Credits
36
Format
Full-Time
Priority Deadline
January 31
After January 31
Rolling admission until full
Final Deadline
August 1
Duration
1 Year
Instructional Sites
Iceland, Tanzania
Critical Global Issue of Study
Climate & Environment
Gain the professional skills and hands-on experience needed to effectively confront climate change and promote sustainability.
For programs beginning in 2022
36
Full-Time
January 31
Rolling admission until full
August 1
1 Year
Iceland, Tanzania
Climate & Environment
Climate change is a pressing concern at global, regional, and local scales. This program provides an opportunity to the gain knowledge, skills, and global experience to address climate change and enhance the sustainability of environments and responsible human livelihoods. By using natural and social sciences to engage with communities, environments, practices, and policies, we can limit climate change and mitigate and manage its impacts on our world. The program will prepare you to work in the fields of climate change science, policy, conservation, development, or community advocacy.
During your first semester in Iceland, meet your cohort, participate in orientation, and gain a deeper understanding of the country’s pathbreaking energy alternatives to fossil fuels. You will also explore Iceland’s methods for reducing carbon dioxide output; its core policies of environmental governance; and its changing geopolitical role as a leader in European energy innovation.
In your second semester, travel to Zanzibar, exploring the effects of climate change on tropical ecosystems; communities of the Indian Ocean; and best practices for balancing natural resources with sustainable growth. You will also interact with scientists, activists, and leaders as you learn about agriculture and aquaculture; food chains and markets; water and food security; government policies; and coastal urban planning.
Spend your final semester undertaking a professional practicum at a prominent environmental or climate change organization. This will allow you to apply what you have learned to a professional setting while gaining real-world skills for your résumé. You will also complete a capstone paper reflecting on your experience.
Created especially for mission-driven professionals who seek a comprehensive introduction to climate science (advanced knowledge of science not required), and are passionate about sustainable development, ecological conservation, and resource management, the master’s in climate change and global sustainability will allow you to get the skills, expertise, and hands-on experience you need to make a difference locally or globally.
Students who have graduated with this degree have gotten jobs such as
Foreign Agricultural Service officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC
Senior campaign coordinator, Union of Concerned Scientists, Chicago, Illinois
Program coordinator for climate resiliency in central Appalachia, The Nature Conservancy, Appalachia, U.S.
Senior researcher for bio-cultural landscapes, International Network of Mountain Indigenous Peoples and Asociacion ANDES, Parque de la Papa, Peru
Consultant, Gable Associates: Energy, Environmental, and Public Utility Consulting, Boston, Massachusetts
Consultant, WASH Climate Change Policy in Latin American and Caribbean, The World Bank
Forest manager, One Tree Planted, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Visit the SIT blog to read more about SIT Graduate Institute alumni careers.
Venture to the northwestern tip of Iceland, known for its tundra climate and awe-inspiring scenery. Hike the glaciers, attend the Arctic Circle Conference, visit hydropower stations, and investigate the dramatic effects of climate change on Arctic ecosystems and their communities. Students stay in a converted high school with hotel-style rooms and a dining facility.
Excursion highlights include:
From your coastal base in Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, you will study Zanzibar’s Indian Ocean shoreline, work with community organizations and entrepreneurs, and apply conservation strategies to coral reefs and tropical forests in Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park. Students will stay in well-appointed apartments of their choice in Stone Town and have the opportunity to visit spice farms and beaches.
Excursion highlights include:
Please note that in order to take advantage of dynamic learning opportunities, program excursions may occasionally vary.
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:
With SIT’s experiential curriculum, you will learn how to put theory into practice.
For your final semester, SIT will support you in finding an approved practicum with a climate change or environmental sustainability think tank, NGO, government agency, or other organization involved in policy and advocacy work in a global location of your choice.
This practicum experience will give you the opportunity to practice policy and advocacy work in a real-world setting, expand your professional network, and strengthen your ability to develop grounded expectations about what constitutes feasible climate change strategies. Your practicum will be completed alongside other semester coursework.
During the practicum phase, you will remain engaged with faculty and other students and receive course credit for documenting the integration of your knowledge and skills while working in a professional context.
Examples of MA Student Practicums
Examples of MA Capstone Papers
SIT’s Student Financial Services Office provides guidance on all aspects of funding your degree throughout the application process and during your degree program. Tuition costs vary by program and scholarships are available.
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