THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN
SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT &
SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION
PROGRAMS
Presented by Prof. Howard Apsan at the School of Sustainability, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, May 19, 2015
We will discuss:
1. Columbia University, The Earth Institute, and The School of Continuing Education
2. The Program’s Mission & Objectives
3. Curriculum and Course Offerings
4. Sustainability Certification Programs
5. Program Resources
6. Admissions
7. Enrollment Options
8. Tuition and Financing
9. Next Steps
1. Columbia University &
The School of Continuing Education
Columbia University was founded in 1754 as King's College by
royal charter of King George II of England. It is the oldest
institution of higher learning in the state of New York and the fifth oldest in the United States.
This fall marked the start of Columbia University’s 261st academic year. Columbia’s academic excellence is well known throughout the world. The School of Continuing Education— the newest school at
Columbia University, dedicated to life-long learning.
1. The Earth Institute
The Earth Institute—the largest research institute at Columbia
University with over 750 environmental scientists, managers, policy analysts, lawyers, engineers and other experts working all over the world on issues of sustainable development and
environmental management.
We have developed the curriculum for a number of cutting-edge
degree programs, including the M.S. in Sustainability Management program, focused on educating innovate environmental professionals.
2. The Mission & Objectives for the
Sustainability Programs
The MS in Sustainability Management program is focused on
developing real-world policies and management practices that can ensure sustainability across all organizations.
The overarching goal of our program is to develop a cohort of
problem-solving sustainability professionals.
Our goal is to train a new kind of manager for private, nonprofit
and government organizations: a manager who understands finance, organizations, strategy and information- but also understands the physical dimensions of sustainability.
2. The Mission & Objectives for the Sustainability
Programs
To educate a new kind of professional: a sustainability
manager
To transform organizations by changing the definition of
effective, competent managers
We believe that all competent managers must be sustainability
managers
An organization that ignores the physical dimensions of
sustainability is by definition an ineffective organization
To make it possible to build an economy that allows a high
standard of living without destroying the planet that sustains us.
3. M.S. in Sustainability Management Curriculum
The M.S. in Sustainability Management curriculum provides
a balance of graduate coursework in 5 areas to meet the 36
credit degree requirement:
1: Integrative Courses in Sustainability Management (9 credits)
2: Economics and Quantitative Analysis (9 credits)
3: The Physical Dimensions of Sustainability Management (9 credits)
4: The Public Policy Environment of Sustainability Management (3 credits)
5: General and Financial Management (6 credits)
3. M.S. in Sustainability Management Curriculum
1: Integrative Courses in Sustainability Management
SUMA K4100 Sustainability Management (Required)
SUMA K4200 Integrative Capstone Workshop for Sustainability Management (Required) SUMA K4170 Sustainable Operations
SUMA K4734 Earth Institute Practicum
SUMA K4700 Ethics and Values for Sustainability Management SUMA K4180 Writing about Science for a Global Media
SUMA K4301 Practicum in Innovative Sustainability Leadership
SUMA K4330 Disaster Risk Management and Sustainable Urban Resilience (New Spring 2015) SUMA K4370 Implementation of Corporate Sustainability Strategies (New Summer 2015)
2: Economics and Quantitative Analysis
SUMA K4020 Cost Benefit Analysis
SUMA K4033 Decision Models and Management SUMA K4169 Sustainability Metrics
SUMA K4195 Green Accounting
SUMA K4205 GIS for Sustainability Management
SUMA K4190 Economics of Sustainability Management SUMA K4193 Statistics for Sustainability Management
SUMA K4320 Sustainable Investing and Economic Growth (New Spring 2015)
3. M.S. in Sustainability Management Curriculum
Area 3: Physical Dimensions of Sustainability
SUMA K4119 Empirical Approaches to Building Energy Efficiency SUMA K4130 Sustainable Cities
SUMA K4135 Energy Analysis for Energy Efficiency SUMA K4145 Science of Sustainable Water
SUMA K4146 Water Systems Analysis SUMA K4147 Water Resources and Climate
SUMA K4162 Responsiveness and Resilience in the Built Environment SUMA K4230 Earth’s Climate Systems
SUMA K4235 The Science of Urban Ecology
SUMA K4360 Sustainability Technology and the Evolution of Smart Cities (New Summer 2015)
Area 4: Public Policy
SUMA K4165 Political Economy of Energy and Climate Change Policies SUMA K4301 International Environmental Law
SUMA K4720 Policy and Legal Context for Sustainability Managers SUMA K7001 Water Governance
Area 5: General and Financial Management
SUMA K4025 Sustainability Communications Strategy and Reporting SUMA K4142 Sustainable Finance
SUMA K4155 Energy Markets and Innovation SUMA K4175 Global Environmental Markets SUMA K4197 Financing the Green Economy SUMA K4240 Sustainable Agriculture
SUMA K4380 Financing Natural Infrastructure (New Summer 2015)
3. University Course Offerings
As a student in Columbia’s sustainability programs, you have
access to approved courses offered across the University, including courses offered by:
The School of International and Public Affairs The Mailman School of Public Health
The Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
The School of Continuing Education Columbia Business School
Columbia Law School
4. Sustainability Certification Programs
The Earth Institute and School of Continuing Education also offer
sustainability-focused certification programs.
The Certification in Sustainability Analytics, the Certification in
Sustainable Water Management, and the Certification in
Sustainable Finance offer specialized coursework for sustainability professionals.
These 12-credit certifications in professional achievement can be
taken as a standalone credential or as a complement to the M.S. in Sustainability Management program.
4. Certification in Sustainability Analytics
The Certification in Sustainability Analytics program trains professionals to
develop skills in analytic methods and quantitative analysis that enable practitioners to measure, report, and communicate the sustainability of organizations, products, and services.
Students will gain the knowledge and tools to track sustainability indicators,
analyze and interpret data, and report upon the findings to industry, nonprofit and government decision makers
Students enroll on a full or part-time basis and complete four of the following
courses:
Sustainability Metrics
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Sustainability Management Analysis for Energy Efficiency
Decision Models and Management
GHG Emissions: Measuring and Minimizing the Carbon Footprint Sustainability Communications Strategy and Reporting
Statistics for Sustainability Management Cost Benefit Analysis
4. Certification in Sustainable Water Management
The Certification in Sustainable Water Management equips
professionals with the skills to conduct integrated water management and water systems analysis.
Students will learn concepts of hydrology, water policy and
regulation, economics, finance and conflict resolution.
Students enroll on a part-time basis and complete the following
courses:
The Science of Sustainable Water Water Governance
Water Systems Analysis Elective Course:
Water Resources and Climate Sustainable Agriculture
Water Treatment and Reuse
4. Certification in Sustainable Finance
The Certification in Sustainable Finance prepares students to apply the
fundamentals of both corporate sustainability and finance.
Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of corporate sustainability
and financial principles including green accounting and carbon accounting, environmental markets, project finance, sustainability investing and the impacts of environmental, social, and governance issues on capital markets.
Students enroll on a full or part-time basis and complete four of the following
courses:
Green Accounting Cost Benefit Analysis
Financing the Green Economy Energy Markets and Innovation Global Environmental Markets
Energy and Sustainable Development Sustainable Finance
Sustainable Investing and Economic Growth Financing Natural Infrastructure
5. Program Resources
As students in the program, you will be part of a community of emerging
sustainability professionals.
Each Sustainability Management student selects a faculty advisor. Your
faculty advisor can:
• Assist you in course planning
• Advise you in your professional development
• Direct you to available resources both within the University and
within the professional network of sustainability professionals
5. Program Resources
The Sustainability sector is a rapidly growing part of our economy –
the number of jobs in America’s green economy grew nearly two and a half times faster than overall jobs in the last decade.
The program devotes significant resources to the professional
development of our students. The Earth Institute Professional Development Program includes:
The Earth Institute Job List
Employment Opportunities at the Earth Institute Sustainability Skills Seminars
Sustainability Speaker Series
Professional Networking Opportunities
All Ivy Environmental and Sustainable Development Career Fair
5. Program Resources
Director of Sustainability, Great Forest Vice President and North America Region
Head, Sustainability, Citi
Director, Distributed Energy Solutions, First
Solar
Managing Director, AZA Sustainability
Strategy Partners
Project Manager, Energy & Sustainability,
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Manager, Brand Responsibility, Metrics &
Reporting, Patagonia
Program Manager, Data Center Sustainability,
Global Sustainability Manager, Las Vegas
Sands Corp.
Energy and Sustainability Manager, Verizon Responsible Investment Senior Associate,
ESG Analytics
Global Program Manager, CSR and
Sustainability, Marsh Insurance
Corporate Sustainability Manager, Coach Engagement Director & Sustainability
Consultant, Altanova Energy+Sustainability
Corporate Social Responsibility Coordinator,
Dallas Cowboys
Head, Energy Track, Clinton Global Initiative Global Policy Fellow, Natural Resources
Defense Council
Strategic Communications and Marketing
Director, Bandwagon Rideshare
Director of Operations, Waterkeeper Alliance Climate Change Specialist, World Bank Group New Technology Manager, Con Edison
Energy Policy Analyst, New York City
Department of Environmental Protection
Commercial Green Building Energy Analyst,
San Francisco Department of the Environment
As program graduates, you will be part of an emerging alumni network of over 400 sustainability professionals working across the country and around the world.
Graduates are currently working in such positions as:
6. Admissions Requirements
Online Application Form Transcripts Statement of Academic Purpose Professional Resume 2 Letters of Recommendation Application Fee
3.0: Undergraduate and Graduate GPA 1.0: Math and Science Preparation 2.0: Professional Experience
1.0: Familiarity with Sustainability Issues 1.0: Statement of Academic Purpose 1.0: Clarity of Goals and Experience 1.0: Letters of Recommendation 10 Total Points
Application Checklist: Application Review:
• The deadline to apply for Fall 2015 enrollment is May 15. The deadline to apply for Spring 2016 enrollment is November 1. • Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
7. Enrollment Options
Students can enroll is the M. S. in Sustainability Management
on a full or part-time basis.
Full-time students enroll in 12 credits per semester and complete the program in 3 semesters.
Students can also enroll in 5 courses a semester and 2 in the summer
to graduate in one year.
Part-time students enroll in 3 or more credits per semester and can complete the program in up to 9 semesters.
Courses are offered on Columbia University’s campus in the
evening to accommodate the schedules of working professionals.
7. Enrollment Options
These 12-credit certifications in professional achievement can
be taken as a standalone credential or as a complement to the M.S. in Sustainability Management program.
Complete the 12-credit certification as a standalone credential. Begin in the certification program and transfer coursework into
the MS degree, completing a total of 36 credits for the MS degree.
Complete both the certification and MS degree requirements for
both credentials and a total of 48 credits.
8. Tuition and Financing
Tuition for the M.S. and Certifications is calculated on a
per-credit basis. Tuition for the 2015-2016 Academic Year is $1830 per credit. The total cost of the MS program with tuition and fees is approximately $70,000.
For more information about tuition and financing options,
please visit our website sustainability.ei.columbia.edu Financial resources include:
The School of Continuing Education’ s Financial Resources The Earth Institute’s Funding Opportunities
Columbia University’s Student Financial Planning
8. Tuition and Financing
Each academic year, students are eligible to apply for the
Earth Institute Sustainability Management Fellowship program. Fellowship awards are assessed on academic performance, professional experience, commitment to sustainability issues, and demonstrated financial need.
Students are eligible to apply for numerous positions within
Columbia University to offset the cost of tuition.
Curriculum and Grading Assistant Positions Earth Institute Internships
Earth Institute Research Assistantships
9. Next Steps
The deadline to apply for Fall 2015 is May 15. The deadline to
apply for Spring 2016 is November 1.
The online application can be accessed through both the Earth
Institute and School of Continuing Education.
If you have any questions about the program or would like to
arrange to visit campus and attend a class, please feel free to contact Allison Ladue, Associate Director, at
[email protected] or Alyssa Rome, Program Manager, at
