Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Graduate Studies Bulletin 
    
2020-2021 Graduate Studies Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Sustainability, MA


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Professor Bernhardt, Graduate Program Director, 516-463-5731

Sustainability is often defined as the wise use of resources in the present with the goal of ensuring the quality of life for future generations. The Master of Arts program in sustainability focuses on environmental, economic, social, ethical, and philosophical themes of sustainability.  Students will delve deeply into the concept of sustainability and examine the many different ways of achieving sustainability across different settings.  The program will take a balanced approach in trying to understand how to make developed countries more sustainable while also addressing crises in sustainability in the developing world. The program is designed to give students significant real-world, hands-on experience. Students may attend full- or part-time.

Admission Requirements


  1. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in a discipline that will allow them to study the field of sustainability at an advanced level, with a GPA of 3.0 or equivalent at the undergraduate level.
  2. The program is structured to accommodate both full-time and part-time students.  It welcomes students from a diverse academic background, including recent graduates and those who are working and want advancement in their careers.  Hofstra University is recognized for its commitment to extending equal opportunity to all qualified individuals.  The University also recognizes that minorities are underrepresented in the field of sustainability and is therefore especially interested in recruiting such students. 
  3. For non-native speakers of English, a TOEFL may be required unless waived by Graduate Admission and/or the program director, after having received evidence of English-language proficiency.
  4. Applications must submit a 1-2 page letter of intent detailing professional and academic goals.

The program understands that any single criterion may not reliably predict a candidate’s potential for success in a graduate program. Consequently, candidates are welcome to apply if they do not meet one of the criteria but feel that other aspects of their experience may compensate. 

Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 30


The MA in Sustainability requires 30 semester hours of course work, including GEOL 251 , SBLY 201  and 206 , and either SBLY 301  or 340 , in addition to 15 semester hours of elective courses selected in consultation with the director of Sustainability Studies. Students may select either SBLY 301 (the thesis) or SBLY 340 (the internship) for credit.  A maximum of 6 s.h. of either the thesis or the internship will count toward the degree. 

Required Core Courses - Semester Hours: 9


Internship or Thesis - Semester Hours: 6


Electives - Semester Hours: 15


15 semester hours of graduate-level course work selected, under advisement from the director of Sustainability Studies, from the curricula of the Departments of Biology; Computer Science; Engineering; Geology, Environment, and Sustainability; Health Professions, Management; Philosophy; or Sociology. Graduate courses in other departments may be applied towards the 15 semester hours of electives with the approval of the program director.

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