Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 68.78
Liaison Kelly Wellman
Submission Date Dec. 20, 2023

STARS v2.2

Texas A&M University
AC-4: Graduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Ben Kalscheur
Sustainability Assistant Manager
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Majors and degree programs 

Does the institution offer at least one sustainability-focused major, degree program, or the equivalent for graduate students?:
Yes

Name of the sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program:
Master of Natural Resource Development

A brief description of the graduate-level degree program:
The Master of Natural Resource Development degree (non-thesis) is designed for students who want professional graduate training with a management orientation in natural resources. It aims to develop an understanding of the interrelationships among ecology, economics, policy and culture as factors that influence natural resource conservation and management. It is intended to emphasize the problem solving skills involved in the use of science and technology to benefit humanity, not as a research degree.

Website URL for the graduate-level degree program:

Additional degree programs (optional) 

Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (2nd program):
Masters/Ph.D. in Water Management & Hydrological Science

None
A brief description of the graduate degree program (2nd program):
The Water Management and Hydrological Science (WMHS) graduate degree program is preparing the next generation of water scientists, hydrologists, and managers through teaching and research that improves the reliability and quality of water resources for human well-being and development. WMHS is supervised by an interdisciplinary faculty from multiple departments and colleges with expertise in the bio-physical, geo-chemical, management, public health, social sciences and engineering fields.

The program offers two masters’ degrees (thesis and non-thesis options) and a doctorate. The curriculum is designed to help students become leaders in their focal areas of water, while also making connections with colleagues in other related disciplines.

Website URL for the graduate degree program (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (3rd program):
M.S./Ph.D. in Ecology and Conservation Biology

None
A brief description of the graduate degree program (3rd program):
The Master of Science in Ecology and Conservation Biology offers a thesis and non-thesis option, allowing flexibility in both graduate education and preparation for a variety of career trajectories. Non-thesis students will write a professional paper in lieu of a Master’s thesis. Specialization is available in a range of research areas including biogeochemistry, physiological ecology, ecohydrology, global change ecology, community ecology, landscape ecology, ecological restoration, population ecology, spatial science, forest ecology, genetics, molecular biology, genomics, tree improvement, plant systematics, and evolution.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology and Conservation Biology is designed for students pursuing an academic or research career in ecology and natural resources. Specialization is available in a range of research areas including biodiversity science, ecosystem science, conservation biology, genetic and genomics, organismal biology, physiology and nutrition, ecohydrology, ecological modeling and forecasting, ecological restoration and impact mitigation, and spatial science.

Website URL for the graduate degree program (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused graduate-level degree programs:
Master of Science in Energy:
https://energy.tamu.edu/education/master-of-science-in-energy/

Minors, concentrations and certificates 

Does the institution offer one or more graduate-level sustainability-focused minors, concentrations or certificates?:
Yes

Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate:
Sustainable Urbanism

A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate:
The Sustainable Urbanism graduate certificate, housed in the Center for Housing and Urban Development in the School of Architecture, is available to graduate students from any program at Texas A&M. The certificate explores sustainability and urban design in a rapidly urbanizing world by focusing on the processes that shape the form and function of the built environment in its full complexity--infrastructure, land development, built landscapes, and facilities. Students are trained to consider the integration of various aspects of the built environment including land use and urban design, energy, materials, wastes, biodiversity, natural hazards, and accessibility.

Students who complete the certificate will be able to synthesize and apply knowledge of sustainability of the built environment, including theories and concepts, and use tools for drawing and mapping in order to develop original solutions to planning challenges. Students who complete the certificate gain skills that equip them to work in public and private industries as planners and designers. Recipients of the certificate are ready to investigate and apply collaborative practices to design and plan sustainable urban settlements that are livable, equitable, energy efficient, ecologically sound, and prosperous.

Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate:

Additional minors, concentrations and certificate programs (optional) 

Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Women and Gender Studies Certificate

None
A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
The graduate certificate in Women's and Gender Studies offers master’s and doctoral students the benefits of gaining an interdisciplinary concentration in gender, while earning an advanced degree within a discipline. The Women’s and Gender Studies Certificate aims to enhance critical thinking and methodological skills while facilitating analysis of gender, sex, and sexuality and their roles in culture, society and the arts. Pursuing the WGST Certificate encourages the development of innovative research that combines recent scholarship in gender studies with the student’s major area of study.

The Women's and Gender Studies program offers courses on a variety of themes pertaining to gender, sex, and sexuality, in relation to health, queer theory, film, religion, language, social movements, science, and the workplace. Courses span both humanities and social sciences and draw on a number of approaches to inquiry including qualitative, quantitative, rhetorical, and historical.

Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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None
A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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None
The name and website URLs of all other graduate-level, sustainability-focused minors, concentrations and certificates:
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Optional Fields 

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
https://sustainability.tamu.edu/our-partners/academics.html

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.