The Master of Environmental Sustainability (MES) is an accelerated one-year, 36 credit-hour degree program that will prepare you for a career dedicated to transforming environmental science and policy into solutions that promote sustainability practices in the public, private, or nonprofit sector. You’ll get management know-how and technical training that will prepare you to meet the growing demand for “green” jobs across the nation.
*The curriculum below is the current curriculum for students who began Fall 2025*
MES Requirement I: Environmental Sustainability Core (15 credit hours)
The MES core courses provide training in managing environmental projects, as well as in the issues faced and approaches used by environmental agencies. These courses give students the ability to get things done and an understanding of the agency context in which projects occur.
Science, Assessment, and Management (12 credit hours)
SPEA-E 506/555
Sustainability Science
SPEA-E 511
Sustainability Assessment
SPEA-E 543
Environmental Management
SPEA-E 513
Environmental Project Management
Quantitative core (3 credit hours - choose one)
SPEA-E 538
Statistics for Environmental Science
SPEA-E 518
Vector-Based GIS
SPEA-V 506
Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making
MES Requirement II: Social and Economic Sustainability Core (6 credit hours)
Social Leadership (3 credit hours)
SPEA-V 535
Managing and Leading for Public Affairs
Social & Economic Context (3 credit hours - choose one)
SPEA-E 512
Risk Communication
SPEA-L 564
Local Government Management
SPEA-M 547
Negotiation & dispute Resolution for Public Affairs
SPEA-N 521
The Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector
SPEA-N 557
Proposal Development and Grant Administration
SPEA-R 643
Natural Resource Management & Policy
SPEA-S 515
Sustainable Communities
SPEA-V 517
Public Management Economics
MES Requirement III: Capstone (3 credit hours)
The capstone course allows MES students to use their knowledge and skills to address a real-world, client-based problem. Students from various backgrounds work together on a semester-long project for an individual, organization, or agency. This course should be taken during the final spring semester.
SPEA-V 600
Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs
MES Requirement IV: Concentration (9 credit hours)
MES students select one of the concentrations below. Each concentration comprises concentration-specific science courses and law, management, and policy courses. Students should ensure their course selections below total nine credit hours. Contact your concentration advisor with any concentration-specific questions.
The Environmental Quality and Toxicology concentration prepares students to address issues such as air pollution, water quality, contaminants, and solid and hazardous wastes using quantitative tools such as risk assessment and best practices such as risk communication. Graduates will be prepared to work in the public, private, or non-profit sectors; jobs are particularly common in consulting firms and agencies. States and municipalities are becoming increasingly innovative in this area, and O’Neill students will be well equipped to work at these levels as well as at national and international levels.
Science Courses (choose one or two):
SPEA-E 431
Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
SPEA-E 451
Air Pollution and Control
SPEA-E 514
Changing Landscape of Toxic Chemical Regulation
SPEA-E 520
Environmental Toxicology
SPEA-E 542
Hazardous Materials
SPEA-E 562
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
SPEA-E 574
Energy Systems in Transition
Law, Management, Policy Courses (choose one or two):
SPEA-R 563
Sustainability in a Tri-Sectoral World
SPEA-R 564
Environmental and Natural Resource Policy Design and Implementation
The Municipal and Corporate Sustainability concentration prepares students to address issues associated with air pollution, waste management, water management, and green-space management in towns and cities. Graduates will be prepared to work in the public, private, or non-profit sectors including positions with local government, consulting firms, and organizations that work with quality-of-life issues. Relevant employment will not come only at the municipal level; states and nations must also work with and plan for cities, so employment will be available at all levels from municipal to international.
Science Courses (choose one or two):
SPEA-E 431
Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
SPEA-E 451
Air Pollution Control
SPEA-E 501
Human Behavior and Energy Consumption
SPEA-E 522
Urban Forest Management
SPEA-E 555
Sustaining Urban Ecosystems
SPEA-E 562
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
SPEA-E 574
Energy Systems in Transition
Law, Management, and Policy Courses (choose one or two):
SPEA-L 563
Planning and Community Development
SPEA-L 564
Local Government Management
SPEA-R 512
Climate Law and Policy
SPEA-R 519
Food Systems and Community Resilience
SPEA-R 563
Sustainability in a Tri-Sectoral World
SPEA-S 515
Sustainable Communities
SPEA-S 516
Planning for Climate Change and Resilient Urban Communities
The Sustainable Natural Resource Conservation and Management concentration provides training in conservation and management of ecosystems and their biodiversity. Graduates will be prepared for public, private, and non-profit positions in agencies, companies, and organizations at local to international levels. Increasingly, positions are available in towns and cities (urban forestry, green space management, urban wildlife management) as well as conserved and managed natural areas. Land trusts are growing at the local and state level, and environmental consulting firms have jobs at all levels.
Science Courses (choose one or two):
SPEA-E 504
Sustainable River Management
SPEA-E 522
Urban Forest Management
SPEA-E 527
Applied Ecology
SPEA-E 528
Forest Ecology and Management
SPEA-E 530
Fundamentals of Sustainable Agriculture
SPEA-E 545
Lake and Watershed Management
SPEA-E 555
Conservation Planning
SPEA-E 555
Sustaining Urban Ecosystems
SPEA-E 557
Conservation Biology
SPEA-E 561
Wildlife Techniques
SPEA-E 563
Wildlife Management
SPEA-E 591
Climate Change Impacts on Natural Resources
Law, Management, and Policy Courses (choose one or two):
The Sustainable Water Resources concentration provides training in water quality, water quantity, and aquatic ecology. Students may choose courses in all three areas or focus on one or two areas. Graduates will be prepared to work in the public, private, or non-profit sectors. States and municipalities are becoming increasingly innovative in this area, and O’Neill students will be well-equipped to work at these levels and national and international levels.
Science Courses (choose one or two):
SPEA-E 431
Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
SPEA-E 504
Sustainable River Management
SPEA-E 520
Environmental Toxicology
SPEA-E 555
Watershed Hydrology
SPEA-E 556
Limnology (4 credit hours)
SPEA-E 591
Climate Change Impacts on Natural Resources
GEOG-G 551
Physical Hydrology
Law, Management, and Policy Courses (choose one or two):
MES Requirement V: General Elective (3 credit hours)
Students will take one elective degree-relevant course to reach the required 36 credit hours - this can be taken during any fall, spring, or summer term. Students should confer with their academic advisor prior to registration each term to ensure they are making progress toward completing all degree requirements.
