Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 75.77
Liaison Daryl Pierson
Submission Date March 1, 2022

STARS v2.2

Portland State University
AC-4: Graduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Amanda Wolf
Program + Assessment Coordinator
Campus Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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:
Master of Environmental Management

A brief description of the graduate-level degree program:

The Masters in Environmental Management (MEM) degree teaches students how to analyze and manage natural environments for human benefit and ecosystem health. The Environmental Science and Management MEM course curriculum is similar to that of the Master of Science (MS) degree. The primary difference in the two degrees is that MEM students must complete a project instead of a thesis


Website URL for the graduate-level degree program:
Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (2nd program):
Leadership for Sustainability Education

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

LSE prepares graduates for professional careers in sustainability education through the rigorous study of educational leadership and sustainability pedagogy that addresses the importance of ecological systems, bio-cultural diversity, social and economic justice, and multicultural perspectives.


Website URL for the graduate degree program (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (3rd program):
Master of Urban Studies

A brief description of the graduate degree program (3rd program):

The Master of Urban Studies (MUS) program is a 52-credit graduate program that gives students skills to study and interpret urban phenomena from a variety of viewpoints, also suitable for employment by public agencies, private firms, and non-profit organizations. Since the core curriculum of the MUS program mirrors that of the Urban Studies Ph.D. program, MUS students can make a relatively easy transition into the doctoral program, if they apply and are accepted. In any case, the MUS program is academically focused on researching the urban environment.

Students in this program delve into such things as problems associated with growing social and economic inequalities between different places and population groups within the metropolitan region; environmental problems related to the prevailing pattern of urbanization; and the lack of effective institutions of regional governance.


Website URL for the graduate degree program (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused graduate-level degree programs:
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:
Graduate Certificate in Sustainability

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

Students will gain an understanding of the major theories and concepts related to the key dimensions of sustainability, and conduct in-depth studies of sustainable development strategies and techniques used in the public and private sectors.


Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate:
Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Graduate Certificate in Energy Policy and Managment

A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):

The energy industry is an important cornerstone of the regional economy, and a number of PSU master’s degree graduates are active in the industry. For a number of years, several PSU departments have offered graduate courses focusing on energy issues and techniques for energy analysis. The Graduate Certificate in Energy Policy and Management brings these classes together in a program designed to create a foundation of knowledge about the energy industry. The program allows flexible graduate coursework combinations so that students can customize their studies to match their goals and interests.

Faculty in five PSU graduate programs worked closely with the regional energy industry to design a graduate certificate that will meet a wide range of intellectual, community, employee, and industry needs. The programs collaborating to offer this certificate are:

Public Administration
Urban Studies and Planning
Economics
Engineering and Technology Management
Systems Science


Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems

A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):

The Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems at Portland State University offers students the opportunity to explore the complex issues and relationships between food, people, and society. The program draws on the expertise of faculty from departments across the University, providing an interdisciplinary understanding of the issues, perspectives, strategies, and solutions involved in creating sustainable food systems. It connects a range of academic areas related to food systems, including public administration, community health, urban and regional planning, business, and education.

The certificate program provides students with a foundation of knowledge and practical experience to help them confront the pressing challenges currently facing sustainable food systems. These challenges include environmental degradation, corporate consolidation, and social injustices. Students will learn about new responses to these issues, such as sustainable agriculture, re-development of indigenous food systems, community land trusts, worker co-ops, farm labor organizing movements, and calls for a new Farm Bill.


Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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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