Columbia University
AC-4: Graduate Program

The Earth Institute and Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies developed the Master of Science in Sustainability Management to train and educate sustainability practitioners. The program draws upon the most sophisticated environmental measurement tools, cutting-edge environmental science, and world-class management and policy studies to help students fully understand the systematic and organizational role of sustainability in any organization. Our common goal is to create a sustainable economy, society and environment.

The Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy trains sophisticated public managers and policymakers, who apply innovative, systems-based thinking to environmental issues. The program challenges students to think systemically and act pragmatically. To meet this challenge, we offer a high-quality graduate program in management and policy analysis that emphasizes practical skills and is enriched by ecological and planetary science.Our approach reflects the system-level thinking that is needed to understand ecological interactions and maintain the health of Earth’s interconnected ecological, institutional, economic, and social systems.

The purpose of the Ph.D. in Sustainable Development is to create a generation of scholars and professionals equipped to deal with some of the most crucial problems in the world today. By combining elements of a traditional graduate education in social science, particularly economics, with a significant component of training in the natural sciences, the program's graduates will be uniquely situated to undertake serious research and policy assessments with the goal of sustainable development. The program includes a set of rigorous core requirements, but also provides students with the flexibility to pursue in-depth research in a broad variety of critical policy issue areas.

M.S. Sustainability Science (http://science.ei.columbia.edu/); M.A. Climate and Society (http://climatesociety.ei.columbia.edu/); M.A. Conservation Biology (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/e3b/ma_requirements.html); M.I.A./M.P.A. Energy and Environment (https://sipa.columbia.edu/academics/concentrations/energy-and-environment); M.P.A. Development Practice (https://sipa.columbia.edu/academics/programs/mpa-in-development-practice); E.M.P.A. Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management Concentration (http://bulletin.columbia.edu/sipa/programs/empa/environmental-policy-sustainability-management-concentration/); M.P.H. Environmental Health Sciences (http://www.mailman.columbia.edu/academic-departments/environmental-health-sciences); M.S. Earth Resources Engineering (http://eee.columbia.edu/master-science-degree); Executive Doctoral programs in Earth and Environmental Engineering (http://eee.columbia.edu/doctoral-degrees-0); Ph.D. Earth and Environmental Sciences (http://eesc.columbia.edu/programs/graduate/phd); PhD. or Dr.P.H. in Environmental Health Sciences (http://www.mailman.columbia.edu/academic-departments/environmental-health/academic-programs); Doctoral programs in Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/e3b/phd.html)

The Sustainability Analytics program trains professionals to develop skills in analytic methods and quantitative analysis that enable practitioners to measure, report, and communicate the sustainability of organizations, products, and services.Upon completion of this program, students will possess the knowledge and tools to track sustainability indicators, analyze and interpret data, and report upon the findings to industry, nonprofit and government decision makers. The certification focuses on key topics in reporting, accounting, metrics and indices, and monitoring procedures. Students who complete the certification will have a strong framework that can be used to benchmark performance and develop future sustainability initiatives.

This new certification equips professionals with the skills to conduct integrated water management and water systems analysis. These professionals— ranging from urban planners for local governments to operations managers for large supply chains to NGO workers focused on issues of health in developing communities— can benefit from gaining the skills necessary to improve water access, delivery, and quality. The Certification of Professional Achievement in Sustainable Water Management will cover concepts of hydrology, water policy and regulation, economics, finance and conflict resolution. It is designed to provide sophisticated and multidisciplinary training in water issues—the nexus of natural science, social science, and public policy.

The Certificate Program in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability allows professionals from all sectors to gain the knowledge and tools to make sound decisions about business activities and policy practices that impact the environment. As a platform for integrated and holistic thinking on the interconnectedness of nature’s systems, the Certificate Program offers the unique opportunity to address complex environmental issues and to arrive implementable and measurable solutions.

Certificate in Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology (http://ce.columbia.edu/certificates/ecology-evolution-and-environmental-biology-certificate); Sustainable Finance Professional Certification (http://sustainability.ei.columbia.edu/certificate-programs/sustainable-finance/)