State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
IN-27: Innovation D

ESF is in the process of launching its first online bachelor's degree, and the College decided that this inaugural program should be focused on sustainability management. This program will prepare students for entry-level jobs or mid-career opportunities in the growing field of sustainability management. The program, which will enroll its first students in the fall of 2019, is designed for transfer students. They will take courses typically offered during the third and fourth years of a four-year undergraduate program, and, upon completion, earn a Bachelor of Science degree. Students who graduate from the program will be qualified for jobs such as sustainability coordinator, consultant, or process manager. They could work in sustainable design or corporate social responsibility and sustainability. They could also be employed as industrial ecologists. Sustainability management integrates knowledge, skills and perspectives based on the three pillars of sustainability. The ESF program emphasizes environmental dimensions of sustainability and their interdependence with socially and economically viable policies and practices. Students who have received a broad and flexible foundation during their first two years of college study will delve into specialized sustainability coursework in the online program. The Sustainability Management curriculum focuses on the skills and knowledge wanted by forward thinking employers. Program graduates will be able to: -Analyze the complex interactions among and between the three pillars of sustainability, with a focus on identifying areas of potential conflict / opportunity -Apply qualitative and quantitative skills appropriate to the sustainability field (e.g., energy modeling, budgeting, financial analysis, GIS, life cycle assessment, interviewing & surveying, environmental and risk communication) -Analyze data and develop reports and presentations relevant to sustainability and its implementation (e.g., scientific publications, policy documents, sustainability indicators, public audience presentations) -Work independently and collaboratively for effective and successful project and people management, communication, and to institutionalize sustainable practices -Apply knowledge of principles and best practices to the analysis of real-world sustainability problems in public, private and non-profit contexts -Develop solutions that balance the priorities of sustainable development, social equity and human nature interaction This program’s online format and program-relevant transfer path requirements will appeal to an even broader and more diverse student population than ESF is currently able to reach and serve.