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Sustainability PSM

Sustainability Professional Science Master’s

Engage in creating contextually appropriate solutions for the most urgent environmental problems of our times with the Professional Science Master's (PSM)* in Sustainability at Temple University. This 30-credit graduate degree program focuses on training professionals in sustainability science so they can address challenges including unequal impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, clean energy transitions and resilient cities.  

Sustainability science is a transdisciplinary and integrative field that intersects the natural and social sciences. Through the curriculum, students will understand the relationship between humans and the environment on a local and global scale. The program emphasizes environmental justice so graduates learn how community-led solutions are critical for addressing environmental problems and social justice.

Led by faculty scholars in the College of Liberal Arts and College of Science and Technology, the Sustainability PSM offers you

  • an interdisciplinary, comprehensive curriculum designed and taught by Temple faculty and industry experts;
  • ethics and communication training to cross disciplinary boundaries; and
  • hands-on training in a variety of environmental methodologies. 

What sets apart our Sustainability PSM? 

Equity and environmental justice are at the center of the sustainability program’s curriculum. As a student, you will learn how to address inequities and methods for understanding the natural, technological and socioeconomic systems that impact sustainability. The program offers specialized concentrations designed so you can focus on one area that aligns with your career goals. 

With opportunities to intern with government agencies, companies and nonprofits related to sustainability issues, the Sustainability PSM positions you for career advancement by preparing you to work with both social and physical scientists, communicate with different constituents, and evaluate policy and ethical considerations. Learn more about the fields and opportunities in which Sustainability PSM graduates can apply these skills.

Temple’s College of Liberal Arts and College of Science and Technology 

The College of Liberal Arts and the College of Science and Technology have collaborated frequently through the university’s Center for Sustainable Communities and the Ambler Field Station. Courses are taught by faculty in the departments of Geography and Urban Studies, Biology, and Earth and Environmental Science who are at the forefront of their respective fields. 

Three students studying at a table in the library

Program Format & Curriculum  

The Sustainability PSM will provide graduates with the necessary knowledge, skills and competencies to embark on careers as sustainability professionals through a 30 credit-hour program (10 courses) that can be completed in 12 months if students attend full time.   

Sustainability students will take a set of five core courses (15 credits) including a transdisciplinary introductory seminar (Fundamentals of Sustainability Science and Environmental Justice), and four professional skill courses chosen from arrays in methods, communication, policy and ethics. Students will also take courses specific to their chosen concentration. 

Core courses students can take include the following.

  • Biostatistics
  • Environmental Impact Assessment
  • Community-Based Research
  • Introduction to Scientific and Regulatory Writing 

Learn more about the Sustainability PSM curriculum.

Concentrations

You will choose four courses (12–13 credits) to specialize in one of the following concentrations. Each concentration requires a final capstone course that provides an experiential and industry-relevant learning experience. Students engage in a structured internship experience (46–40 hours during the term) identified with the guidance of the PSM faculty and a prospective employer. 

Biodiversity and Conservation

The Biodiversity and Conversation track prepares students for careers in resource management and conservation with the federal or local government or nongovernmental organizations focused on preserving land or marine habitats in the face of climate change, monitoring populations of harvested or endangered species, or writing and evaluating environmental impact assessments. Courses focus on biodiversity and ecosystem assessments, global change, and conservation biology, among other topics.

Climate Justice

The Climate Justice track prepares students for careers in community engagement, political organizing, policymaking and climate resilience planning to benefit marginalized communities that disproportionately bear the burdens of climate change. Courses include content expertise in environmental hazards, racialized violence and pollution, water politics, and more, combined with research courses in statistics, remote sensing, observing and modeling climate change, as well as field methods in environmental justice.

Energy Systems and Natural Resources

Students in the Energy Systems and Natural Resources track are professionally trained for careers in policymaking and consulting on alternative energy production, storage and planning. Courses delve into topics such as geologic materials and geochemical analysis, agrivoltaics, and field-based work using drones and sensors. This is combined with statistical analysis and visualization for effective science communication.

Geospatial Technologies

The Geospatial Technologies track prepares students for positions in geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial data science across environmental fields such as biodiversity and urban sustainability, as well as across areas such as environmental nonprofits, environmental consulting, and city or state agencies. The interdisciplinary curriculum trains students in advanced spatial analytical skills and how these skills are applied in sustainability science. Courses include core technical skills, such as spatial statistics, GIS programming, remote sensing and geovisualization, as well as applied courses in environmental GIS.

Urban Sustainability

Students in the Urban Sustainability track are trained as environmental consultants and policymakers, political advisors, sustainability managers in industry, researchers, and program directors in fields working towards equitable economic and environmental futures for people living in and around cities. Courses focus on topics including sustainable infrastructure, ecohydrology and urban public spaces, combined with applied data analysis courses such as statistics, environmental sensing and analytics.

+1 Accelerated Degree Programs 

Temple undergraduates can pursue dual degrees with an accelerated +1 dual bachelor’s + master’s degree option. The Sustainability PSM can be completed through the +1 accelerated pathway if the required qualifications are met by junior year.

Learn more about +1 sustainability accelerated degree programs. If you are a current Temple student interested in one of these +1 programs, please email .

Related Graduate Degrees

Related Graduate Certificates

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, this professional science master’s offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support. 

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. These tuition costs apply to the 2023–2024 academic year. 

Pennsylvania resident: $1,053.00 per credit 
Out-of-state: $1,449.00 per credit 

You can view the full cost of attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

Learn more about scholarships and financial aid. 

Our Advisors

A key component of our Sustainability professional science master’s program is its advisory board, which is composed of industry experts who advise on curriculum design, capstone projects and internships. 

Program Contacts

Amelia Duffy-Tumasz (she/her) is a professor of instruction in the Department of Geography and Urban Studies and a co-director in the College of Liberal Arts. 
Email:
Phone: 215-204-6261 
Office: 340 Gladfelter Hall 

Rob Jennings (he/him) is a professor of instruction in the Department of Biology and a co-director in the College of Science and Technology. 
Email:
Phone: 215-204-8280 
Office: 453-C Bio-Life Building 

Accreditation

Temple University’s departments and programs are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Temple’s professional science master’s programs are affiliated with the National Professional Science Master’s Association and designed in partnership with an advisory board of industry professionals to ensure student skills are matched to the needs of employers

* Accreditation pending

Concentrations

This degree program can be completed with or without a concentration. Your concentration options include

    Additional Program Information