realize emissions benefits from storage?”
Can paper waste be used to make black ink?
Dr. Thomas A. Trabold
In brief: Project: “Waste Paper Derived Biochar for Sustainable Printing Products”
Featured Profiles
Erin Semple '14
"Everything about GIS made earning my MS in Sustainable Systems a positive experience: the challenging-but-rewarding approach to learning, the student-centered environment, and the connection my...
JT Coneybeer '15
"I use the efficiency assessment skills I learned at GIS everyday as an energy engineer to evaluate energy-consuming systems. Thanks to plenty of hands-on projects and inspiring classroom...
Ricardo Dias '15
"GIS really expanded the ways in which I am empowered to positively impact the world. The things I learned and experienced in the MS program led me to successfully start my own energy management...
Curriculum for Sustainable Systems MS
Sustainable Systems (capstone option), MS degree, typical course sequence (semesters)
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| ISUS-702 | Fundamentals of Sustainability Science This course prepares students to conduct original research related to sustainable production and consumption systems and apply the scientific method in an integrative, team-based approach to graduate research. This course introduces the fundamental concepts of industrial ecology, ecological economics, ecosystem health and social ecology that are essential to understanding the interaction of industrial and ecological systems. Successful students will understand multiple perspectives on sustainability such as strong and weak formulations, the importance of sustainability as an ethical concept and a life-cycle approach to organizing research related to sustainability. It is a core course within the Sustainability Ph.D. program. Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| ISUS-704 | Industrial Ecology Industrial ecology is the study of the interaction between industrial and ecological systems. Students in this course learn to assess the impact and interrelations of production systems on the natural environment by mastering fundamental concepts of ecology as a metaphor for industrial systems and the resultant tools from industrial ecology, including life cycle assessment, material flow analysis, and energy and greenhouse gas accounting. This is a core course within the Sustainability Ph.D. program. Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| ISUS-706 | Economics of Sustainable Systems The goal of this course is to introduce students to economic concepts and analysis pertaining to sustainable systems. This course offers a nontechnical introduction, but based on rigorous economic reasoning. Additionally, a thorough treatment of models relevant to each topic is provided. The over-arching goal is for students to gain an appreciation for the logic of economic reasoning while teaching economics as it pertains to sustainable systems. Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| ISUS-780 | Capstone An independent project in sustainability serving as a capstone experience for students completing the non-thesis option. This course requires a formal proposal and a faculty sponsor. Lecture (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
6 |
| ISUS-806 | Risk Analysis This course examines risk identification, quantification, and management from the standpoint of the three key components of sustainability science (economics, environment, and society). Economic subjects include cost-benefit analysis, value of information, time value of money, basic decision analysis, value functions, monetizing challenges for ecosystem services, and sustainability risk management. Environmental subjects include toxicological perspectives such as fate and transport and dose-response relationships including an overview of EPA's current practice. Policy and societal subjects include utility theory and lotteries, risk perception, ethical issues in risk quantification, and impact statements. Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| ISUS-808 | Multicriteria Sustainable Systems This class will explore how decisions are made when confronted with multiple, often conflicting, criteria or constraints. The focus will be on the following analytical methods: linear and stochastic programming, optimization, and Monte Carlo simulation. Case studies will focus on sustainability multi-criteria problems such as energy planning, sustainable development, resource management, and recycling. Students will apply methods learned to a project involving their dissertation research. Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
| PUBL-810 | Technology, Policy and Sustainability (or approved substitute) This course introduces students to public policy and its role in building a sustainable society. The course places particular emphasis on the policy process; the relationship among technology, policy, and the environment; and policy mechanisms for addressing market and government failures that threaten sustainability. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
Electives |
6 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 30 |
|
Sustainable Systems (thesis option), MS degree, typical course sequence (semesters)
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| ISUS-702 | Fundamentals of Sustainability Science This course prepares students to conduct original research related to sustainable production and consumption systems and apply the scientific method in an integrative, team-based approach to graduate research. This course introduces the fundamental concepts of industrial ecology, ecological economics, ecosystem health and social ecology that are essential to understanding the interaction of industrial and ecological systems. Successful students will understand multiple perspectives on sustainability such as strong and weak formulations, the importance of sustainability as an ethical concept and a life-cycle approach to organizing research related to sustainability. It is a core course within the Sustainability Ph.D. program. Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| ISUS-704 | Industrial Ecology Industrial ecology is the study of the interaction between industrial and ecological systems. Students in this course learn to assess the impact and interrelations of production systems on the natural environment by mastering fundamental concepts of ecology as a metaphor for industrial systems and the resultant tools from industrial ecology, including life cycle assessment, material flow analysis, and energy and greenhouse gas accounting. This is a core course within the Sustainability Ph.D. program. Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| ISUS-706 | Economics of Sustainable Systems The goal of this course is to introduce students to economic concepts and analysis pertaining to sustainable systems. This course offers a nontechnical introduction, but based on rigorous economic reasoning. Additionally, a thorough treatment of models relevant to each topic is provided. The over-arching goal is for students to gain an appreciation for the logic of economic reasoning while teaching economics as it pertains to sustainable systems. Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| ISUS-806 | Risk Analysis This course examines risk identification, quantification, and management from the standpoint of the three key components of sustainability science (economics, environment, and society). Economic subjects include cost-benefit analysis, value of information, time value of money, basic decision analysis, value functions, monetizing challenges for ecosystem services, and sustainability risk management. Environmental subjects include toxicological perspectives such as fate and transport and dose-response relationships including an overview of EPA's current practice. Policy and societal subjects include utility theory and lotteries, risk perception, ethical issues in risk quantification, and impact statements. Lecture 3 (Fall). |
3 |
| ISUS-808 | Multicriteria Sustainable Systems This class will explore how decisions are made when confronted with multiple, often conflicting, criteria or constraints. The focus will be on the following analytical methods: linear and stochastic programming, optimization, and Monte Carlo simulation. Case studies will focus on sustainability multi-criteria problems such as energy planning, sustainable development, resource management, and recycling. Students will apply methods learned to a project involving their dissertation research. Lecture 3 (Spring). |
3 |
Elective |
3 | |
| Second Year | ||
| ISUS-790 | Thesis Independent research in sustainability leading to the completion of the MS thesis. This course requires a formal proposal and a faculty sponsor. Thesis (Fall, Spring, Summer). |
6 |
| PUBL-810 | Technology, Policy and Sustainability (or approved substitute) This course introduces students to public policy and its role in building a sustainable society. The course places particular emphasis on the policy process; the relationship among technology, policy, and the environment; and policy mechanisms for addressing market and government failures that threaten sustainability. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring). |
3 |
Elective |
3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 30 |
|
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the MS program in sustainable systems, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:
- Complete an online graduate application. Refer to Graduate Admission Deadlines and Requirements for information on application deadlines, entry terms, and more.
- Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
- Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college.
- Recommended minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent).
- Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
- Two letters of recommendation are required. Refer to Application Instructions and Requirements for additional information.
- Not all programs require the submission of scores from entrance exams (GMAT or GRE). Please refer to the Graduate Admission Deadlines and Requirements page for more information.
- Submit a writing sample, of which you are the sole author, which should be a report or paper from previous academic or professional work that reflects your critical thinking and writing abilities.
- Submit a personal statement of educational objectives. Refer to Application Instructions and Requirements for additional information.
- Have completed at least two science courses, one calculus course, and one statistics course.
- International applicants whose native language is not English must submit official test scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. Students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Refer to Graduate Admission Deadlines and Requirements for additional information on English requirements. International applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver. Refer to Additional Requirements for International Applicants to review waiver eligibility.
Non-matriculated Students
An applicant with a bachelor’s degree from an approved undergraduate institution and the appropriate background is permitted to take graduate courses as a non-matriculated student. If the student is subsequently admitted to the graduate program, a limited number of credit hours from courses taken at RIT as a non-matriculated student can be transferred to the degree program. Any applicant who wishes to register for a graduate course as a non-matriculated student must obtain permission from the chair of the graduate program and the course instructor.
Learn about admissions, cost, and financial aid
Latest News
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August 6, 2019
![Worker wearing hardhat, harness and tether stands on roof.]()
Working toward clean power for all
You do what? From accountant to the stars to sustainable chocolate producer, RIT alumni have some pretty cool careers. Read about Berlyn Hubler ’16 MS (sustainable systems), tribal program coordinator for GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit organization that installs solar power systems and provides job training for underserved communities.
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May 10, 2019
![Students sitting, wearing graduation caps and gowns.]()
GIS Commencement honors Class of 2018-19 grads
Advanced degree candidates were honored by the Golisano Institute for Sustainability during commencement ceremonies in May.
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April 23, 2019
![Electric bike.]()
Gas prices got you down? Imagine RIT attendees can get up to speed on electric, hybrid ‘e-bikes’
Imagine RIT visitors interested in learning about electric and hybrid-electric bikes get to participate in an interactive exhibit and discussion on the growing travel mode inside the Golisano Institute for Sustainability on April 27.
