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

Numerous other sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree programs are offered at ESF: http://www.esf.edu/graduate/acadprog.htm

The Certificate of Graduate Study in Environmental Decision Making is designed is designed for graduate students at SUNY-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.

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.

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.

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