Graduate
The Department of Community Sustainability offers three graduate degree programs in Community Sustainability—(i) Master of Science – Plan A (MS-A), (ii) Master of Science – Plan B (MS-B), and (iii) Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). These programs provide a way for individuals to advance knowledge through research or professional development in the context of community sustainability. The CSUS MS and PhD programs offer a program of study with a core curriculum that includes coursework related to the foundations of community sustainability and interdisciplinary inquiry.
Broadly speaking, faculty, academic staff, and graduate students working in this graduate program tend to focus their work on community food and agricultural systems, natural resources and the environment, tourism and recreation systems, education and civic engagement, and international development. These themes are very broad, and they overlap with other focal areas the department’s other MS and PhD graduate programs. We apply our work in these areas in both domestic and international settings, with numerous faculty and graduate students working in the context of international development.
Graduates will be prepared to work with a wide range of sustainability-related entities, including government, non-profit organizations, and commercial businesses. PhD graduates will be prepared additionally to work in academia or in research-related positions with a wide array of organizations.
Students interested in applying to the MS-A, MS-B, or PhD program in Community Sustainability, please visit the MSU Admissions website.
The graduate programs in Community Sustainability (CSUS) are designed principally for persons who wish to acquire advanced knowledge related to community sustainability through research or professional development. The programs are grounded in the theoretical foundations of sustainability, but they are flexible enough to allow for the integration of methodological advancement and/or subject matter content through courses in CSUS and in other academic departments.
Applicants must select one program. Applicants may not apply to more than one program simultaneously.
See more about what CSUS graduate students are doing in their program
-
CSUS PhD student, Tiffany Marzolino, awarded Distinguished Manuscript
Published on November 3, 2023
Community Sustainability PhD student, Tiffany Marzolino, won one of three Distinguished Manuscript awards at the 2023 North Central Region of the American Association for Agricultural Education research conference. -
CSUS Graduate Spotlight: Rafael Lembi
Published on November 2, 2023
Rafael Lembi, a Community Sustainability PhD student, found a fit in the CSUS graduate program to help answer one of the important questions of sustainability -- How can people work together to bring about just and sustainable futures? -
CSUS 2023 Graduate Endowed Award Winners
Published on May 12, 2023
The Department of Community Sustainability announces the seven endowed graduate fellowship award winners for 2023. Congratulations to these excellent graduate students! -
CSUS Graduate Spotlight: Tanya Iretskaia
Published on January 13, 2023
Tanya Iretskaia is a Sustainable Tourism and Protected Areas Management PhD student in the Department of Community Sustainability. Tanya shares how she came to the STPAM PhD program from a life of travel for her career 'dream job.’ -
Congratulations to the 2021-2022 CSUS student award recipients!
Published on March 3, 2022
We are excited to announce the winners of 2021-22 scholarships, fellowships, and awards in the Department of Community Sustainability.