The sustainable systems MS degree accepts students from any academic background and encompasses a wide range of interdisciplinary studies in sustainability science. Here, you won’t be restricted to one sustainability topic or methodology. You will comprehensively learn and experience the methods that lead to environmental, social, technological, and business success, working one-on-one with a faculty advisor to tailor the degree to your sustainability interests.

n the sustainable systems MS, you will start with a broad foundation of knowledge in environmental life cycle assessment, sustainable decision making, economic and policy strategies, and more. Then, you will have the opportunity to customize your degree in areas that suit your interests and career goals—such as renewable energy or mobility—as well as get the hands-on experience that employers are seeking. In as little as one year of study, you will be prepared to make sustainability decisions that you can apply to any career.

Not only will you be able to focus on an area that interests you, but you will be able to get hands-on in your projects with the use of one of our many labs or through design modeling tools. This degree allows you the flexibility to adapt your career over time and in response to the ever-changing developments in sustainability. The Golisano Institute for Sustainability is dedicated to groundbreaking sustainability research and its business applications. Our research facilities are second to none, and include a number of green buildings including Sustainability Institute Hall, a 75,000-square-foot, LEED Platinum-certified research building and multiple state-of-the-art research centers.

You don’t need a background in sustainability to apply to this program; just a desire to create positive change in the world. We accept applicants of all ages, from all backgrounds—from mechanical engineering to political science—and from all over the world. This ensures your learning experience comes from the classroom as well as from the perspectives of students with diverse experiences. 

Sustainability Curriculum

Through a flexible and interdisciplinary curriculum, you’ll begin your degree in sustainable systems with core courses in industrial ecology, risk assessment, the economics of sustainability, and more. Several electives from across the university–in areas as diverse as from sustainable craft brewing and distilling to corporate social responsibility–allow you to tailor your degree around your talents and career goals.

Your degree culminates with a research thesis or a capstone project. Recent thesis examples include:

• Techno-Environmental Analysis of Generating Animal Feed from Wasted Food Products
• Fabrication and life cycle assessment of organic photovoltaics
• Characterizing adaptive capacity to climate change in developing countries: a case study on Peru

Sustainability Topics/Tracks

Sustainable Energy

• Sustainable Energy Systems
• Food-Energy-Water Nexus
• Energy Policy

Example research project: Inspection of wind turbine blades with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

Circular Economy

• Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Data Analysis for Sustainability
• Innovation Policy
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Example research project: Assessing a baseline case for reaching carbon neutrality in Monroe County by 2027

Sustainable Urban Systems

• Sustainable Mobility Systems
• Graduate Sustainable Communities
• Sustainable Building Metrics

Example research project: Evaluating strategies for sustainable renovation of RIT campus buildings

Sustainable Systems (capstone option), MS degree, typical course sequence (semesters)
Course    Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
ISUS-702    Fundamentals of Sustainability Science    3
ISUS-704    Industrial Ecology    3
ISUS-706    Economics of Sustainable Systems    3
ISUS-780    Capstone    6
ISUS-806    Risk Analysis    3
ISUS-808    Multicriteria Sustainable Systems    3
PUBL-810    Technology, Policy and Sustainability (or approved substitute)    3
     
Electives
6
Total Semester Credit Hours    
30
 

Sustainable Systems (thesis option), MS degree, typical course sequence (semesters)
Course    Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
ISUS-702    Fundamentals of Sustainability Science    3
ISUS-704    Industrial Ecology    3
ISUS-706    Economics of Sustainable Systems    3
ISUS-806    Risk Analysis    3
ISUS-808    Multicriteria Sustainable Systems    3
     
Elective
3
Second Year
ISUS-790    Thesis    6
PUBL-810    Technology, Policy and Sustainability (or approved substitute)    3
     
Elective 3
Total Semester Credit Hours    30

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the MS program in sustainable systems, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete an online graduate application. Refer to Graduate Admission Deadlines and Requirements for information on application deadlines, entry terms, and more.
• Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
• Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college.
• Recommended minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent).
• Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Two letters of recommendation are required. Refer to Application Instructions and Requirements for additional information.
• Not all programs require the submission of scores from entrance exams (GMAT or GRE). Please refer to the Graduate Admission Deadlines and Requirements page for more information.
• Submit a writing sample, of which you are the sole author, which should be a report or paper from previous academic or professional work that reflects your critical thinking and writing abilities.
• Submit a personal statement of educational objectives. Refer to Application Instructions and Requirements for additional information.
• Have completed at least two science courses, one calculus course, and one statistics course.
• International applicants whose native language is not English must submit official test scores from the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. Students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Refer to Graduate Admission Deadlines and Requirements for additional information on English requirements. International applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver. Refer to Additional Requirements for International Applicants to review waiver eligibility.

Tuition fee-2 years1,06,000

Total fee-2 years1,44,000