Master's in Sustainability and Environment

A Sustainability and Environment student is presenting a large wall filled with pictures of plants to two other students who are intently listening. The wall reads “Creating Campus Climate!”

Looking for a unique opportunity to become a catalyst for positive change in a world grappling with pressing environmental and social challenges? UNCG’s fully online Master’s in Sustainability and Environment degree empowers you with the knowledge, skills, and connections to create a more sustainable and equitable future. Focusing on the interconnectedness of social equity, the environment, the economy, and aesthetics, the customizable M.S. in Sustainability & Environment is designed for professionals pursuing sustainability in any field.

Through this program, you’ll:

  • Cultivate a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of human needs and our environment, and how to align social, economic, environmental issues to create sustainable opportunity for all. 
  • Develop the expertise to analyze complex sustainability challenges and devise innovative solutions.  
  • Tailor your learning with available specialized certificates and elective courses focusing on specific areas of interest, such as climate action, sustainable urban planning, and corporate responsibility. 
  • Choose between capstone, thesis, or internship options to complete your degree. 

master’s in sustainability and environment PROGRAM DISTINCTIONS

  • The program ranked no. 10 in the nation for Best Online Master’s in Sustainability and Green Technologies (Academic Influence, 2022).
  • Close mentorship by award-winning faculty and world-renowned researchers in their fields. 
  • The program offers a range of post-baccalaureate certificates (PBCs) that can be completed as standalone credentials or in tandem with the Master’s in Sustainability and Environment, including:
  • The program’s accreditations include:
    • Association for Environmental Studies & Sciences
    • Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
    • National Council for Science and the Environment

The Online Sustainability Master’s Student Experience

  • The M.S. in Sustainability and Environment is highly customizable, allowing you to align your course selections with your interests and professional needs. For example, if you need accounting or business skills for a career in ecotourism, we offer electives in sustainable development from a business perspective.
  • Through case studies, readings, writing, and group discussions in both synchronous and asynchronous classes, you’ll gain transferable skills like research, information synthesis, professional communication, and problem-solving. 
  • You can choose either a capstone project, thesis, or internship to complete your degree and provide you with career-ready hands-on experience.

the Sustainability and environment master’s curriculum

sustainability and environment core courses

Addressing sustainability in an interdisciplinary framework connecting environmental sciences, equity and society, development and economics, and ethics and aesthetics. 

Advanced study of coupled human-environmental problems and solutions. Focus on classic cases and current topics in environmental studies. 

Topics in ethics and aesthetics related to environmental and sustainability issues in an interdisciplinary framework. 

Topics in development and economics related to environmental and sustainability issues in an interdisciplinary framework. 

Topics in equity and society related to environmental and sustainability issues in an interdisciplinary framework. 

Topics in environmental sciences related to environmental and sustainability issues in an interdisciplinary framework. 

departmental electives

Select three courses (9 credits) from GES graduate courses relevant to sustainability and environment issues. 

interdisciplinary electives

Select three courses (9 credits) from graduate courses outside of GES relevant to sustainability and environment issues. 

After Graduating with your Master’s in Sustainability and environment

Career opportunities for graduates of the M.S. in Sustainability and Environment include:

Ecotourism

Urban planning

Energy efficiency

Law

Communications

Business

Business optimization manager  

Consultant  

Director of strategic initiatives  

Sustainability analyst  

Sustainability coordinator  

Sustainability director  

Sustainability manager  

Training manager  

Climate researcher  

Corporate sustainability consultant 

faqs about the online master’s in sustainability and environment

UNCG’s Master’s in Sustainability and Environment degree can be completed in as little as two years of full-time study, or at a more flexible pace part-time.  

A sustainability degree is increasingly valuable as organizations worldwide across various sectors prioritize sustainable practices. It opens doors to diverse global career paths in environmental consulting, corporate sustainability, renewable energy, sustainable urban planning, and more. 

UNCG’s online Master’s in Sustainability and Environment combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills, including internships or capstone projects, to make you career-ready in a range of fields encompassing sustainability and the environment. 

More questions about UNCG’s online M.S. in Sustainability and Environment? Click here for further FAQs.

ONLINE DEGREE Required State Authorization Language

Live outside of North Carolina?

Currently, UNC Greensboro is authorized to offer online education in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Find out more about State Authorization — a law that regulates which states colleges and universities can offer education.

UNC Greensboro does not guarantee that programs which fulfill North Carolina licensure requirements will satisfy the criteria of professional licensure boards in other states or territories. For more information, visit Professional Licensure.

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Program Details

Degree Type: Master's

College/School: College of Arts and Sciences

Program Type: Majors & Concentrations

Class Type: Online

Catalog Name: Sustainability and Environment, M.S.

Contact Us

Dr. Aaron Allen
Director of the Environment & Sustainability Program
Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability
asallen@uncg.edu336-256-1415