Sustainability Science and Practice

Courses offered by the Sustainability Science and Practice program are listed under the subject code SUST on the Stanford Bulletin’s ExploreCourses website.

Mission of the Coterminal Program in Sustainability Science and Practice

The Sustainability Science and Practice program (SUST for short) is an interdisciplinary coterminal master's program hosted by the School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences. The goal of the program is to prepare leaders to radically accelerate the transition to a more sustainable and just society. As the global human population climbs toward 11 billion, consumption demands increase, and disparities in wealth and opportunity persist, society must learn to equitably meet existing human needs in ways that do not forgo possibilities for future generations. These sustainability challenges are marked by extreme complexity, urgency, conflicting demands, and often a paucity of resources or political will to address them. Transforming these challenges into powerful opportunities requires a new kind of leader — one who can both envision a prosperous future for all and who can design practices and cultivate partnerships essential to building that future. The SUST program equips students with the theoretical and conceptual knowledge and the mindsets and practical skills needed to advance sustainability, securing human well-being around the world and across generations.

The curriculum covers three main elements:

Element 1: Understanding complex social-environmental systems

Students develop a “systems perspective”, deepening their awareness of the dynamic and interrelated nature of social-environmental systems. They explore tools to measure, map, and model five capital assets — social, natural, human, manufactured, and knowledge capital — and their complex interactions in order to recognize potential feedbacks, thresholds, and unintended consequences, as well as to identify leverage points and opportunities for interventions that can have transformative impact.

Element 2: Understanding decision making and developing strategies for change

Students examine the roles of diverse actors who influence change in social-environmental systems and explore strategies to align decision making and behavior with sustainability. They explore mindsets and approaches of transformative leaders and examine effective strategies for advancing sustainability across sectors. Students develop skills in decision making in complex and uncertain contexts, use metrics and evaluation approaches aligned with sustainability goals, cultivate leadership orientations, and practice effective communications and storytelling approaches.

Element 3: Designing innovations with impact at scale

Students develop understanding of how to intervene in complex systems for transformative impact by exploring frameworks and tools from systems thinking, design thinking, social cognitive theory, behavioral economics, and partnership strategies. They develop practical skills in mapping complex systems and designing creative, high-leverage interventions that realign systems with the goal of intergenerational well-being.

Sustainability Leadership Practicum

To integrate and internalize core lessons from the SUST curriculum, each student completes a 120-hour practicum project of their own design, collaborating on a complex sustainability challenge with an outside partner and working through the types of constraints often faced by decision makers and leaders. Students apply the leadership mindsets, knowledge, and skills from the curriculum to this practical experience and present their final analysis and reflections to faculty and peers.

Learning Outcomes

The Sustainability Science and Practice program integrates theoretical and conceptual knowledge, mindsets, and practical skills to enable students to understand and manage complex systems, understand decision making and develop strategies for change, and cultivate partnerships and design innovations with potential for impact at scale.

The program prepares students to become effective participants and agents of change as individuals and within organizations across all sectors of society, contributing to the advancement of the goal of sustainability, i.e., the well-being of people around the world and across generations. Using a conceptual framework that connects human well-being with key underlying assets, students learn how social-environmental systems work, how decisions can be made to influence system dynamics in a way that supports sustainability goals, and how to engage with others to design new ways of managing these systems.

Master of Arts in Sustainability Science and Practice

University requirements for master's degrees are described in the "Graduate Degrees" section of this bulletin.

The Sustainability Science and Practice program offers current Stanford undergraduates the opportunity to apply to a one-year coterminal master’s program. Students can pursue either a coterminal Master of Arts (M.A.) degree or a coterminal Master of Science (M.S.) degree.

Application and Admission

The Sustainability Science and Practice program has two coterminal degree application deadlines: October 27, 2020 and February 23, 2021. To apply, students should submit all of the following application materials via the University's online application portal:

• The online Stanford coterminal application.
• A statement of purpose, about one page in length, that describes the applicant's sustainability interests, the experiences that have influenced the student and motivated them to apply, and what the applicant hopes to learn from and contribute to the program. The statement should provide a clear picture of who the applicant is and what matters to them.
• A current resume.
• A current Stanford unofficial transcript.
• Two letters of recommendation from Stanford faculty who know the applicant well and can speak to their qualifications and fit for the program. At least one of the faculty writers must be an Academic Council Member (i.e., professor, associate professor, or assistant professor; if unsure whether a faculty member is on Academic Council, please contact the SUST program before applying). An optional third letter of recommendation may also be submitted for consideration. The online application includes an entry field where the applicant should indicate the name and email address of each person who will be providing a recommendation. Once the applicant submits this information, each recommender will receive an automated email with instructions and a link to the application form.
• Prior to applying to the SUST program, the applicant must identify a faculty member who agrees to serve as the student's master's advisor. Potential advisors include those faculty members listed on the SUST website.
• Course Proposal form reviewed and signed by the SUST student services officer and the applicant's master's advisor. The Course Proposal form lists the courses that the applicant intends to take to fulfill degree requirements. The advisor's signature of approval on the completed Course Proposal form is required at the time of application.

Applications must be submitted no later than the quarter prior to the expected completion of the bachelor’s degree and within application deadlines. An application fee is assessed by the Registrar’s Office for coterminal applications once a student matriculates into the program.

Students applying to the coterminal master’s program must have completed a minimum of 120 units towards graduation with a recommended minimum overall Stanford GPA of 3.4.

All applicants must devise a program of study that includes a set of courses appropriate to the master’s level, and determined in consultation with the master's advisor.

Students without prior coursework in Earth systems or sustainability may want to consider taking EARTHSYS 10 Introduction to Earth Systems prior to applying.

The student has the option of receiving the bachelor’s degree after completing the degree’s requirements, or receiving the bachelor's and master's degrees concurrently upon the completion of the master's program.

University Coterminal Requirements

Coterminal master’s degree candidates are expected to complete all master’s degree requirements as described in this bulletin. University requirements for the coterminal master’s degree are described in the “Coterminal Master’s Program” section. University requirements for the master’s degree are described in the "Graduate Degrees" section of this bulletin.

After accepting admission to this coterminal master’s degree program, students may request transfer of courses from the undergraduate to the graduate career to satisfy requirements for the master’s degree. Transfer of courses to the graduate career requires review and approval of both the undergraduate and graduate programs on a case by case basis.

In this master’s program, courses taken during or after the first quarter of the sophomore year are eligible for consideration for transfer to the graduate career; the timing of the first graduate quarter is not a factor. No courses taken prior to the first quarter of the sophomore year may be used to meet master’s degree requirements.

Course transfers are not possible after the bachelor’s degree has been conferred.

The University requires that the graduate advisor be assigned in the student’s first graduate quarter even though the undergraduate career may still be open. The University also requires that the Master’s Degree Program Proposal be completed by the student and approved by the department by the end of the student’s first graduate quarter.

Degree Requirements

The following are required of all M.A. students:

• A minimum of 45 units of course work.
• At least 34 units of the student’s course work for the master's program must be at the 200 level or above.
• All remaining course work must be at the 100 level or above.
• All courses for the master’s program must be taken for a letter grade, if a letter grade is offered. Exceptions to this requirement must be approved by the program.
• A minimum overall GPA of 3.4 must be maintained.
• The majority of the student’s 45 units must be designated as “arts” units. Arts and science designations for courses can be viewed on the SUST Course Spreadsheet.

• Elective courses for the master's program must be selected from the program's pre-approved list, which is available on the SUST Course Spreadsheet. Students may request approval for other elective courses via the program's course petition process.

• If courses required for the master’s degree have been taken in the undergraduate career, students may pursue additional electives to fulfill the 45 units required for degree completion.

Required Courses

Ethics Course Requirement

All Sustainability Science and Practice students must complete at least one ethics course during their time at the University. Students who have satisfied the Ways-Ethical Reasoning undergraduate requirement are not required to take an additional ethics course. Those who have not yet satisfied this requirement are encouraged to consider one of the recommended ethics courses listed below.

Master of Science in Sustainability Science and Practice

University requirements for master's degrees are described in the "Graduate Degrees" section of this bulletin.

The Sustainability Science and Practice program offers current Stanford undergraduates the opportunity to apply to a one-year coterminal master’s program. Students can pursue either a coterminal Master of Arts (M.A.) degree or a coterminal Master of Science (M.S.) degree.

Application and Admission

The Sustainability Science and Practice program has two coterminal degree application deadlines: October 27, 2020 and February 23, 2021. To apply, students should submit all of the following application materials via the University's online application portal:

• The online Stanford coterminal application.
• A statement of purpose, about one page in length, that describes the applicant's sustainability interests, the experiences that have influenced the student and motivated them to apply, and what the applicant hopes to learn from and contribute to the program. The statement should provide a clear picture of who the applicant is and what matters to them.
• A current resume.
• A current Stanford unofficial transcript.
• Two letters of recommendation from Stanford faculty who know the applicant well and can speak to their qualifications and fit for the program. At least one of the faculty writers must be an Academic Council Member (i.e., professor, associate professor, or assistant professor; if unsure whether a faculty member is on Academic Council, please contact the SUST program before applying). An optional third letter of recommendation may also be submitted for consideration. The online application includes an entry field where the applicant should indicate the name and email address of each person who will be providing a recommendation. Once the applicant submits this information, each recommender will receive an automated email with instructions and a link to the application form.
• Prior to applying to the SUST program, the applicant must identify a faculty member who agrees to serve as the student's master's advisor. Potential advisors include those faculty members listed on the SUST website.
• Course Proposal form reviewed and signed by the SUST student services officer and the applicant's master's advisor. The Course Proposal form lists the courses that the applicant intends to take to fulfill degree requirements. The advisor's signature of approval on the completed Course Proposal form is required at the time of application.

Applications must be submitted no later than the quarter prior to the expected completion of the bachelor’s degree and within application deadlines. An application fee is assessed by the Registrar’s Office for coterminal applications once a student matriculates into the program.

Students applying to the coterminal master’s program must have completed a minimum of 120 units towards graduation with a recommended minimum overall Stanford GPA of 3.4.

All applicants must devise a program of study that includes a set of courses appropriate to the master’s level, and determined in consultation with the master's advisor.

Students without prior coursework in Earth systems or sustainability may want to consider taking EARTHSYS 10 Introduction to Earth Systems prior to applying.

The student has the option of receiving the bachelor’s degree after completing the degree’s requirements, or receiving the bachelor's and master's degrees concurrently upon the completion of the master's program.

University Coterminal Requirements

Coterminal master’s degree candidates are expected to complete all master’s degree requirements as described in this bulletin. University requirements for the coterminal master’s degree are described in the “Coterminal Master’s Program” section. University requirements for the master’s degree are described in the "Graduate Degrees" section of this bulletin.

After accepting admission to this coterminal master’s degree program, students may request transfer of courses from the undergraduate to the graduate career to satisfy requirements for the master’s degree. Transfer of courses to the graduate career requires review and approval of both the undergraduate and graduate programs on a case by case basis.

In this master’s program, courses taken during or after the first quarter of the sophomore year are eligible for consideration for transfer to the graduate career; the timing of the first graduate quarter is not a factor. No courses taken prior to the first quarter of the sophomore year may be used to meet master’s degree requirements.

Course transfers are not possible after the bachelor’s degree has been conferred.

The University requires that the graduate advisor be assigned in the student’s first graduate quarter even though the undergraduate career may still be open. The University also requires that the Master’s Degree Program Proposal be completed by the student and approved by the department by the end of the student’s first graduate quarter.

Degree Requirements

The following are required of all M.S. students:

• A minimum of 45 units of course work.
• At least 34 units of the student’s coursework for the master's program must be at the 200 level or above.
• All remaining coursework must be at the 100 level or above.
• All courses for the master’s program must be taken for a letter grade, if a letter grade is offered. Exceptions to this requirement must be approved by the program.
• A minimum overall GPA of 3.4 must be maintained.
• The majority of the student’s 45 units must be designated as “science” units. Arts and science designations for courses can be viewed on the SUST Course Spreadsheet.

• Elective courses for the master's program must be selected from the program's pre-approved list, which is available on the SUST Course Spreadsheet. Students may request approval for other elective courses via the program's course petition process.

• If courses required for the master’s degree have been taken in the undergraduate career, students may pursue additional electives to fulfill the 45 units required for degree completion.

Mathematics and Statistics Prerequisites

The Master of Science in Sustainability Science and Practice requires additional coursework in mathematics and statistics. Although students are encouraged to complete these courses prior to applying to SUST, the coursework may be taken after admission to the program. The mathematics and statistics coursework may not be counted toward the 45 units required for master's degree completion. These courses do not have to be taken for a letter grade.

Required Courses

Ethics Course Requirement

All Sustainability Science and Practice students must complete at least one ethics course during their time at the University. Students who have satisfied the Ways-Ethical Reasoning undergraduate requirement are not required to take an additional ethics course. Those who have not yet satisfied this requirement are encouraged to consider one of the recommended ethics courses listed below.

COVID-19 Policies

On July 30, the Academic Senate adopted grading policies effective for all undergraduate and graduate programs, excepting the professional Graduate School of Business, School of Law, and the School of Medicine M.D. Program. For a complete list of those and other academic policies relating to the pandemic, see the "COVID-19 and Academic Continuity" section of this bulletin.

The Senate decided that all undergraduate and graduate courses offered for a letter grade must also offer students the option of taking the course for a “credit” or “no credit” grade and recommended that deans, departments, and programs consider adopting local policies to count courses taken for a “credit” or “satisfactory” grade toward the fulfillment of degree-program requirements and/or alter program requirements as appropriate.

Graduate Degree Requirements

Grading

The Sustainability Science and Practice program counts all courses taken in academic year 2020-21 with a grade of 'CR' (credit) or 'S' (satisfactory) towards satisfaction of graduate degree requirements that otherwise require a letter grade provided that the instructor affirms that the work was done at a 'B-' or better level.

For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the "Graduate Advising" section of this bulletin.

Graduate Advising Expectations

The Sustainability Science and Practice (SUST) program believes that a clear and productive relationship between the graduate advisor and graduate student is necessary for academic and professional success. Because the program sees itself as building leaders for the future of sustainability, it is committed to providing students with graduate advisors who embody such leadership and employ the knowledge, mindsets, and skills of the program in their role.

Acquiring an Advisor

• The SUST program website includes a list of faculty members who are affiliated with the SUST program. Students research potential advisors with similar interests and shared academic focus areas that they would like to emphasize in their own studies.
• Students contact the faculty member to ask for a meeting to explore whether the advising relationship is going to be a good fit for both parties.
• While the official advisor-of-record must be on the Academic Council (i.e., professor, associate professor, or assistant professor), students may ask a non-Academic Council member to serve as a co-advisor. Students should consult with the Change Leadership for Sustainability executive director or program director about co-advising relationships.

Advising Expectations

Faculty advisors are expected to serve as intellectual advisors and professional mentors, preparing students to be ready for, and successful in, their future careers.

A prospective faculty advisor meets with a student prior to application submission to:

• Discuss the student’s motivation for applying to the program;
• Plan, review, and sign the student's course proposal; and
• Discuss what the advisor/advisee relationship will look like.

Once admitted, the student and advisor should meet quarterly to:

• Review courses for that quarter;
• Discuss career goals and practicum ideas;
• Help connect the student with larger networks outside of Stanford for sustainability work;
• Engage the student in relevant research opportunities and projects; 
• Review the student’s practicum proposal and attend (if possible) the student’s final practicum presentation. The program director is an additional resource for students, specifically for practicum planning, mentoring, and completion. Students are expected to talk with their advisor and the program director about this aspect of the program.

Meetings and Scheduling

The student is responsible for scheduling the quarterly advising meeting. In-person meetings are encouraged; however, meetings by phone or video conference are acceptable, if mutually agreed. If a student is on leave of absence, the program encourages him/her to check in with his/her advisor each quarter via email. If an advisor is on sabbatical, it is expected that planning for this would have been covered in an earlier meeting. Most faculty members on sabbatical continue the advising relationship with existing advisees, and meetings shift from in-person to phone or video conference.

Addressing Mental Health

Pursuing a master’s degree at Stanford University is one of the many exciting but challenging tasks students may be taking on. The pressures of academic work, external projects, and family affairs can at times cause students mental, physical, and emotional stress. The program encourages academic advisors to provide resources to students who may show signs of struggling with mental health, including extreme levels of anxiety and depression, or battling issues such as grief.

Resources

• Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers crisis counseling. Walk-in appointments are available, and clinicians are always on call at (650) 723-3785.
• The Graduate Life Office is available during office hours at (650) 736-7078, or 24/7 at (650) 723-8222, pager ID number 25085.
• The Bridge Peer Counseling Center offers counseling by trained students 24/7 at (650) 723-3392.
• The Office for Religious Life offers spiritual guidance for students. Call (650) 723-1762 or visit the Round Room at Memorial Church.
• The Faculty and Staff Help Center, located in Kingscote Gardens, offers confidential help for Stanford faculty and staff.
• If you are aware of someone in distress, contact CAPS, the Department of Public Safety or the Office of the Dean of Students.

Program Staff:

Faculty Director: Pamela Matson

Co-Director: Julia Novy

Program Director: Shelley Ratay

Program Coordinator: Lauren Neville 

Director of Graduate Studies: Pamela Matson and Julia Novy

Affiliated Faculty and Lecturers:

• Nicole M. Ardoin (Education)
• Inêz Azevedo (Energy Resources Engineering)
• Shilajeet Banerjee (Sustainability Science and Practice)
• William Barnett (Business)
• Sally Benson (Energy Resources Engineering)
• Paul Brest (Law)
• Marshall Burke (Earth System Science)
• Karen Casciotti (Earth System Science)
• Geoffrey Cohen (Psychology)
• Gretchen C. Daily (Woods Institute for the Environment)
• Jenna Davis (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
• Noah Diffenbaugh (Earth System Science)
• Sibyl Diver (Earth System Science)
• Rob Dunbar (Earth System Science) 
• Scott Fendorf (Earth System Science)
• Zephyr Frank (History)
• Margot Gerritsen (Energy Resource Engineering)
• Lynn Hildemann (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
• Pamela Hinds (Management Science and Engineering)
• Rob Jackson (Earth System Science)
• James Holland Jones (Earth System Science)
• Jeffrey Koseff (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
• Eric Lambin (Earth System Science)
• James Leape (Woods Institute for the Environment)
• Susan Liautaud (Law, Public Policy) 
• David Lobell (Earth System Science)
• Hazel Markus (Psychology)
• Pamela Matson (Sustainability Science and Practice)
• Meagan Mauter (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
• Rosamond Naylor (Earth System Science)
• Julia Novy (Sustainability Science and Practice)
• Morgan O'Neill (Earth System Science)
• Hayagreeva Rao (Business)
• Deborah Rhode (Law)
• Burke Robinson (Management Science and Engineering)
• Lee Ross (Psychology)
• Matt Rothe (Sustainability Science and Practice and Earth Systems)
• Nikhil Sawe (Sustainability Science and Practice)
• Tina Seelig (Management Science and Engineering)
• Claude Steele (Psychology)
• Jenny Suckale (Geophysics)
• Barton Thompson (Law)
• Peter Vitousek (Biology)
• Jeremy Weinstein (Political Science)
• Mikael Wolfe (History)
• Gabrielle Wong-Parodi (Earth System Science)