2025-2026 Graduate Catalog | 20263

Center for Sustainability Studies

The Center for Sustainability Studies (CSS) provides a focus for (1) applied environmental work by faculty and students and (2) the interdisciplinary Environmental Studies program. Applied environmental research in the Center focuses on global and regional environmental problems. CSS has the instrumentation and faculty specialization to work on a variety of natural science and sustainability-oriented projects. Graduate students in CSS have both thesis and non-thesis options in pursuing a masters degree. The thesis pathway is geared towards students who want to demonstrate empirical skills through development and completion of a master’s thesis. Students who have completed the thesis track have gone on to Ph.D. programs or employment in industry, government, or academia. The non-thesis track is geared towards students wanting to pursue a professional path and they work on projects in conjunction between the student, faculty, and community partners. To identify which pathway is right for you, we recommend that prospective students contact a faculty member who works in an area of interest to you.