Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 81.67
Liaison Mark Lichtenstein
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
AC-4: Graduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Scott Shannon
Associate Provost & Dean, Graduate School
Provost
"---" 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 (I.e. an interdisciplinary academic program that concentrates on sustainability as an integrated concept)?:
Yes

Name of the sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program:
Environmental Studies (M.S. and M.P.S.)

A brief description of the graduate-level degree program:
The Department of Environmental Studies offers graduate degrees and certificates in environmental studies, science, and policy. Study programs integrate and balance the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences in creative, interdisciplinary contexts. Two graduate degrees in Environmental Studies are offered: the Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) and the Master of Science (M.S.). ESF's Environmental Studies master’s degree programs help prepare students to support communities working to achieve sustainability from local to global levels. The programs integrate social, cultural, and environmental knowledge and skills to address the challenges of the 21st century. Students in these programs want to make a difference. ESF's programs offer students a focused, yet flexible, interdisciplinary understanding of environmental issues, the problems that underlie them, and paths leading to more sustainable communities. Students examine the fundamental cultural, social, political, technical, and economic forces that drive environmental degradation as well as emerging approaches that can foster sustainability.

The website URL for the graduate-level degree program:
Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (2nd program):
Environmental Science (M.S., M.P.S & Ph.D.)

A brief description of the graduate degree program (2nd program):
The graduate program in environmental science (GPES) offers M.S., M.P.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The program, which draws upon faculty from throughout the College, emphasizes a multidisciplinary social and natural science approach to environmental understanding and stewardship. It maintains a strong academic orientation, facilitating student and faculty engagement of fundamental environmental challenges such as resource utilization and sustainability, the uses and limits of scientific prediction, risk and sustainability, the uses and limits of scientific prediction and risk analysis, and a holistic concern for the health of the environment. The mission of GPES is to provide interdisciplinary education, research and public service to prepare students to comprehensively address environmental concerns and problems, investigate practical solutions to them and foster effective environmental stewardship.

The website URL for the graduate degree program (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (3rd program):
Sustainable Energy (M.S., M.P.S & Ph.D.)

A brief description of the graduate degree program (3rd program):
The Sustainable Energy area of study examines the biological, technical, economic, environmental, business, and policy feasibility and life cycle impacts of sustainable energy systems, with a particular focus on biobased sustainable energy. It employs an array of research methodologies from the fields of Agroforestry, Agronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Ecology, Economics, Engineering, Forestry, Law and Policy in order to fully address the multidisciplinary roles that sustainable energy systems play in the modern world.

The website URL for the graduate degree program (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused graduate-level degree programs:
Numerous other sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree programs are offered at ESF: http://www.esf.edu/graduate/acadprog.htm

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:
Certificate of Graduate Study in Environmental Decision Making

A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate:
The Certificate of Graduate Study in Environmental Decision Making is designed is designed for graduate students at ESF and those enrolled in law, management, public administration, or information studies programs at Syracuse University. It provides an exposure to specialized environmental study that is relevant to students with related professional interests. The focus of this certificate is on environmental decision making, the processes by which stakeholders seek solutions to environmental problems.

The website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate:
Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Certificate of Advanced Study in Sustainable Enterprise (CASSE)

A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Businesses and other organizations are keenly aware of the significant risks and potential benefits associated with environmental and social challenges. Thus, there is great demand for professionals who are skilled in sustainability issues and understand the economic, environmental, technical, and social dilemmas presented by phenomena such as climate change, volatile energy prices, and explosive growth in developing economies. The Certificate of Advanced Study in Sustainable Enterprise (CASSE) was developed to meet this need.

The website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
Concentration in Economics, Governance and Human Dimensions

A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
Within the Forest Resources Management degree program, the Economics, Governance and Human Dimensions area of study emphasizes the human dimensions of resource systems involved in the processes of decision-making and action related to how coupled human-natural systems may be managed for sustainable outcomes.

The 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:
Numerous other other graduate-level, sustainability-focused minors, concentrations and certificates are offered at ESF: http://www.esf.edu/graduate/acadprog.htm

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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