Texas State University, San Marcos
PRE-2: Points of Distinction

Graduate students may choose between a Master of Arts or a Master of Science degree. Each student, with the guidance of a faculty mentor, will design an individualized course of study reflecting individual career goals and life aspirations. The course of study will determine whether the degree plan is appropriately an MA or an MS program.
To reflect the interdisciplinarity of the program, student background, student aspirations, and the variety of professional paths open to sustainability experts, graduate students will choose to write a thesis or to complete a professional project as the final product of their course of studies.
Undergraduate students may choose the Sustainability Studies minor as part of their degree plan.
Our faculty members conduct cutting-edge research on sustainability. Recent faculty publications have examined pollution by the military, food ethics, consumerism, urban farming, globalization and the environment, sustainability in cities and rural areas, nanotechnology, technology and sustainability, and environmental laws and policies.
The graduates of the Sustainability Studies program will graduate with methodological, statistical, and critical thinking skills that will make them competitive in the emerging sustainability market. Graduates will be prepared for admission into doctoral programs in addition to important positions in the growing field of sustainability-related careers in local, state or federal government, regulatory agencies, nongovernmental organizations, consulting firms and other relevant industries.

The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment is an international hub for water and climate change research and is an educational center that seeks to preserve the unique archeological and biological resources in Spring Lake. This center provides educational programs, recreation, and collaborative projects that encourage visitors, scientists, community members, and the university community to learn more about Spring Lake's habitat, endangered species, and water & environmental resource management issues.
This center is located at Spring Lake which are the headwaters of the San Marcos River that formed from more than 200 artesian springs, making this lake one of the world's largest aquifer fed systems. This site has also been designated as one of the longest continuously inhabited places in North America. Several indigenous groups and bands still use this site as part of their spiritual and cultural celebrations. This lake is home to several endangered species such as the San Marcos salamander, fountain darter, the Texas Blind salamander, and Texas Wild Rice, which is an endemic species and can only be found in the San Marcos River.
The Meadows Center's mission is to inspire research, innovation and leadership that ensures clean, abundant water for the environment and all humanity. The four pillars of this center are, research, leadership, education, and stewardship. Faculty, staff, and students at the Meadows Center conduct applied research to address real-world problems. Our researchers provide multi-disciplinary expertise to advance science-based solutions for the most pressing water resource challenges facing Texas and the world beyond.
The Meadows Center's location on historic Spring Lake provides a living laboratory where researchers promote sustainable management of water systems and seek to increase the understanding of complex water and natural resource topics. The Meadows Center actively works to communicate research to wide audiences to inform decision-making and inspire stewardship practices.

Created by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 and the Higher Education Act of 1965 signed on the Texas State Campus by our most famous Alumnus President Lyndon B Johnson, TRIO Programs focus on outreach and student service to identify and provide services for underrepresented students across the country. Today, TRIO has surpassed 1 billion dollars in annual funding, serving over 62,000 students in Texas and over 900,000 students nationally. With bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, TRIO Programs are projected to continue to grow, providing greater opportunity for students in all 50 states.
The current Texas State TRIO Programs are Student Support Services, Student Support Services STEM, Talent Search - San Marcos, Talent Search - Austin, Talent Search - Seguin, Talent Search - Del Valle, Upward Bound - San Marcos, Upward Bound - Del Valle, Upward Bound - Veterans, and McNair Scholars.