Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 65.20
Liaison Denice Koljonen
Submission Date Feb. 17, 2022

STARS v2.2

Boston College
AC-4: Graduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Tara Pisani
Assistant Professor
Earth and Envronment
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Does the institution offer at least one sustainability-focused major, degree program, or the equivalent for graduate students?:
Yes

Name of the sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program:
PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences; MS in Geology or Geophysics

A brief description of the graduate-level degree program:

The doctoral program provides students with the tools they need to perform novel research in the Earth and environmental sciences. The program provides our graduates with the disciplinary credibility and the interdisciplinary vision they need to advance careers in academia, government, and the private sector. Students combine course work with advanced research under the supervision a faculty advisor.

The Masters of Science programs in Geology and Geophysics prepares students for successful careers as geoscientists in the environmental and engineering industries, government service, or for continued studies toward a Ph.D. A particularly beneficial aspect of the M.S. program is the opportunity for students to integrate studies in geology, geophysics, and environmental subjects.

Graduates from the Masters programs have been employed by government agencies including US Geological Services, The Environmental Protection Agency, and The National Park Service. Graduates have also gone on to work in environmental consulting and sustainability positions and for non-profit organizations like Earth Watch.


Website URL for the graduate-level degree program:
Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (2nd program):
Social Work

A brief description of the graduate degree program (2nd program):

One of the fields of practice for BC's MSW is Global Practice. Global Practice prepares students to work effectively in the fields of global social work, humanitarian aid, and international development. Students learn different approaches to addressing complex social issues that often transcend national boundaries and affect much of the world’s population. Work is guided by the principles of human rights, human security, human development, and the promotion of sustainable solutions to social problems.

From direct care in Cambridge, MA, to program development in Cambodia, our graduates contribute to policy, practice, and research that improve the lives and well-being of individuals, families, and communities around the world.


Website URL for the graduate degree program (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (3rd program):
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A brief description of the graduate degree program (3rd program):
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Website URL for the graduate degree program (3rd program):
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The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused graduate-level degree programs:
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Does the institution offer one or more graduate-level sustainability-focused minors, concentrations or certificates?:
Yes

Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate:
Environmental Sociology

A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate:

Boston College's Sociology PhD program is nationally known for its strong environmental sociology cluster of faculty that provides approximately 25% of the department's students with a specialization in environmental sociology. Andrew Jorgenson, current Chair of the Department, just published an article in Nature, entitled: "How social scientists can help to shape climate policy" <https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-017-07418-y>. Professor Juliet Schor, MacArthur Foundation grantee and receiver of the ASA Public Understanding of Sociology Award (2014), is a highly acclaimed scholar for her work on consumption, <https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/mcas/departments/sociology/connected.html>. Boston College has a very competitive environmental sociology concentration that attracts PhD students from around the world.


Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate:
Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
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A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
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Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
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Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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The name and website URLs of all other graduate-level, sustainability-focused minors, concentrations and certificates:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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