phd in sustainability analysis

Sustainability Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degree

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The Ph.D. in sustainability fosters innovation and creativity in solving real-world challenges within social, economic, technological, and business realms. In this inherently interdisciplinary program, you’ll become part of a network of academics from across RIT who are working to optimize sustainable systems and practices in engineering, manufacturing, energy, education, and more.

STEM-OPT Visa Eligible

Overview for Sustainability Ph.D.

Our approach to sustainability means working in the broader context of environmental assessment, economics, and policy. Each faculty member in the Golisano Institute for Sustainability sponsors a select number of students for specific research projects, with the scope varying from fundamental science to applied engineering to corporate sustainability applications. On acceptance into a sponsored research project, you will receive a fully-funded education, a stipend to help with living expenses, your own office space, and the time to develop your technical expertise in sub-areas dependent on your research.

In the sustainability Ph.D. program, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from areas across the entire university to develop your own innovative approach to the field, building off of methodologies such as life cycle assessment, environmental risk and impact assessment, design for the environment, pollution prevention, closed-loop supply chain management, and product life assessment. Moreover, you’ll work side-by-side with our world-renowned faculty who are avid researchers in diverse areas including biofuels, transportation, energy policy, resource recovery, smart products and systems, and more.

The sustainability Ph.D. helps you think innovatively about how sustainability can positively impact systems all over the world through big-picture solutions, from training future business leaders to maximizing natural resources. You don’t need a background in sustainability to apply to this program; you just need a desire to create positive change in the world. We bring in students of all ages, from all backgrounds—from biotechnology to business—and from all over the world. You’ll also find a wide range of experience—many of the program’s students have more than 10 years of career experience and/or education.

The faculty are well-known scholars and active researchers who not only bring their knowledge into the classroom but also directly involve students in their scholarship. This work includes a wealth of hands-on experience in our impressive research facilities , including a 75,000-sq.-ft., LEED Platinum certified research building with over nine labs and six technology testbeds. With this level of experience, you’ll be prepared for diverse academic and industry jobs where you can make an impact on the way the world views and utilizes sustainable practices, from the macro to the micro.

RIT's Sustainability Ph.D.

With the sustainability Ph.D.'s integrative curriculum, you will develop a deep foundation in sustainability science, sustainable systems, risk analysis, and more. You can also choose several electives from across RIT's colleges—from Computational Modeling and Simulation to Principles of Statistical Data Mining—to tailor your degree and create interdisciplinary relationships throughout the university.

Through your sponsored research project, you’ll have the opportunity to make novel and impactful contributions to the development and understanding of sustainable technologies. Recent dissertation examples include:

• Implications of Consumer Lifestyle Changes and Behavioral Heterogeneity on U.S. Energy Consumption and Policy
• Criticality of Byproduct Materials: Assessing Supply Risk, Environmental Impact, and Strategic Policy Response for Tellurium
• Development of an Integrated Reformer and Fuel Cell System for Portable Power Applications

Sustainability Research

Sustainable energy.

• Photovoltaics
• Energy supply/demand models
• Energy policy

Circular Economy

• Life cycle assessment
• Electronic waste and battery recycling
• Waste-to-energy processes
• Food waste management
• Remanufacturing

Sustainable Urban Systems

• Smart Cities
• Transportation systems analysis
• Food Waste Management
• Food-Energy-Water Nexus

Sustainability Resources: RIT Advances Global Sustainability

Partnering locally and internationally with the communities in which we are engaged, RIT is continuing to advance sustainability efforts and build resiliency at home and around the world. Rochester, NY, is a hub for sustainability professionals and home to rich natural resources, such as fertile farmland and the nearby Finger Lakes. Many of our students share their passion for sustainability with the local community by volunteering on projects connected to K-12 education, community gardens, farmer’s markets, and more. In addition, you will connect with the global sustainability community by attending and presenting at professional conferences all over the world.

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Latest News

April 4, 2024

REMADE to host conference in D.C.   

The Rochester Beacon talks to Nabil Nasr, associate provost and director of Golisano Institute for Sustainability, about the conference.

March 21, 2024

REMADE Institute to lead 2024 circular economy tech summit in D.C. next month

A national institute, led in part by RIT, next month is hosting the 2024 REMADE Circular Economy Technology Summit & Conference in Washington, D.C., highlighting emerging strategies and technologies to accelerate the adoption of a circular economy.

March 8, 2024

Pollution Prevention Institute at RIT accepting Community Grants Program applications

The program, founded in 2008, is part of the NYSP2I’s ongoing efforts to make the state more sustainable for workers, the public, the environment, and the economy through pollution prevention.

Curriculum for 2023-2024 for Sustainability Ph.D.

Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements

Sustainability, Ph.D. degree, typical course sequence

Admissions and Financial Aid

This program is available on-campus only.

Full-time study is 9+ semester credit hours. International students requiring a visa to study at the RIT Rochester campus must study full‑time.

Application Details

To be considered for admission to the Sustainability Ph.D. program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete an online graduate application .
• Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
• Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college.
• A recommended minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent).
• Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Submit a statement of purpose for research which will allow the Admissions Committee to learn the most about you as a prospective researcher.
• Submit two letters of recommendation .
• Entrance exam requirements: None
• Submit one writing sample .
• Submit English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic), if required. Details are below.

English Language Test Scores

International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following official English language test scores. Some international applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver .

International students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Each program requires balanced sub-scores when determining an applicant’s need for additional English language courses.

How to Apply   Start or Manage Your Application

Cost and Financial Aid

An RIT graduate degree is an investment with lifelong returns. Ph.D. students typically receive full tuition and an RIT Graduate Assistantship that will consist of a research assistantship (stipend) or a teaching assistantship (salary).

Additional Information

Prerequisites.

The Sustainability Ph.D. program requires that students gain mastery of key sustainability concepts and methods, several of which are quantitative in nature. Due to this, we require incoming students to have taken university-level calculus, statistics, and two courses in physical sciences (such as chemistry or physics).

PhD in Sustainable Development

The PhD in Sustainable Development at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) is a unique and innovative program that combines rigorous interdisciplinary training with practical application. This program provides a comprehensive education in both the social and natural sciences, preparing students to address complex sustainable development challenges.

Overview: The program's core curriculum includes around ten courses designed to provide interdisciplinary grounding, taught at the level expected of first- or second-year Ph.D. students. The course structure offers PhD-level training in economics and a natural science field, complemented by integrative courses specifically designed for sustainable development and courses in social sciences. This structure allows students the flexibility to pursue individual fields of study while developing broad-based skills and knowledge. Students must complete two social science electives and a coherent sequence of four natural science courses, totaling a minimum of 60 credits, and must maintain an overall B+ average with no grade lower than a B- in core classes.

In addition to coursework, students participate in integrative seminars—Sustainable Development Seminar I (SDEV U9200) and Sustainable Development Seminar II (SDEV U9201)—throughout the first three years of the program. They must also complete an MA thesis, pass an Orals Exam (leading to the MPhil Degree), and present and defend a Ph.D. dissertation.

Advanced Standing: Due to the unique interdisciplinary content of the program, students entering with a master’s degree from Columbia University or elsewhere must still complete all MA and MPhil course requirements and examinations. Advanced standing for previously held degrees may occasionally be granted at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) after the successful completion of the first year.

Advising: Students must select an advisory committee before the end of the fourth semester, ideally earlier, with the help and approval of the DGS and Program Faculty. The advisory committee, typically comprising 2 to 3 members, must include a SIPA faculty member as the main academic advisor. Other advisors can be from different Columbia University schools or universities but cannot be the main academic advisor. The committee should include faculty with expertise in both the social and natural sciences. Initially, the DGS will serve as the academic advisor for the first year or two, guiding and monitoring research progress.

Service Requirements: Students are required to fulfill teaching and research requirements, typically involving six semesters of work as a teaching fellow (TF) or a graduate research fellow (GRF). They usually serve as TFs in SIPA master-level and undergraduate courses. Students who secure external fellowship funding may reduce this requirement with the DGS's approval, but every student must complete at least two semesters as a TA.

Sixth Year: The Ph.D. in Sustainable Development is designed as a five-year program, although some students may need to extend their studies into a sixth year. While administrative accommodations can be made, funding for the sixth year is not guaranteed, and students are encouraged to secure fellowship support or other funding sources.  

Contact Us John Mutter , Professor  Director of the Ph.D. in Sustainable Development [email protected]

Tomara Aldrich Program Coordinator for the Ph.D. in Sustainable Development  [email protected]

John Mutter , Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences and of International and Public Affairs; Director of the PhD in Sustainable Development program

Douglas Almond , Professor of International and Public Affairs and of Economics

Scott Barrett , Lenfest-Earth Institute Professor of Natural Resource Economics

Geoffrey Heal , Donald C. Waite III Professor of Social Enterprise in the Faculty of Business and Professor of International and Public Affairs

Cristian Pop-Eleches , Professor of International and Public Affairs

Jeffrey Sachs , Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development; Professor of Health Policy and Management; Director of the Earth Institute

Wolfram Schlenker , Professor of International and Public Affairs

Jeffrey Shrader , Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs

Rodrigo Soares , Lemann Professor of Brazilian Public Policy and International and Public Affairs

Joseph Stiglitz , University Professor

Requirements for the MA Degree

Sustainable development courses.

These courses are designed and taught specifically for the PhD students in Sustainable Development, although they may be open to students from other programs.

Core Economics Courses

All core economics courses are taught in the Economics Department and are drawn from the Economics PhD syllabus. More information about these courses can be found from the Economics department Web site .

Social Science Courses

Students must take at least 3 social science courses. 

Natural Sciences Courses

Students must also take 3 natural science electives drawn from the following departments:

Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology (E3B)

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DEES)

Department of Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) at the Mailman School of Public Health

Department of Earth and Environmental Engineerin g (DEEE) at the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS)

The master’s thesis should be completed by May 1 in the fourth semester and should address a problem in sustainable development using data and methodologies from the four natural science courses completed in the first two years of the program. The thesis consists of an article (around 30 pages long), which would be publishable in an appropriately refereed academic journal reflecting the disciplinary orientation of the project.  Students should submit the Masters paper to their research advisor(s) with a copy to the DGS. The advisor later meets with the student and submits a pass/fail grade to the Assistant DGS for processing. For titles of MA thesis projects previously completed by students in the program please see here .

Requirements for the MPhil Degree

Completion of the MA requirements with a minimum of 60 credits and a B+ average.

Complete 4 out of 6 semesters of service requirements (Teaching Assistant, TA or Research Assistant, RA appointments) . Students with outside funding need to complete a minimum of 2 TA appointments.

Fulfillment of research tools requirement

Core courses in quantitative methods (Introduction to Econometrics I and II, and a third Quantitative Analysis course).

Either a two-course sequence in GIS or other analytic modeling systems or a proficiency examination in a non-English language, as selected with the approval of the academic adviser.

Submission of a final draft of the dissertation prospectus , approved by the adviser, to the MPhil Examining Committee three weeks prior to the MPhil examinations. The prospectus should:

be a single, 10-page document

be distinct from the Master’s thesis though it can build on similar research

cover the methods and objective of the research project

Two-hour long oral exam designed to examine the candidates’ formal learning and their capability to do independent research, including the presentation of a dissertation prospectus/proposal. The examination committee will consist of three faculty members, normally from the Sustainable Development core faculty, and will be chaired by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), who will lead the discussion of the prospectus. Examinations are conducted as follows:

5 minutes: the candidate will give a formal presentation of the prospectus

30 minutes: all members of the examining committee, led by the DGS, will ask questions.

30 minutes: examination of proficiency in fields most relevant to the proposed research, from within the following subjects:

Natural Science

Sustainable Development

(Optional) An elective field, such as study of a region

Each component will be graded on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest. If the average grade is 3.5 or above the student receives a clear pass. If the average grade is below 3.0 the student will be required to leave the program by the end of the current semester. If the average grade is between 3.0 and 3.5 or if any individual grade is below 3.0 the committee require the student to take further courses, revise their prospectus, or provide a revised research paper.

Requirements for the PhD Degree

Phd dissertation.

The PhD dissertation will be on a social science topic in sustainable development. The social science research will be informed by an understanding of physical and natural science constraints and opportunities influencing economic development.

Students with a regional area of interest to their dissertation may wish to do research abroad, so as to conduct field studies, use archives, improve language skills, or confer with local experts. In order that students may complete the PhD program without delay, it is preferred that they make use of summers to conduct such research. Students who feel they require a longer period of field research or language training need the approval of their advisor, and of the DGS. Students may not receive extended residence credit for study or research away from Columbia before the completion of all course work requirements and comprehensive examinations.

PhD Defense

Complete the GSAS deposit application and pay the $85 processing fee;

Submit the required Survey of Earned Doctorates online;

Upload and submit a PDF copy of your dissertation;

Obtain a signed Approval Card that certifies you have made all required revisions and that the dissertation has been approved for deposit by your sponsor and by your doctoral program.

Open defenses (optional)

If both the candidate for a defense and the Advisory Committee choose to have an “open” defense, the following will apply:

The candidate will have a maximum of 40 minutes to present major conclusions of the thesis research, with at least half of the time devoted to a description of new findings or insights in the field discussed that directly resulted from research by the student.

 Any member of the University community or other interested parties can attend the first part of the thesis defense.

Questions following the initial presentation are permitted for a maximum of 10 minutes.

Following the oral presentation by the candidate and the brief period for general questions, the defense committee will question the candidate in closed session for a period of up to 90 minutes.

If either the candidate or the Advisory Committee prefer, the procedures for “closed defense” (i.e., 20-minute oral presentation followed by questions from the defense committee in closed session for a period of up to 90 minutes) will be followed.

Candidates must consult with their advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies about scheduling the defense. Every Ph.D. student must submit the Intent to Distribute and Defend form directly to GSAS.

The final examination will not be scheduled until the Director of Graduate Studies has recommended the dissertation for defense. A five-person examining committee will be appointed by the department and must be approved by GSAS. The DGS will then officially invite the examiners.

The Application for Defense must be completed by the Candidate and the Director of Graduate Studies and submitted by the program’s office to the GSAS Dissertation office.

Members of the PhD examining committee must be given a minimum of three weeks to read the thesis, so the defense may comfortably be scheduled after submission of the thesis to the Advisory Committee. Before being recommended for defense, the candidate must submit to his/her Advisory Committee draft copies of the thesis, including figures, plates and tables and obtain the Advisory Committee’s written approval of the draft. (Written approval by the Advisory Committee indicates only that the thesis as it stands or with revisions suggested by them is in good enough form to justify scheduling the defense.)

After the Advisory Committee has given its preliminary approval in writing, and the candidate has made any revisions suggested by them, he/she must distribute copies of the dissertation to the external readers. Instructions for the correct form for preparing the manuscript and information on publication options may be obtained via the Graduate School’s website ( http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsas/ )

The candidate must see that outstanding fees or loans to the University are paid and make sure that he/she has fulfilled all other Departmental requirements. When these requirements have been fulfilled and the examining committee has been appointed by the DGS, the candidate is notified of the examination date, usually about two weeks in advance.

After passing the final examination, the candidate must see to any minor revisions and their approval by the examining committee before final deposit. If major revisions were called for (a defense-vote of “incomplete”), these must be made and submitted within a stated period (usually no fewer than three months and no longer than one year from the date of the defense) to the supervising committee, whose approval will have to be certified in writing before the candidate can be recorded as having passed the final examination. From the time of the “pass” vote, the student has a maximum of six months to deposit the thesis. There are four steps to completing your deposit -- the steps can be done in any order, but your deposit is only considered complete when all four steps are done.

Doctorate degrees are awarded in October, February, and May. Check the academic calendar for specific deadlines for the final deposit of the dissertation. (You may, however, call yourself “Dr.” as of the day of your deposit, since that date will appear on your official transcript.)

PhD in Sustainable Development Courses

SDEV U6240 Environmental Science for Sustainable Development. 3.00 Points.

Category: EE, EPD:Sustainable

This course provides a rigorous survey of the key areas of natural science that are critical to understanding sustainable development. The course will provide the theories, methodological techniques and applications associated with each natural science unit presented. The teaching is designed to ensure that students have the natural science basis to properly appreciate the co-dependencies of natural and human systems, which are central to understanding sustainable development. Students will learn the complexities of the interaction between the natural and human environment. After completing the course, students should be able to incorporate scholarly scientific work into their research or policy decisions and be able to use scientific methods of data analysis. This is a modular course that will cover core thematic areas specifically, climate, natural hazards, water management, public health/epidemiology, and ecology/biodiversity. To achieve coherence across lectures this course will emphasize how each topic is critical to studies of sustainable development and place-based case studies in recitation will integrate various topics covered. In the lectures and particularly the recitation sections this course will emphasize key scientific concepts such as uncertainty, experimental versus observational approaches, prediction and predictability, the use of models and other essential methodological aspects

SDEV U9200 Sustainable Development Seminar I. 1.50 Point.

This course is restricted to PhD in Sustainable Development

SDEV U9201 Sustainable Development Seminar II. 1.50 Point.

SDEV U9240 Human Ecology ＆ Sustainable Development. 4.00 Points.

Category: EPD:Sustainable, PhD in Sustainable Development Open to PhD Students Only

This course has two primary objectives: first, to provide a structured way to think about—and conduct research in—the field of sustainable development. Second, to introduce formal models of dynamic, coupled human and environmental systems

SDEV U9245 Environment ＆ Resource Economics. 3.00 Points.

This course aims to introduce you to the basic concepts of environmental economics

SDEV U9248 Collective Action for Global Sustainable Development. 3.00 Points.

Category: PhD in Sustainable Development Registration restricted to PhD Students

When externalities go uncorrected, and public goods go undersupplied, the reason is not that the market fails; the reason is that governments are unable or unwilling to intervene effectively. The biggest problem is with transnational externalities and regional and global public goods. This is partly because of the scale of these problems, but it is also because the institutional arrangements at this level make effective intervention difficult. There is no World Government. Instead, there are around 200 sovereign states. To support sustainable development globally, states must cooperate, and yet states' self-interests often conflict with their collective interests. This is why all countries agree that collective action must be taken to limit climate change, and yet, though they try and try again, countries seem unable to muster the individual action needed to meet their own collective goal. The aim of this course is to develop an apparatus for understanding international collective action for sustainable development. By an apparatus, I mean a theory, a structured way of looking at and understanding the world. Rather than just present the theory, my aim is to show you why theory is needed, how it has been constructed, and what its strengths and weaknesses are. Basically, in addition to teaching you principles and tools, I want you to come to see how this field has developed, what it has achieved, and where it has fallen short. Throughout the course, we shall also be looking at tests and applications of the theory-empirical and experimental papers in addition to case studies. The course draws from a number of disciplines, especially economics, game theory (analytical and experimental), and international relations-but also international law, philosophy, history, the natural and physical sciences, and engineering. The focus will be on institutions, and the way that they restructure the relations among states to cause states to behave differently-that is, to cause them to undertake collective action. In terms of applications, the course will address not only climate change but also depletion of the ozone layer, trans-boundary air pollution, pollution of the oceans, over-fishing, biodiversity loss, and the emergence and spread of infectious diseases

ECON GR6211 MICROECONOMIC ANALYSIS I. 4.00 points .

Prerequisites: the director of graduate studies' permission. Corequisites: ECON G6410. Consumer and producer behavior; general competitive equilibrium, welfare and efficiency, behavior under uncertainty, intertemporal allocation and capital theory, imperfect competition, elements of game theory, problems of information, economies with price rigidities

ECON GR6212 MICROECONOMIC ANALYSIS II. 4.00 points .

Prerequisites: the director of graduate studies permission. Corequisites: ECON G6410. Consumer and producer behavior; general competitive equilibrium, welfare and efficiency, behavior under uncertainty, intertemporal allocation and capital theory, imperfect competition, elements of game theory, problems of information, economies with price rigidities

ECON GR6411 INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMETRICS I. 4.00 points .

Corequisites: ECON G6410 and the director of graduate studies' permission. Introduction to probability theory and statistical inference

ECON GR6412 INTRODUCTN TO ECONOMETRICS II. 4.00 points .

Corequisites: ECON G6410 and the director of graduate studies permission. Introduction to the general linear model and its use in econometrics, including the consequences of departures from the standard assumptions

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Doctorate in Sustainability – PhD (Online)*

Career paths, residencies.

• Faculty & Staff

Tuition & Fees

Emerge as an innovative leader in the field of sustainability to address socio-ecological resilience, climate change, water scarcity, food insecurity, environmental policy, economic justice, and more.

At a Glance

For the program beginning summer 2025

Residency Locations

Portugal, Tanzania

Priority Deadline

November 1, 2024, followed by rolling admissions

Final Deadline

January 31, 2025

Critical Global Issue of Study

Climate & Environment

Development & Inequality

Program Cost

Why a phd in sustainability from sit.

Developed for professionals working to create a more sustainable future, PhD in Sustainability students will investigate the social, ecological, technical, and political dimensions of sustainable transformations, the relationship of science and society in advancing more sustainable futures, and novel and inclusive approaches to community-based problem solving and sustainable development.

This online program is complemented by two 10-day international residencies across four years of part-time study. During the first-year residency, students will immerse themselves in Lisbon, Portugal, a beacon of progress in renewable energy innovation, marine conservation, and sustainability. During the second-year residency, students transition from theory to hands-on exploration through unique case studies in Tanzania’s Zanzibar Archipelago, which is at the forefront of blue economy initiatives.

Students will develop skills in research, organizational leadership, policy development, and communication in order to contribute to climate change mitigation, advocate for social equity, and innovate sustainable business practices for economic prosperity. Graduates of the program will be prepared to lead multi-stakeholder groups as they will be effective communicators in policy circles, academic and organizational contexts, and in popular science.  

SIT’s global faculty bring experience in both teaching and mentorship and applied work in many facets of sustainability, from integrative conservation, climate change, food security, environmental governance, and sustainable business and technology. With SIT’s global network and long history of experiential learning, students will gain a unique global perspective they can apply to their careers.

This program is ideal for professionals enthusiastic about producing evidence-based analysis to investigate the social and ecological dimensions of sustainable transformations, the relationship of science and society in advancing more sustainable futures, and novel and inclusive approaches to community-based problem solving and sustainable development. Career paths may include:

Climate and environment analyst

Lead sustainability designer or director

Energy policy advisor

Regenerative systems specialist

Green tech innovator

Sustainability curriculum designer

University faculty

Leadership and research roles in academic, government, NGO, and business

Read about SIT Graduate Institute alumni careers through the SIT blog and our Career Impact page.

First-Year Residency: Lisbon, Portugal

A beacon of progress in renewable energy innovation, marine conservation, and sustainability, Portugal offers a vibrant environment of breathtaking coastlines and majestic mountainous regions that will serve as your classroom. During this 10-day residency, students will explore and contribute to areas such as marine conservation, renewable energy innovations, and sustainable agriculture practices.

The program base, Lisbon, received the 2020 European Green Capital Award. The city surpassed its 2030 target for carbon emissions reduction in 2016 and aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Second-Year Residency: Zanzibar, Tanzania

Transition from theory to hands-on exploration through case studies in the Zanzibar Archipelago, which is at the forefront of blue economy initiatives. This 10-day residency serves as a cornerstone for grounding the program themes and tools in real-world applications, where your research becomes a powerful catalyst for positive change.

Go beyond the classroom to contribute to solutions for sustainability challenges, particularly related to food production and tourism in the face of climate change. Visit key sites and interact with stakeholders to gain valuable insights into local sustainability practices and challenges. Beyond the local context, this experience extends to a global perspective as participants compare their Zanzibar experiences against similar cases worldwide.

Please note that in order to take advantage of dynamic learning opportunities, program excursions may occasionally vary.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the PhD in Sustainability, students will be able to:

• Conduct groundbreaking transdisciplinary research that cuts across systems thinking, sustainability studies, and social action.
• Design effective and successful project solutions that lead to inclusive, tenable results for the flourishing of human livelihoods and ecosystems at different spatiotemporal scales.
• Contribute to an emerging body of research and action that redefines mainstream environmental thought guided by contemporary, alternative conservation epistemologies.
• Lead organizations and initiatives in the creation and implementation of sustainable and regenerative systems that satisfy human and ecosystem needs.
• Design and carry out original, ethical research informed by relevant literature and grounded in appropriate methodologies and approaches.
• Contribute to scholarship and practice of the field through publishable research findings.

Read more about Program Learning Outcomes .

Students complete 64 credit hours of work across four years (12 semesters) of study in small personalized cohorts. Courses focus on theory, research methods, applied practice, professional development, and dissertation preparation. Throughout, you will learn from professors and advisors from across the globe. This PhD draws on SIT’s 60-year history of experiential education and global partnerships to provide students with a unique and powerful learning experience.

Students can request to transfer up to 15 credits of relevant previous graduate coursework during admission, thereby reducing the overall credit requirement from 64 to 49.

With approval, students can pursue an accelerated pathway to complete the degree in 10 semesters. The research and dissertation writing phase of the program may vary, dependent on individual student progress, outside commitments, and type or scope of research.

Please expand the sections below to see detailed course descriptions and admissions information.

This is SIT

• We value active togetherness, reciprocity, and respect as the essential ingredients for building a sustainable community .

• With open minds, empathy, and courage, we facilitate intercultural understanding and respect for the commonalities and differences between people.
• We champion social inclusion & justice in all that we are and all that we do, from ensuring our community and our programs amplify the voices, agency, and dignity of all people to deliberately instilling the principles and practices of inclusion in all of our work.
• We are committed to human and environmental well-being through sustainability and contributing to a better world for all living and future generations.
• Elective (3 credits; or 3 approved transfer credits)
• Perspectives on Sustainability (3 credits)

In this course, students will delve into the foundational bodies of theory that underpin both research and practical applications of sustainability approaches. This course provides the theoretical background for the discussion and analysis of sustainability issues that range from energy and natural resources to biodiversity and global climate change. Core concepts of the course include social-ecological systems thinking, vulnerability, resilience, regenerative development, policy, and communication in the context of sustainability.

Central to the course is the interconnectedness of sustainability issues across different scales and systems. Students will gain insights into how communities, governments, organizations, social movements, private corporations, and individuals can collectively address the looming threats to sustainability. The exploration of sustainability topics spans a wide array of perspectives, fostering adaptability in addressing the complex task of reshaping human society and its relationship with nature and technology. The overarching goal is to guide individuals towards more sustainable patterns in ecological, social, political, and economic relations while preparing them to be effective communicators of hope throughout their graduate degree and beyond.

• Social-Ecological-Technical-Political Systems and Integration (3 credits)

This course provides the theoretical background for the use and application of complex systems thinking and decision making for sustainability. The course content draws on diverse fields and spheres, including the social sciences, ecological systems, and technology, with a focus on how these spheres overlap, interact, and how we may further bring them together. Core concepts of the course include social-ecological systems thinking, supply-chain and networks analysis, and ethics and social justice in the context of sustainability. Students will examine interrelationships among natural, societal, economic, technological and political systems on multiple scales, and learn to identify problems and conceptualize solutions using systems thinking.

• Integrative Biodiversity Conservation (3 credits)

In this course, students will examine past and current environmental conservation theories, paradigms, approaches, and practices that explore and weigh 1) the challenges and successes of resource conservation on multiple scales, 2) the role of carbon in current and future management of ecological systems, 3) the emergence of environmental governance, and 4) ecological restoration and its potential impacts on human flourishing. Holistic in its approach, the course focuses on the relationships, nuances, and sacrifices involved in balancing human use of natural resources and the maintenance and regeneration of ecological health. The course will also draw on theories and concepts from the pluriverse, environmental psychology, and notions of the inseparable duality of the human-nature mosaic.

• Case studies in Climate Change and Sustainability (3 credits)

Societies in developing countries depend on ecosystem goods and services for their livelihoods. Climate change impacts have damaged the integrity of ecosystems and placed stresses on residents’ livelihoods, public institutions, and businesses. This Praxis course addresses climate change impacts and sustainable practices in the tropics and, furthermore, shows that sustainability is a key factor of the development process. The idea of sustainability emerged in response to growing concerns about the apparent failure of conventional, state-led “development” initiatives and about the extent and pace of socio-environmental degradation, including in African settings. In general, a practice is sustainable and resilient when it can cope with and recover from stress and shocks and maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets, while not further undermining the natural resource base and its multi-sectoral linkages.

This 10-day course takes place in the Zanzibar Archipelago, a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania in East Africa. The course addresses three specific cases by experiencing examples and putting theory and skills into practice where Africa meets the Indian Ocean. During the stay in Zanzibar, we also visit key sites and meet with stakeholders about sustainability practices and challenges, for instance as linked to food production and tourism in an era of climate change. Experiences and applications in Zanzibar are compared against global cases. This course grounds doctoral program themes and tools with on-the-ground experiences and applications in the Global South.

• Preliminary Review (0 credits)

At the conclusion of year one of the program, students must pass a preliminary examination. Preliminary exams demonstrate mastery of content covered in core courses and demonstrated progress towards the dissertation research proposal.

• Analytical Tools and Methods in Sustainability Studies (3 credits)

Sustainability assessment balances environmental, social, and economic impacts while respecting contextual and long-term risks. This Research Methods course provides a critical and systematic review of qualitative and quantitative, but primarily mixed methods, approaches to sustainability. Previous comprehension of baseline qualitative and quantitative methods is expected of students. The course also introduces and applies diverse analytical tools essential to the assessment of sustainability cases and outcomes. A broad comprehension of disciplines, scales (space and time), data types, metrics, indicators, and the strengths and limitations of specific paradigms and approaches informs the course and its content. Sustainability evaluations can impact policy and decision-making in both natural/physical and social spheres. Enhanced livelihoods and environmental conservation and social development can result from improved scientific and technical applications that assess the synergies and tradeoffs of sustainability outcomes.

• Qualitative Research Methods (3 credits)

In this course, students will be introduced to a range of approaches and methods used in qualitative inquiry. Among the approaches covered are process tracing, discourse analysis, ethnographic research, case studies, comparative historical analysis, archival research, interviewing, ethnography, content analysis, ethnographic research, political profiling, and agent-based modeling. Students will deepen their knowledge about these approaches and enhance their data collection skills by conducting surveys, analytical frameworks, designing case studies, and reflecting on each method’s strengths and limitations. Students will also learn how to code data inductively and deductively, develop codes, look for patterns emerging in data, develop overarching themes, and interpret findings.

• Comprehensive Exam (0 credits)

Upon completion of all coursework, students must pass a comprehensive examination and begin a prospectus (proposal) for their dissertation research. Comprehensive exams confirm students’ mastery of their chosen field of study and serve as the basis for their doctoral dissertation literature review. After passing the comprehensive examination and prospectus defense, students enter candidacy.

• Research Colloquium (3 credits)

The Research Colloquium gives a platform for doctoral students to present and discuss possible PhD research projects, exchange ideas, receive constructive feedback, and workshop ways to prepare and improve their dissertation research proposals. Across 10 days, students interact in a conference format, presenting their research ideas, the literature and debates attached to those ideas, and the methods they are considering using in their inquiry process. Students are also expected to critically evaluate the work of their peers, providing constructive criticism to help them advance their research agenda, operationalize their research questions(s), and identify and develop plans for overcoming challenges in the data collection and analysis phases of their research. Prior to the in-person colloquium students will work with their advisor as needed to develop their presentations.

• Doctoral and Professional Development Seminar 1 (1 credit)

The Doctoral and Professional Development Seminars 1-4 seek to build a community of practice of PhD students as they work to complete their doctoral dissertations.  Students meet bi-weekly with each other and their degree chair to share their dissertation progress, problem solve, and share drafts of their work for feedback. The seminar will also feature occasional guest speakers who will share their own doctoral dissertation journeys and their professional transitions after receiving their PhD.

• Proposal Defense, IRB approval (3 credits)

The proposal defense is designed to evaluate the feasibility, significance, and originality of each student’s proposed dissertation research project. It serves as a critical checkpoint to ensure that the research project is well-structured, well-developed, and has a high likelihood of success. The defense is conducted in front of the student’s three dissertation committee members: their primary advisor and their first and second reader. It consists of a formal presentation followed by a question-and-answer session. After the questioning, the committee deliberates, then provides feedback to the student regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal. The outcome of the defense will be one of the following: 1) Pass: the student may proceed with their research, 2) Conditional Pass: The student is allowed to proceed, but they must address specific issues or complete requested revisions to the proposal before doing so, or 3) Fail: The proposal does not meet the required standards, and the student will be required to revise and redefend it at a later date. *Requires successful completion of comprehensive exams.

• Dissertation (5 credits)

At least 20 credits of the PhD program consists of research and dissertation. After completion of the dissertation, the student must pass an oral examination in defense of the dissertation. The culminating experience for the doctoral degree program is publication of the dissertation. The non-coursework portion of the program usually lasts two years.

• Doctoral and Professional Development Seminar 2 (1 credit)
• Doctoral and Professional Development Seminar 3 (1 credit)
• Doctoral and Professional Development Seminar 4 (1 credit)
• Dissertation Defense (1 credit)

In this course, students will complete their dissertation, prepare for their oral defense. working closely with their primary and secondary advisors, and deliver and defend their work. Students will be able to present their dissertation remotely.

Electives and Transfer Credits (15 credits)

Students must take 15 credits of elective courses prior to sitting for comprehensive exams. Elective credits can be fulfilled by two means: transferring prior graduate credits earned at SIT or another accredited institution or completing an advisor approved elective offered through one of SIT’s course offerings in the master’s or PhD programs.

Admissions Criteria

Our admissions staff work one-on-one with every applicant to facilitate a highly informed and multidimensional admissions experience: applicants are required to undertake an interview with SIT faculty during the application process.    

As applicants become familiar with the attributes of an SIT education—grounded in the experiential learning model and focused on social justice and leadership skills in intercultural environments—they determine for themselves  how  SIT can help them meet their educational and career objectives.  

For the PhD in Sustainability, admissions will evaluate candidates to ensure they meet the following criteria:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution
• Strong academic writing and scholarly potential, as evidenced by a statement of purpose
• Demonstrated English language proficiency (see details below)
• Intercultural and professional experience
• A minimum preferred cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a scale of 4.0
• Demonstrated ability to use experience as a source of learning
• All applicants are required to interview with program faculty

All applicants must submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• statement of purpose
• three letters of recommendation
• resume or curriculum vitae
• proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information The statement of purpose should not exceed 750 words and should describe how the applicant’s experience will contribute to success in the program; describe how completion of the degree will support long-term professional goals; and expand on key research questions the applicant aims to address as part of the plan of study. Letters of recommendation must be from three people who can attest to the applicant’s academic and professional achievements. At least one letter should be academic in nature.

Applicants will be able to transfer up to 15 credits of related graduate coursework toward the PhD program. Please contact us for more information.

English Language Ability

Applicants whose first language is not English and who did not graduate from an English-speaking institution must demonstrate English language proficiency.

*This new program is pending accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) in accordance with the Commission's Policy on Substantive Change. The approval process is anticipated to be finalized in fall 2024.

Faculty & Staff

Sustainability – phd (online)*.

Discover the Possibilities

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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Offered By: Department of Environmental Health and Engineering

In-person | Full-Time | 5 years

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About the PhD Track in Environmental Sustainability, Resilience, and Health

The Environmental Sustainability, Resilience and Health (ESRH) track cultivates innovative public health scientists and engineers who address urgent challenges at the intersection of climate, sustainability, resilience, and equity.  ESRH students will be prepared for diverse careers, including work in academic institutions, government agencies, intergovernmental bodies, nongovernmental organizations, and private businesses.

Environmental Sustainability

Humans can safely co-exist within our planetary boundaries over a long time.

Environmental Resilience

Humans and their environment can quickly recover from negative shocks, such as extreme heat events or zoonotic pandemics.

Environmental Health

Humans shape their natural and built environments in ways that promote positive, equitable health outcomes for themselves and the planet.

The PhD Track in Environmental Sustainability, Resilience, and Health is Unique

Have you seen any other doctoral programs with a name like ours? There aren’t any. Yes, you can find programs in “environmental sustainability” and programs in “environmental health,” but you won’t find a program that combines those two emphases and includes a focus on resilience. The nexus between sustainability, health, and resilience is a critical frontier for research and practice in the 21st century. Our students are going to be leaders at that frontier.

Public Health and Engineering

One distinctive feature of this program is its joint delivery by the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Whiting School of Engineering. Students benefit from an interdisciplinary cohort and the opportunity for coursework, mentorship, and research opportunities across both schools. There are slight differences in requirements at the two schools. Prospective students choose which school to apply through based on their primary interests. 

What you’ll study

The ESRH track trains students in systems thinking and the application of core public health and engineering tools. That training is supplemented with a deep understanding of the anthropogenic drivers of environmental change, and the consequences of that change for human health and well-being. Using methods and tools from public health and engineering, ESRH students design, implement and analyze research studies with relevance to both science and practice.

To provide a shared foundation in ESRH topics, all students take a sequence of core courses. Elective coursework is then customized to student interests. Each student identifies a primary focus area and a primary methodological area. Examples of focus areas include climate, food systems, energy, built environment, air, water, and equity. Examples of methodological areas include biostatistics, epidemiology, lifecycle assessment, engineering, economics, systems analysis, program evaluation, qualitative methods, risk policy and communication, and geography. 

Track Faculty

Meghan Davis, PhD, DVM  (BSPH) - Environmental microbiology, one health, asthma  Peter DeCarlo, PhD  (WSE) - Atmospheric aerosols (particulate matter), air quality, and climate Paul Ferraro, PhD  (WSE) - Behavioral science, causal inference, environmental policy Shima Hamidi , PhD  (BSPH) - Geospatial data, built environment, housing and transportation & health Ben Hobbs, PhD  (WSE) - Systems analysis, energy, water Ben Q. Huỳnh (BSPH) - AI, data science, environmental justice; planetary health Kirsten Koehler , PhD, MA  (BSPH) - Exposure assessment, aerosols, air quality Keeve Nachman , PhD, MHS  (BSPH) - Risk science, risk assessment, food systems Roni Neff , PhD, ScM  (BSPH) - Food system, wasted food, resilience, equity Scot Miller, PhD  (WSE) - Global change, greenhouse gases, air pollutants Carsten Prasse , PhD  (WSE) - Emerging contaminants, engineering processes, analytical detection methods Ana Rule, PhD  (BSPH) - Air pollution, bioaerosols, metal speciation Kellogg Schwab , PhD, MSPH  (BSPH) - Water, sanitation and hygiene, environmental microbiology, microbial fate and transport  Brian Schwartz , MD, MS  (BSPH) - Environmental epidemiology, sustainability, built environment, lead Genee Smith , PhD, MSPH  (BSPH) - Environmental epidemiology, health effects of climate change, infectious diseases

Browse an overview of this program's requirements in the JHU  Academic Catalogue  - See Track Requirements for Environmental Sustainability, Resilience, and Health , and explore all course offerings in the Bloomberg School  Course Directory .

Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the JHU PhD Union, the minimum guaranteed 2025-2026 academic year stipend is $50,000 for all PhD students with a 4% increase the following year. Tuition, fees, and medical benefits are provided, including health insurance premiums for PhD student’s children and spouses of international students, depending on visa type. The minimum stipend and tuition coverage is guaranteed for at least the first four years of a BSPH PhD program; specific amounts and the number of years supported, as well as work expectations related to that stipend will vary across departments and funding source. Please refer to the  CBA to review specific benefits, compensation, and other terms.

Need-Based Relocation Grants Students who  are admitted to PhD programs at JHU   starting in Fall 2023 or beyond can apply to receive a need-based grant to offset the costs of relocating to be able to attend JHU.   These grants provide funding to a portion of incoming students who, without this money, may otherwise not be able to afford to relocate to JHU for their PhD program. This is not a merit-based grant. Applications will be evaluated solely based on financial need.  View more information about the need-based relocation grants for PhD students .

Questions about the program? We're happy to help. [email protected]

Program Directors Paul Ferraro, PhD Keeve Nachman, PhD  Roni Neff, PhD  

Sustainability, PhD

• Program description
• At a glance
• Degree requirements
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• Global opportunities
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Climate, Economy, Energy, Environment, Food, Future, Global Warming, Justice, Pollution, Society, Supply Chain, Water, approved for STEM-OPT extension, ethics, sustain, urban

Research and develop solutions to sustainability challenges that bridge disciplines. Learn from leading scientists and scholars in this customizable, interdisciplinary program.

The PhD program in sustainability prepares students to become scientists and leaders in research who investigate the urgent sustainability challenges of this century. The flexible, transdisciplinary nature of the program allows students to focus on problems of interest to them, drawing upon relevant knowledge from sustainability science and a variety of disciplines. This full-time program includes a high degree of faculty interaction and collaboration.

All sustainability doctoral students gain a better understanding of the need for a transdisciplinary approach to solving sustainability challenges as well as the ability to communicate their research effectively to academic and non-academic audiences alike.

In addition to the common learning outcomes, students are able to conduct research on particular sustainability challenges using theoretical lenses and methods from sustainability science and a range of complementary disciplines. Students learn to translate sustainability challenges to tractable research questions; develop a portfolio of quantitative and qualitative research methods to address these research questions; formulate and test hypotheses; utilize rigorous elicitation methods to gather qualitative and quantitative datasets; learn to engage with stakeholders to co-produce knowledge; use statistical and other analytic techniques to analyze data; and build and apply models of social-ecological systems.

They develop expertise in the analysis of institutional policies and regulations, as well as the design of the built environment and technologies, to support sustainable development. They also develop the foundational knowledge of concepts and methods required to conduct interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and effectively communicate their findings across academic disciplines, as well as to policymakers and the general public.

Graduates possess an advanced understanding of the dynamics of coupled social-ecological systems and use this knowledge to conduct original research to inform robust solutions to specific sustainability challenges. They are equipped to lead others in the development of sustainable strategies at the local, national and global levels.

This program may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training extension for up to 36 months. This OPT work authorization term may help international students gain skills and experience in the U.S. Those interested in an OPT extension should review ASU degrees that qualify for the STEM-OPT extension at ASU's International Students and Scholars Center website.

The OPT extension only applies to students on an F-1 visa and does not apply to students completing the degree through ASU Online.

• College/school: College of Global Futures
• Location: Tempe

86 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core (11 credit hours) SOS 510 Perspectives on Sustainability (3) SOS 520 Research Design and Methods for Sustainability (3) SOS 525 Social-Ecological-Technical Systems (SETS): Domains and Interfaces (3) SOS 589 Community of Graduate Student Scholars (2)

Solutions Workshop Electives (6 credit hours)

Open Electives (45 credit hours)

Research (12 credit hours) SOS 792 Research (12)

Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) SOS 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information Students take SOS 589 twice for one credit hour. For electives, students should see the academic unit for the approved course list. Other coursework may be used with the approval of the academic unit. Only six credit hours of 400-level coursework can be included in the plan of study.

When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, this program allows up to 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this program. If students do not have a previously awarded master's degree, the remaining coursework is to be made up of appropriate electives.

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the College of Global Futures.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. The school encourages applicants with diverse educational backgrounds and experiences that are relevant to the school's core objectives.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• statement of intent
• three letters of recommendation
• resume or curriculum vitae
• proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

The statement of intent should not exceed 600 words and should describe how the applicant's background will contribute to success in the program; describe how completion of the degree will support long-term career goals; elaborate on key research questions the applicant wishes to address or problems to solve as part of the plan of study; and identify potential faculty advisors.

Letters of recommendation must be from three people who can attest to the applicant's academic and professional achievements. At least one letter should be academic in nature.

Studying abroad is encouraged for graduate students. Nearly all of the College of Global Futures faculty-directed programs offer graduate credit. In addition, the Global Education Office offers more than 50 program opportunities, with programs on every continent.

Faculty-directed programs tend to be the best fit for graduate students; taking courses with ASU professors over the summer or during academic breaks offers students close mentorship and professional network growth in many fields of study while they earn ASU credit. Exchange program participation is also possible with careful planning.

Students can find programs specific to their interests on the College of Global Futures Study Abroad webpage , and additional opportunities and information on the ASU Global Education Office website . These sites also include additional information about applying for funding to support global travel.

Graduate students are also encouraged to apply for funding for international research, study and professional development through ASU's Lorraine W. Frank Office of National Scholarships Advisement .

Professionals with expertise in sustainability frameworks and interdisciplinary research are in high demand across industries, including business, academia and government. Skills in critical thinking, teamwork, sustainability problem solving and research are valuable to businesses and institutions, many of which are in need of expertise to solve critical sustainability problems and introduce sustainability principles into their business models.

From the School of Sustainability's 2022 alumni employment survey, 100% of doctoral program respondents are employed. Of those respondents employed, 100% have jobs directly related to sustainability. Students can learn more about careers in sustainability and where graduates of sustainability doctoral programs are now employed by visiting the School of Sustainability's alumni employment data website .

Career possibilities for program graduates include:

• chief sustainability officer
• data analyst
• environmental scientist
• geographic information systems coordinator
• program manager or director
• research scientist
• sustainability consultant
• sustainability policy advisor
• sustainability specialist

School of Sustainability | WCPH 3rd floor [email protected] 480-727-6963 Admission deadlines

PhD in Sustainability Management

Scholarship in applied sustainable development

The PhD in Sustainability Management (SUSM) prepares future sustainability innovators with interdisciplinary research skills, management approaches, strategies and processes to realize sustainable outcomes with business, government and third sector organizations.

Students contribute to the creation of academic knowledge by developing methods, systems, concepts, and tools for sustainability management. Data and analysis consider environmental, social and governance areas in sustainable development.

Graduates prepare for career paths both inside and outside academia, including employment in government, business and third sector organizations. Through professional development seminars, students gain skills to mobilize their knowledge and develop skills for careers outside of academia.

Contact: Anastasiya Saparaliyeva Graduate Program Coordinator PhD in Sustainability Management

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The Sustainable Development Policy, Economics and Governance (SDPEG) Ph.D. program offers a transdisciplinary doctoral education in the policies, practices and theories of sustainable development. By offering a core curriculum that includes applied policy and economic analysis, governance and process design, social science methods, and professional skills development, the program produces graduates capable of conducting original, applied research that is designed to support sustainability and resiliency across social, ecological, and technical systems. 

This degree will prepare students to assume positions as policy leaders in government, higher education, public and private sector organizations, non-governmental organizations, and research institutes with the expertise and vision to inform local, state, national, and international policy.  

Asim Zia, Director and Professor of Public Policy and Computer Science

Travis Reynolds, Associate Professor

Dan Tobin, Associate Professor

Trisha Shrum, Assistant Professor

David Conner, Professor

Josh Farley, Professor

Sarah Heiss, Associate Professor

Qingbin Wang, Professor

Anaka Aiyar, Assistant Professor

Joe Ament, Assistant Professor

Kate Mays, Assistant Professor

Benjamin Dangl, Lecturer

Edward McMahon, Adjunct Associate Professor

Pablo Bose, Professor

Stephanie Seguino, Professor Emerita

Gregory Rowangould, Associate Professor

Donna Ramirez-Harrington, Associate Professor

Brian Beckage, Professor

Elizabeth Doran, Research Assistant Professor

Jane Kolodinsky, Professor Emerita

Christopher Koliba, Professor Emeritus

Kelsey Gleason, Assistant Professor

Dana Rowangould, Assistant Professor

Degree Requirements

Milestones, guidelines and timeline to degree completion.

Minimum Degree Requirements

The degree requires a total of 75 credits. A minimum of 51 credits must be completed in residence. The residency requirement is completed by courses that:

1. are taken for graduate credit through the University of Vermont, and

2. are taken after the student has been admitted to the Graduate College.

The program’s course of study includes: 

1. 15-credit core 2. Up to 24 transfer credits from prior master’s degree (12 out of 24 transferable credits must meet pre-requisite requirements in statistical methods, research methodology, economics and policy process theory) 3. 15 credits of a pre-approved Certificate of Graduate Study or a customized sequence of advisor-approved graduate level elective courses 4. 21 dissertation research credits

15 credit core includes:

Requirements for Advancement to Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Students will advance to candidacy following completion of the core curriculum, passage of a written and oral comprehensive exam, passage of the written dissertation and oral dissertation defense exam, and acquisition of teaching experience in the field of sustainable development policy, economics and governance. A GPA of 3.0 must be maintained.

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Admissions Information

Applications for fall 2025 are due January 15, 2025 and will be reviewed after that date.

Admission will be contingent upon funding and alignment of research interests with faculty that are accepting students.

Application can be accessed here .

Admissions Requirements:

• Master’s degree in public policy, public administration, economics, natural resources, engineering, ecology, food systems, political science or a closely related field, including social sciences, professional fields, and STEM
• Completion of graduate level course in statistical methods (can be completed as part of Ph.D.)
• Completion of graduate level course in research methodology (can be completed as part of Ph.D.)
• Completion of graduate level course in economics (can be completed as part of Ph.D.)
• Completion of graduate level course in policy process theory (can be completed as part of Ph.D.)
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae 
• In the application Statement of Purpose, please identify 1 to 2 potential advisers from the SDPEG faculty list.
• Applicants must submit evidence of experience and success in the research process such as writing sample(s), and/or evidence of research experience(s) (e.g., theses, term papers, class projects, research reports and/or other descriptions of past research experience from academic or professional lives).
• The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is optional.
• For international students whose native language is not English or who have not completed undergraduate or master’s degrees in English, scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo must be submitted.

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April 1, 2022

Education/training | sustainable development goals.

This QuickLook on Higher Education for Sustainability and Peace presents a list of PhD opportunities covering areas of one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals. Information is derived from institution websites. The first part consists of 27 institutions with programs in sustainability and environment studies in Europe (1-8), USA (9-18), Canada (19-24), Australia (25), South Korea (26), and Japan (27).

The second part, on peace and security, identifies 13 PhD opportunities in Europe (28-30), Dominica (31), USA (32-35), Canada (36), Japan (37), Africa (38-39), and New Zealand (40). Two institutions offers three PhDs each (13-14) and one offers eight (39).

None of the various 53 doctoral programs listed here cover all of the SDGs, or even mention the SDGs!  But two institutions (37, 39) offer PhDs in security or sustainability. Long run integration is needed between sustainability and peace programs, because we cannot have security without sustainability, nor sustainability without security.

Part I: Sustainable Development and Environment Studies

1. ludwig-maximilians universität münchen, rachel carson center for environment and society ( augsburg-munich, germany, international phd in rethinking environment ).

The PhD program “Rethinking Environment: The Environmental Humanities and the Ecological Transformation of Society,” funded by the Elite Network of Bavaria, is based at the Environmental Science Center WZU (Augsburg) and the Rachel Carson Center (Munich). It offers a unique opportunity to pursue a PhD degree examining the ecological transformation of society from an interdisciplinary perspective within an intellectually inspiring environment that brings together the international and regional expertise of its many partners and networks.

2. European School of Sustainability Science and Research (Hamburg, Germany; ESSSR Cooperative PhD on Sustainable Development Research )

The program is free of charge and aimed at students already enrolled for a PhD at an accredited higher education institution, undertaking research on sustainable development issues. The cooperation with ESSSR consists of offering the students complementary training (e.g. seminars on research ethics, statistics, methodology) and opportunities for contributing to ESSSR publications.

3. Queen’s University of Belfast, The School of Biological Sciences (Belfast, Ireland; PhD in Ecology, Evolution, Behaviour and Environmental Economics )

The primary focus of the Ecology, Evolution, Behaviour, and Environmental Economics research cluster is fundamental and involves applied aspects of ecology, environmental economics, conservation, aquaculture, animal behaviour, molecular taxonomy and molecular genetics, particularly involving links between these aspects. The cluster has a high level of research activity involving academic staff, postdoctoral scientists, and postgraduate research students.

4. Universidad Loyola (Cordoba/Sevilla/Grenada, Spain; PhD in Inclusive and Sustainable Development Doctorado en Desarrollo Inclusivo y Sostenible ) [2016]

Seeks to train researchers to develop a research career in the field of sustainable development. It is expected that, upon completing the program, students will be able to face, in a scientific way, the analysis, planning and resolution of specific problems in the areas of development in countries and territories.

5. Lund University, Centre for Sustainability Studies (Lund, Sweden; PhD in Sustainability Science) [2008]

Educates PhD graduates from different disciplinary backgrounds within the field of sustainability. The aim is to develop scientific competence and interdisciplinary research in order to comprehend and address various sustainability challenges such as climate change, climate adaptation, biodiversity loss, and land use change.

6. Maastricht University (Netherlands; PhD in Sustainability Science and Policy )

A program “designed to educate researchers, university teachers, and world leaders in the social, economic and natural science disciplines that underpin sustainable development”. Its focus is on integrative and interdisciplinary research needed to explore science and policy issues in sustainable development. It is based on the premise that integrated assessment methods and concepts, such as transitions, modeling and scenario analysis, are instrumental in providing answers to the central questions of sustainable development.

7. Institute for Sustainable Resources (London, UK; MPhil/ PhD in Sustainable Resources )

Institute programs aim to equip graduates to become leaders in energy and sustainability related industry, academia, and policy making.  Themes include: sustainability at the water-food-land nexus, energy system transitions to achieve net-zero, financing the low carbon transition, improving energy access and resource use in the developing world, resource-efficient economies and societies and directing innovation for sustainable development.

8. University of Reading, Centre for Agri-Environmental Research (Reading, UK; PhD in Agriculture, Policy and Development Researc) [2000]

Aims to bring together a wide range of disciplines necessary to address issues related to sustainable agriculture in the 21st Century. The Centre developed partnerships with researchers, funding agencies, industry, policy makers, users and stakeholders to apply knowledge and expertise to the design of sustainable agricultural landscapes, and reconcile the often-conflicting demands of agricultural production and environmental protection.

9. Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs (New York City, USA; PhD in Sustainable Development) [2004]

The PhD is based on an interdisciplinary approach involving the social, natural, engineering, and health sciences. The program includes a set of core requirements in the social and natural sciences designed to provide a deep understanding of the interaction between natural and social systems, and provides students with the flexibility to pursue in-depth research in critical policy areas.

10. Rochester Institute of Technology, The Golisano Institute for Sustainability (Rochester, New York, USA; PhD in Sustainability) [2008]

A practically-based program that fosters innovation and creativity in solving real-world challenges within social, economic, technological, and business realms. In this interdisciplinary program, students are supposed to become part of a network of academics from across RIT who are working to optimize sustainable systems and practices in engineering, manufacturing, energy, education, and more.

11. University of Maryland (College Park, Maryland, USA; PhD in Environmental Science and Technology )

The Department of Environmental Science and Technology is “a world-class center of discovery and teaching that will innovate and educate to deal with increasingly complex environmental conditions”. It focuses on four main areas of research: Ecological Technology Design and Engineering, Environmental and Ecological Health, Soil Science, and Wetland Science and Engineering.

12. University of Michigan, Graham Sustainability Institute (Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; PhD and post-doctoral fellowships in Sustainability) [2013]

The common goal of U-M’s co-curricular doctoral and post-doctoral programs in sustainability has been to create a lifelong community of scholars devoted to developing and implementing innovative ideas in pursuit of sustainability.

13. Michigan State University (East Lansing, Michigan, USA; PhD degrees in Community Sustainability, Sustainable Tourism, and Protected Areas Management )

Interdisciplinary department that addresses contemporary issues of sustainability in agriculture, recreation, natural resources, and environment. Addresses social choices within specific environmental, economic and cultural contexts that advance or conflict with sustainability goals.

14. Arizona State University, School of Sustainability (Phoenix, Arizona, USA; PhD in Sustainability , PhD in Sustainable Energy , and PhD with CASS Concentration )

The PhD in Sustainability offers a flexible, interdisciplinary approach to the investigation of the urgent sustainability challenges. The PhD in Sustainable Energy transcends the boundaries of traditional methodologies and disciplinary viewpoints and prepares students to navigate interwoven technical, societal and environmental challeng es. As a collaborative project between the School of Sustainability, the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, and the School of Life Science, the University offers a unique PhD program with a Complex Adaptive Systems Science (CASS) concentration, i.e. the study of interactive and dynamic systems that change over time. The overall education program encompasses online and offline undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as continuing education through executive and professional certificate programs.

15. University of California-Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, California, USU; PhD in Global Studies )

Interdisciplinary program aiming to bridge social science and humanistic approaches in analyzing the contemporary transnational social problems in the areas of conflict, human rights, environment, and sustainable development. The program offers three related areas of specialization: Global Political Economy and Development, Global Cultures and Ideology, and Global Governance.

16. University of California-Los Angeles, Institute of Environment and Sustainability (Los Angeles, California, USA; PhD in Environment and Sustainability )

Aims to equip students with “deep understanding of how fundamental principles of environmental science and sustainability can be applied to research and address key environmental challenges that require skills in multiple disciplines”. To promote interdisciplinarity, each PhD candidate is guided by two advisors from distinct areas of research and scholarship.

17. University of Alaska-Fairbanks ( PhD in Natural Resources and Sustainability )

Aims to equip students with knowledge and skills necessary to explore and understand natural resources management and how the related issues are linked to broader cultural, ecological and geopolitical contexts. This joint PhD program “prepares future leaders as academic researchers, agency professionals and analysts of nongovernmental organizations and communities for careers at the frontiers of the science of sustainability and natural resources management.” Three research areas are in focus: Resource Economics, Resource Policy/Sustainability Science, and Forest/Agriculture Science.

18. Prescott College (Prescott, Arizona, USA; PhD in Sustainability Education ) [2005]

As the first doctoral program in sustainability education in North America, the College offers a unique model of a cohort-based and collaborative learning environment for its doctoral students. The primary goal of the program is to help prepare a new generation of sustainability educators and leaders who possess the necessary knowledge, skills, and dispositions to effectively serve in those roles in their own respective communities. Most uniquely, the program focuses on economic and ecological sustainability as well as social equity, bio-cultural and linguistic diversities. 

19. Nippising University (North Bay, Ontario, Canada; PhD in Educational Sustainability )

Aims to prepare students from a variety of fields (such as education, health, social work, social justice and administrative leadership), for sustainable educational practices in the 21st century. The degree is designed for educators within the school system, and within the professions more generally, who aim to become engaged citizens who can think critically and are prepared to accept responsibility for the well-being of society.

20. University of Toronto (Toronto, Canada ; PhD in Planning )

Aims to provide students with a broad and critical knowledge of planning history, theory and practice as well as with rigorous training in research. Students can specialize in the following three fields: Environment and Sustainability Planning, City-regions in Global Context: Economic Development and Social Planning, and Urban Development: Design and Built Environment.

21. University of Waterloo (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; PhD in Social and Ecological Sustainability )

The Waterloo School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability (SERS) offers this PhD program, providing an opportunity to become interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary scholars and applied researchers. Students can combine the program with a Collaborative Water Program, coordinated and supported by the Water Institute, to receive an additional Water designation. Also, the Waterloo School of Environment, Enterprise and Development offers a PhD in Sustainability Management to equip future innovators and realize sustainable outcomes.  (Also see #22, below.)

22. Wilfred Laurier University and University of Waterloo (Canada; PhD in Global Governance )

Jointly organized by Laurier and the University of Waterloo at the  Balsillie School of International Affairs , the program offers an opportunity for interdisciplinary examination of power and authority in the global arena. In addition to international organizations and inter-state relations, this approach to global governance includes examining various non-state actors, as well as realities of contemporary life that contribute to the establishment and functioning of global rules, norms and institutions.

23. University of British Columbia – Vancouver (Vancouver, Canada; PhD in Resources, Environment and Sustainability )

A problem-focused and curiosity-driven interdisciplinary research program within the Institute of Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), with a mission to foster sustainable futures through integrated research and learning about the linkages among human and natural systems. The program is consistently ranked within the  top 15 in the world for environmental sciences.

24. University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, SK, Canada; PhD in Environment and Sustainability )

Interdisciplinary program providing students with a possibility to advance their understanding of a wide range of scientific, technical, political, social, economic, and institutional factors that shape environmental and sustainability problems. The program aims to educate students to manage these problems and arrive to their potential solutions.

25. University of the Sunshine Coast , Sustainable Research Center (Queensland, Australia; PhD in Environment and Sustainability) [2007]

Offers Higher Degree by Research programs including masters and PhD opportunities. Research themes include Climate Change Adaptation, Environmental Management and Governance, and Sustainable Livelihoods. The Center conducts cutting-edge research into pressing local, regional, and global challenges of economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

26. Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Graduate School of Green Growth (Daejeon, South Korea; PhD in Green Business) [2013]

Seeks “world-class education and research on green business, finance, and policy”. KAIST hosts the Graduate School for Green Growth, offering Masters programs in Green Policy as well as Masters and Doctoral programs in Green Business. The research program is developed through the EEWS Research Center that focuses on Energy, Environment, Water, and Sustainability.

27. United Nations University, Institute of Advanced Studies (Tokyo, Japan; PhD in Sustainability Science )

Aims to foster a deeper understanding of sustainability science through analysis of current issues related to global change, with perspectives from both the natural and social sciences. The three main research areas are: Sustainable Societies, Natural Capital and Biodiversity, and Global Change and Resilience.

Part II: Peace and Security Studies

28. university of hamburg (hamburg, germany; phd in peace and security studies ).

A comprehensive program aiming to facilitate both academic and practical career-oriented learning.  It includes seminars, research workshops, and field trips, allowing students to gain insights into current problems in peace research. Doctoral students also have opportunities to present their work-progress to a forum of professional experts during the seminars and workshops regularly organized by the department.

29. Trinity College, The Irish School of Ecumenics (Dublin, Ireland; PhD in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation )

Part of the Confederal School of Religions, Peace Studies, and Theology, the Department works with the Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation program at the Belfast Campus in Northern Ireland, making this a unique, cross-border degree program.  Popular research areas include ethics, human rights, interreligious dialogue, gender, development and globalization, and reconciliation. The School of Religion offers four Masters degrees (called M.Phil. at Trinity) and a postgraduate diploma, plus a research Masters (M.Litt.) and a doctorate by research (PhD).  Distance learning is available for certain programs, including the PhD.

30. University of Uppsala, Department of Peace and Conflict Studies (Uppsala, Sweden; PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies )

The program aims to make students capable of scientific research. As with most Swedish universities, students become employees of the university. PhD candidates are often involved in teaching or administration up to 20% of their time, so it may take up to 5 years to complete the PhD program.

31. Selinus University of Science and Literature, Distance Learning University (Copthall, Roseau Valley, Commonwealth of Dominica; remote PhD in Peace Studies )

An independent private international university that exclusively deals with online and distance learning, and only accepts students who are already professionally settled.

32. University of Notre Dame, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies (South Bend, Indiana, USA; PhD in Peace Studies )

Offers PhD scholarships in the field of Peace Studies for students willing to study in the United States.  Graduates are fully credentialed in one of six disciplines, as well as in peace studies. They are prepared for positions in research and teaching — in anthropology, history, political science, psychology, sociology, theology, or peace studies — and for contributions to peacebuilding practice.

33. University of Massachusetts-Amherst, School of Natural Sciences (Amherst, Massachusetts, USA; PhD in Social Psychology, Psychology of Peace and Violence )

This psychology-focused approach to peace and violence is the first of its kind in the US. The department aims to use scientific research and approaches to find innovative solutions to resolve conflict, promote reconciliation, and build peace. Students fulfill department requirements for a degree in Social Psychology, while also completing additional research in Conflict and Peace Studies.  In addition, students are required to complete an internship with an NGO or community-based organization, conduct long-term independent research projects, and assist faculty.  Graduates are well-placed to work in either the field of academic psychology or peace and conflict resolution.

34. University of Massachusetts-Boston, McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies (USA; PhD in Global Governance and Human Security )

Combines interdisciplinary knowledge and hands-on research experience aiming to become a creative global problem-solver. Its focus is on economic welfare and human development, ecological sustainability, peace, public health, education, human rights and political freedom, and the interrelationships among them.

35. Princeton University, School of Public and International Affairs (USA; PhD in Security Studies )

Designed to prepare PhD students for rigorous, policy-relevant research on major threats to international and national security and the relevant strategies, institutions, and capabilities that will be needed to confront those threats. Topics of study are: grand strategies of major powers, arms competitions, coercive diplomacy, terrorism, proliferating weapons of mass destruction, shifts in regional and global distributions of capabilities, insurgency, civil war, regional political instability, military force composition and capability, civil-military relations, and innovations in military technologies.

36. University of Manitoba, Institute for Peace and Justice at St. Paul’s College (Winnipeg, Canada; PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies )

Provides a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to prepare students to pursue independent research aimed at analyzing and resolving complex issues facing the global milieu of peace and conflict, using a variety of conflict resolution, social justice, and peace studies tools, processes, and methods.

37. Tokyo University of Foreign Studies ( PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies [2002], and Joint PhD program for Sustainability Research [2019])

Peace and Conflict Studies is an interdisciplinary research and study program that aims to equip students with expertise on topics related to peace and conflict, violence, development, and other areas of international affairs. Students learn how to critically examine and formulate effective responses to issues of peace and conflict. In collaboration with Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology and the University of Electro-Communications, the TUFS also offers a multidisciplinary PhD in Sustainability Research.

38. Durban University of Technology (South Africa; PhD in Peacebuilding )

The Durban University of Technology’s Peacebuilding Program is arguably the biggest and most exhaustive of its kind on the continent of Africa. The degrees start with a compulsory on-campus component of one month during which time students attend classes and submit assignments on peace theory, receive training in practical peacebuilding, and learn the details of writing a research thesis. Students are encouraged to work on action research topics that directly build peace among individuals and communities.

39. EUCLID University (Hqs in Gambia and Central African Republic; PhD in Mediation and Conflict Resolution ) [2008]

Established by a United Nations registered treaty, EUCLID is the world’s only multi-disciplinary and global intergovernmental university, serving 11 states. It aims is to prepare government officials and international civil servants, both active and aspiring, for qualified positions with their national governments, intergovernmental organizations and civil society. It offers a number of online doctoral programs, including Mediation and Conflict Resolution , Interfaith Dialogue and Diplomacy , Terrorism Studies and Deradicalization , Climate Change and Sustainability , Sustainable Development , Diplomacy , Global Energy Policy , and Global Health and Health Systems .

40. University of Otago, National Center for Peace and Conflict Studies (Dunedin, New Zealand; PhD in Peace Studies )

Offers a fully funded PhD program on Trusting the Enemy.  Its focus is on understanding intergroup trust in conflict and peace studies through social psychological approaches. This work intends to build on the Intergroup Trust Model, which hypothesizes that trust between groups is shaped by five dimensions of competence, integrity, compassion, compatibility, and security.

This QuickLook is an initial exploration of a wide variety of 53 higher education PhD programs for sustainability, and for peace and human security, offered by 40 institutions.  There is little standardization in the emphasis or titling of these programs, reflecting the many aspects of sustainability and security.  Importantly, no program identified here mentions the SDGs, and only one mentions Human Security (34).

It should also be stressed that there are many more undergraduate, Masters, and continuing education programs presently operating worldwide, both in-person and online.

Preparation of a detailed annual critical directory to all of these multi-disciplinary higher education programs in security and peace is needed, similar to the numerous and widely-available travel guides to cities and countries. It would not only be very helpful to prospective students who wish to effectively engage in necessary efforts to transform societies and institutions, but as an important indicator of the relevant complexities and progress toward the SDGs.  Such a directory may be in preparation already, and if not, this modest effort might lead to a more extensive work, and to more programs at more institutions in more nations.  Ideally, there should be several hundred PhD programs on sustainability and/or peace worldwide—perhaps many more.                                             

ALSO SEE: Education for Sustainability and SDGs: A QuickLook at Advocating Organizations , a companion QL with a section on relevant reports, books, and journals.

Marta Nešković earned a recent PhD in Anthropology at the University of Belgrade. She is a Researcher at the Institute for Political Studies in Belgrade, and a WAAS Junior Fellow.

Michael Marien is Founder and Senior Principal of The Security & Sustainability Guide. He earned a PhD in Social Science and National Planning several decades ago from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.

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Climate Change, Sustainability and Society PhD

Most students complete this programme in 4 years full-time.

Explore environmental change and the diverse responses needed to foster behaviours, practices and policies which promote sustainability.

In this interdisciplinary pathway, you will investigate sustainability topics using insights and perspectives from multiple disciplines, with a primary focus on social sciences (e.g., psychology, policy studies, political science, development studies, education, economics, social geography, sociology).

Find out what our research graduates go on to do

Department of Psychology

• Programme structure

Most students complete this programme in 4 years. You cannot take less than 2 years to finish your research and the maximum time you are allowed is normally 4 years.

This programme is only available through the Southwest Doctoral Training Partnership. Applications open from October each year and close around January. More information is available to Study as a South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP) student at Bath

You may start this programme at any time. Most students start in September.

Occasionally we make changes to our programmes in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies, and the requirements of accrediting bodies. You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

Your academic progress and general welfare will be monitored by your supervisor.

Academic milestones

• Registration
• Candidature
• Confirmation
• Give notice of intention to submit a thesis / portfolio
• Submission for examination
• Examination (Viva Voce)
• Examiners report
• Final submission of thesis / portfolio
• Programme content
• Doctoral skills online
• Doctoral skills workshop
• Research project
• Supervisory team

Research content

Sustainability topics can be wide-ranging, with the content of your research determined with your PhD supervisory team. However, in line with the goals of this PhD programme, your thesis will have a primarily social science focus.

While you will have a lead (primary) supervisor, you should also have at least one additional supervisor working in a different discipline to help you develop your interdisciplinary insights.

Professional Development

Professional development is a crucial element of doctoral study, not only in supporting your research but also as part of your longer term career development. Our DoctoralSkills workshops and courses will help you build your skills and help you succeed in your doctorate.

Read more about professional development support

Assessment methods

Assessment description.

Most research students who ‘do a PhD’ register in the first instance as probationer for the programme of PhD. Confirmation of PhD registration is subject to your passing an assessment process, which normally involves submission of written work and an oral examination.

Candidates are expected to carry out supervised research at the leading edge of their chosen subject, which must then be written up as a substantial thesis.

The final stage of the PhD programme is the oral or viva voce examination, in which students are required to defend the thesis to a Board of Examiners.

• Entry requirements

Academic requirements

• A good first degree in a social science subject, or
• an equivalent degree in another subject, together with substantial relevant work experience

Underlying these conditions is a belief that students must bring a minimum combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience to the programme. Marginal cases are often dealt with at interview, and it is not uncommon for relatively inexperienced students to be asked to defer entry.

English Language requirements

You will normally need one of the following:

• IELTS: 7.0 overall with no less than 6.5 in all components
• The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): 69 with no less than 62 in any element
• TOEFL IBT: 100 overall with a minimum 24 in all 4 components

You will need to get your English language qualification within 24 months prior to starting your course.

If you need to improve your English language skills before starting your studies, you may be able to take a pre-sessional course to reach the required level.

Two references are required for this programme (at least one of these should be an academic reference from ypur most recent place of study).

• Fees and funding

Fees and funding information for Climate Change, Sustainability and Society PhD

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on whether you are a Home or Overseas student.

Learn how we decide fee status

Tuition fees are liable to increase annually for all University of Bath students. If you aren't paying your fees in British pounds, you should also budget for possible fluctuations in your own currency.

Find out more about student fees

Funding options

This is an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) recognised programme, suitable for ESRC-funded 1+3 awards or subsequent +3 applications (MRes and PhD)

ESRC-funded students are able to claim (during their studies) for three additional allowances:

• Overseas Fieldwork Allowance
• Difficult Language Training
• Overseas Institutional Visits

For more information on these allowances please see the ESRC Postgraduate Funding Guide . Please note that if you anticipate such activities you should outline the details in your application.

Find funding for Doctoral research

Payment options

You can pay your tuition fees by Direct Debit, debit card, credit card or bank transfer.

Paying your tuition fees

• Application information
• Programme title Climate Change, Sustainability and Society PhD
• Final award PhD
• Mode of study Full-time
• Course code RHPS-AFM02
• Department Department of Psychology as part of the ESRC South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP) in economic and social science
• Location University of Bath Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY

3 months prior to the intended start date (for international applicants) or 2 months prior to the intended start date (for home applicants). For example, for an end of September start, the deadline is 30 June (international) and 31 July (home).

• Regulator The Office for Students (OfS)

Applicant profile

Your proposal should address a problem or question with strong links to the themes of this interdisciplinary pathway.

Prior to applying, please contact and gain agreement to supervise you from an academic staff member (who will become your lead supervisor), as well as your additional supervisor(s), as their agreement to supervise is critical for acceptance into the PhD program. Your lead supervisor may be able to advise on the most suitable additional supervisor(s). Gaining feedback on your proposal from your potential supervisors prior to submission is strongly encouraged.

The proposal itself should include;

• a brief review of relevant background literature (to contextualise the issue)
• a core research question or theme
• an outline of the possible methods that could be used to address this question.
• how your research will draw on interdisciplinary perspectives

If you wish to study for both the MRes and the PhD (the 1 + 3) you should apply for the PhD but indicate on the Application Form, that you also wish to study for the MRes.

Progression from the MRes to the PhD stage is dependent on achieving an acceptable level of achievement (typically an overall average of 60% on at least the taught component of the MRes).

See our guide about how to apply for doctoral study

Selection process

See our guide for information on how to apply for ESRC SWDTP funding

Immigration requirements

If you are an international student, you can find out more about the visa requirements for studying in the UK .

For additional support please contact the Student Immigration Service for matters related to student visas and immigration.

• Programme enquiries

Doctoral Admissions

• Apply for this programme
• Related programmes
• Climate Change, Sustainability and Society PhD part-time

On this page

• Publications

Doctoral Programmes

An unparalleled postgraduate degree experience

UNU offers a small number of focused doctoral programmes. The University anticipates significant growth in the number and scope of its doctoral programmes in the coming years. We invite you to visit this page regularly for updates.

UNU doctoral students pursue problem-oriented studies, utilizing advanced research methods to address real world problems that are the concern of the United Nations, its Peoples and Member States.

Applicants to a doctoral programme must demonstrate that they have completed an accredited master’s degree programme (or equivalent) from a recognized institution of higher education.

Application procedures differ by programme and institute. If you are interested in one of the doctoral programmes advertised on this website, please contact the relevant institute directly with any questions.

PhD in Sustainability Science

Offered by  UNU-IAS (Tokyo, Japan) , this programme takes an innovative approach to sustainability, seeking to promote a better understanding of the issues by incorporating global change perspectives, specifically those related to climate change and biodiversity.

Part-time PhD Programme

Offered by  UNU-MERIT (Maastricht, Netherlands) , the part-time PhD Programme, previously known as the Dual Career PhD Programme on Governance and Policy Analysis (GPAC²), aims to support fellows in setting up, carrying out and finishing a research project leading to a PhD, alongside their regular job. The programme is offered at UNU-MERIT in Maastricht, leading to a doctoral degree awarded by Maastricht University upon successful defence of a dissertation.

PhD Programme on Innovation, Economics and Governance for Sustainable Development (IEGSD)

Offered by  UNU-MERIT (Maastricht, Netherlands) , in partnership with Maastricht University, IEGSD offers high-quality education, training and supervision to PhD candidates working in the core disciplines of UNU-MERIT, leading to a doctoral degree from Maastricht University.  

PhD in Integrated Management of Water, Soil and Waste 

Offered by  UNU-FLORES (Dresden, Germany)  this joint PhD programme with Technische Universität provides graduate students with detailed knowledge, critical understanding, strategies, and tools to take an interdisciplinary and integrated approach towards the management of environmental resources.

Joint Junior Researcher Programme (Doctoral Dissertation)

Offered by  UNU-FLORES (Dresden, Germany)  this joint PhD programme with Technische Universität (TU Dresden) builds on the Joint PhD Programme in Integrated Management of Water, Soil, and Waste and extends scientific cooperation to all faculties at TU Dresden that engage with research themes related to the Resource Nexus.

Search term

Phd programme.

The interdisciplinary PhD programme in Sustainability Science and Policy (SSP) is designed to educate researchers, university teachers, and world leaders in the social, economic and natural science disciplines that underpin sustainable development.

The research produced by the programme’s doctoral dissertations will focus on integrative, interdisciplinary research that is needed to explore science and policy issues in sustainable development.

Integrated assessment methods and concepts (transitions, modeling, scenario analysis) will be instrumental to provide answers to the central questions of sustainable development.

Sustainability science is a new multi-disciplinary approach to science that recognizes the limitations of traditional scientific inquiry in dealing with the complex reality of social institutions interacting with natural phenomena.

Join the PhD programme

Paid PhD positions (employed researchers) If there are positions available, you will find the vacancies listed here.

PhD student with alternative funding If you have confirmed funding (an estimate of the tuition fee for a 4-year PhD programme is €20.000,-) for the PhD programme you are welcome to contact us for an application package.

Admission requirements

The programme is designed for an international student body and therefore we are interested in candidates from all over the world. The basic admission requirements are:

• A master’s degree (or equivalent to) from a recognized university or institution of higher education in the following fields: economics, humanities, engineering, political science, or other natural/social sciences
• Excellent written and verbal English language skills. Applicants whose first language is not English may be asked to take the IELTS Test. A score of 7 or above is required
• Applicants should demonstrate an ability to pursue independent research through their prior work and academic distinction
• Upon graduation it is expected that the candidates will play an important role as scholars, policymakers and professionals in their home countries and in the international community, taking leadership roles in government, international organisations, non-profit organisations and business

More information about PhD programmes at Maastricht University

Current PhD projects

Better, not more – business strategies to enable sufficient consumption.

This PhD project focuses on the role that business can play in a transition towards sufficient, sustainable consumption. Sufficiency refers to consumption that enables prosperity for all while remaining within the boundaries of planetary capacity. Sufficient consumption is needed as the current economic system is based on the continuous consumption of new products, and overconsumption of resources, which creates negative environmental and social impacts.

Businesses are key creators of demand, through their product and service offering and advertising. While many businesses have recognized the need to work towards sustainability, these efforts remain largely confined to efficiency improvements and moves towards a circular economy (consistency). This, however, is insufficient in tackling sustainability challenges, as rebound effects swallow resource and emissions savings and overconsumption remains unchallenged. This research addresses the more radical proposition of businesses acting as leaders for sufficiency, supporting their consumers to reconsider their consumption behaviour and consume differently, less, or not at all.

Transboundary learning in higher education for sustainable development: Designing learning environments and competence assessments

In the past two decades, education for sustainable development has been increasingly discussed on global, national, and regional agendas, resulting in a blossom of sustainability-related programmes and courses. Higher education graduates are expected to deal with sustainability-related societal problems during their professional and personal lives. The challenge is that these multi-faceted problems cannot be solved by individuals or using a single perspective. To produce competent professionals and improve education quality, universities put effort into defining/adopting relevant competence frameworks that include specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes. However, processes and impacts of learning still appear as Pandora’s box because: 1) Perspectives towards sustainable development are influenced by motivations, demographic, and intellectual backgrounds, but they remain inadequately assessed for the relevance to education; 2) interactions in learning environments can lead to both positive and negative outcomes for individuals, groups, and organisations, 3) complexities in real-world learning cannot be tackled without considering the direct and indirect impact of social, economic, and environmental factors.   

Successful crossing of disciplinary, cultural, and professional boundaries is an encompassing competence and a promising source of learning, which has become popular in designing learning environments. Although the patterns of interactions differ, study exchange, work placement, field trips, intervention workshops, student-stakeholder projects, university-led living labs, and start-up incubators are examples of learning environments that connect different perspectives and enable mutual learning. However, they risk failing to address students’ varying initial capacity and self-efficacy, group dynamics, support/hindrance in and outside the campus, the interplay of stakeholder interests, monitoring of career trajectories, and a lack of rigorous assessments overall.   

My PhD research contributes to fulfilling the said knowledge gaps, focusing on the design of learning environments and assessments for the competence of working across multiple boundaries:   

• Tapping into insights from education and management sciences, specifically taking stock of knowledge in situations of boundary crossing, boundary spanning, and boundary work.
• Linking different views on nature and ways of life from the Cultural Theory to perspectives on sustainable development (students, teachers, researchers, and stakeholders), quantifying the degree of diversity and change of perspectives before and after a study period.
• Designing and experimenting with configurations of learning environments (i.e. alternative classrooms) to enable boundary interactions and learning from different perspectives, offering an open, authentic, inspirational and fun part of higher education for sustainable development. 

Overpassing the hot spot: Climate proofing with in a sustainable development strategy for Central America.

Central America faces decisive moments, not only by the challenges presented in terms of poverty, insecurity, vulnerability and institutional weakness, but also it is at a key time for taking the decisions and actions necessary to build a region of sustainable development.

The region has begun to implement climate proofing for public infrastructure, at national and local level, nonetheless, the region isn’t working to incorporate the climate proofing to the spatial planning, and even, the spatial planning is weak or absent in most of the region. At the same time, the Central American countries are among the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and also, have a large history of impacts thanks to extreme weather conditions.

In a region as vulnerable as Central America, is of high importance the use of strategies to climate proof their efforts towards its sustainable development. Climate proofing is a term considered new for the region, the Asian Development Bank define it as:

“identifying risks to a development project, or any other specified natural or human asset, as a consequence of both current and future climate variability and extremes, and ensuring that those risks are reduced to acceptable levels through long-lasting and environmentally sound, economically viable, and socially acceptable changes implemented at one or more of the following stages in the project cycle: planning, design, construction, operation, and decommissioning.” (ADB, 2005. P. 2)

The interest of this research is to document relevant international experience incorporating climate proofing strategies to the spatial planning as part of the efforts of adaptation to climate change in cities. Based on these experience, to build a proposal to strengthen the initial efforts of the region to climate proof public infrastructure, especially, elevating the scope to include climate proofing to the spatial planning in Central America’s cities.

The Role of Assumptions in Social Change Processes

This PhD project is concerned with the assumptions that individual actors or actor groups involved in change initiatives towards more sustainable, just and inclusive societies hold about what is at stake and about how change can be brought about. The focus is as much on assumptions that are verbalised explicitly as on assumptions that underlie actions taken and strategies pursued.

Cases considered range from government-supported behavioural change programmes and research projects to civil society social innovation initiatives and activist groups. Findings are evaluated against a range of theories on transformative, social change from across the social sciences.

The Role of Animals and Nature in Learning for Sustainable Development --a Chinese Perspective

Animals had many measurable benefits to both humans and society, such as enhancing physical and psychological well-being, reducing loneliness and depression, improving animal diversity and promoting sustainable nature and society development. From another point of view, the direct presence of public attitudes toward animals, which are somewhat influenced by human culture and knowledge, can contribute to animals’ healthy dietary and decent living environment, and eventually the construction of an optimum animal welfare system. Therefore, it is clear that a better understanding of public attitudes toward animals, animal emotions, as well as what effects the influential factors have on these attitudes, are of fundamental importance to both animals and humans.

My research mainly focused on the sustainable relationships between humans and animals in China, Japan, and the Netherlands. Through this research, I want to know how people attribute emotions to animals, and how the degree of attachment influences the attribution of emotions to animals in these countries. In addition, my research also aimed at finding out Chinese, Japanese and the Dutch people’s attitudes toward animals and their influential factors, such as culture, ethical ideologies, the degree of attachment and other possible variables. Furthermore, Ecological Paw Print as an important variable to measure sustainable development will also be included in my research. Through my research, I want to find out the current situation of animals and human-animal relationships in China (as well as in the Netherlands and Japan), and therefore find ways to improve people’s awareness of animal welfare.

Organisational Transformation and Systemic Change: Navigating pathways towards Sustainability for the University

How can universities effectively navigate pathways of transformation for sustainability? In order to answer this question, international case-study research on pioneering universities and their networks is developing and testing a tool to help evaluate and track fundamental transformation for organisations towards more actionable outcomes across diverse aspects of sustainability. These include but are not limited to: management performance, governance, intrapreneurship and innovation, sustainability in education, inter and transdisciplinary research, communications strategies, stakeholder management and social and environmental responsibility practices.

As part of an Action research approach, structured interventions will be applied to Maastricht University with the Green Office as the implementation agents, aiming to resolve system dysfunction and improve sustainability performance.

The project deliverables, aside from publications and a thesis, will include policy recommendations, management reviews, a transdisciplinary framework for organisational transformation for sustainability at universities, and – from a four year period of observations - executive reports on institutional governance for sustainability, longitudinal organisational assessments, and knowledge on increased social impact of academia through social entrepreneurship.

This PhD will work towards my core objective: to apply action research, for intentional change and improvement, in partnership with organisations that want purpose driven into their core and are committed to a fortuitous movement for sustainable development - whether in the public, private or social sectors. I will continue close participative research with the Green Office, and my network in social enterprise, in order to perform interventions for UM's sustainability performance in 2017. After 2017, the outcomes and continuation of this work will be primarily focussed and applied where there is the most traction and willingness to undertake necessary transformative change; external to ossified administrative, bureaucratic and political systems.

Are energy decisions about energy?

The most challenging element of the energy transition is to reduce fossil fuel energy consumption in the existing housing stock because of the complexity of the system of different actors and their social practices. In this PhD research an interdisciplinary socio-technical approach is used that goes beyond technology and individual behaviour and will also tackle the physical, economic and social context of the different actors. Empirical data is collected in the case-study of Parkstad Limburg (NL) and the results are used to develop recommendations to improve the effectiveness of energy transition policies and product offerings to residents.

Sustainability Assessment tools for Urban Mobility –policy lessons from a China-Europe comparison

This PhD research originates from the argument of The World Health Organization (2016), that ‘good health of all its citizens is one of the most effective markers of any city’s sustainable development’.  This calls for sustainable, health-promoting urban policies. In China, sustainable urban development (SUD) is stimulated by, for example, the National Development and Reform Commission’s ‘low-carbon pilot program’. In Europe, SUD is stimulated by, for example, the new ‘Urban Agenda for the EU’. However, decision-makers do not often apply a ‘health-lens’ to SUD policies. So how can the dual goals of healthy citizens and urban sustainability be integrated in decision-making? And how can we enhance the health co-benefits of existing and anticipated SUD policies?

Sustainability assessment (SA) is nowadays a widely used term that covers a broad range of approaches aiming to operationalize sustainability concepts for decision-making, mostly within but also outside governments. It emerged as a ‘marriage’ between environmental assessment and sustainable development (see Dijk et al 2017). These approaches may be formal or informal, legally prescribed or voluntary, science-driven or policy-driven, etc., and may carry different labels, such as sustainability appraisal, sustainability impact assessment or integrated assessment. A common feature is that they try to integrate various perspectives, interests, and types of knowledge. However, despite scholarly progress, Gibson (2016) concludes that in public and private sectors the speed of sustainable development has been rather slow in the last decade. An important way forward is the development of new and better Sustainable Assessment tools. In this project we focus on the improvement of Sustainability Assessment tools for urban mobility.

An SA is designed to form a logic sequence within an analytic and decision-making process, and within which a range of different methods can be applied. There is no single and commonly accepted procedure for sustainability assessment. A procedure may be formally prescribed by law, such as in environmental impact assessment (EIA) in many countries (but with great variety between countries) and as strategic environmental assessment under the EU SEA Directive (2001/42/EC). A broad range of methods has been applied in SA, with often combinations of methods being used within one study. However, in assessments in the public and private sector, the choice is often poorly explained and, when combining methods, often one method is clearly dominant and basically shapes the SA outcomes. A common problem identified in the literature is the lack of guidance on what methods can be used. Thus, research on how to organize and deploy tools and methods in assessments seems to have a lot of room for improvement.

Understanding Human-Ocean Relationships: A Multi-Perspective Analysis of Chinese Ocean Society

Throughout human history, the ocean has always been playing a crucial role in human society. How people view the ocean is strongly correlated with how they make use of the ocean, and subsequently, what the ocean looks like now. Are we considering human as the dominator of the ocean? Or are we regarding human society and ocean as equally important? Understanding human-ocean interaction would be helpful to build a healthy relationship between human society and ocean.

However, seldom studies look into this area in current academic community. Especially the conditions in developing countries, such as China, still remain unclear. On one hand, large-scale foreign trade and annual seafood consumption justify the significance of ocean to Chinese society. On the other hand, increasing maritime disasters and resource depletion indicate the environment is far from ideal.   

From three aspects, this research project targets at answering the question of how to understand and develop a sustainable human-ocean relationship. This research will assess how Chinese people perceive marine life, recognize marine economic development, and deal with modern maritime disaster. We will delineate a general picture of human-ocean relationship in contemporary Chinese society. And we would like to contribute to the discussion of how to shape a positive and robust relationship between ocean and human society.

Detecting and analyzing assumptions and behavioural changes on pro-environmental consumer behaviour in relation to waste management through Big Data Analysis (BDA)

This PhD research originates from the need to better understand the human behaviour in relation to waste management through the analysis of the huge amount of unstructured data available online (like social media and other free platforms).

Nowadays the attention to sustainable development (SD) issues is continuously increasing as demonstrated, at the supra-national level, by development of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their inclusion in the national agenda of many nations. At the individual level, the focus on SD matters is addressed through enhanced education, improved attention to our lifestyle and to the impact of our routine actions, responsible purchasing, respectful behaviours, etc. These concerns are also demonstrated by the creation of new terms as green attitude, pro-environmental behaviour, eco-friendly attitude, green consumption, to highlight the importance of the individual behaviour in pursuing the SD, and to indicate that the development of an environmentally sustainable consumption is also dependant on consumers' willingness to engage in pro-environmental behaviours.

Actually the analysis of human behaviour is very complex and interdisciplinary, especially when considering pro-enviromental factors, as demonstrated by the huge variety of approaches and methodologies adopted by the existing scholars. In the latter years, novel expanded approaches have been proposed with the intention of including all applicable factors in the correct way. These activities are very challenging, and many scholars agree that human actions are the results of a complex economic, social, physical and psychological process, influenced by numerous and heterogenoeus factors related to environment, culture, laws, politics, geography, circumstances, emotions, intentions, just to name a few of them.

Nowadays the researches on human behaviour and its influencing factors can definitely benefits of the analysis of big data (BD). For example, it would be useful to understand from the posts on social media the reaction of the inhabitants of a town to the introduction of municipal novel waste measures, or to comprehend the influence and interactions of economic, social and psychological factors on human perceptions in relation to environmental issues.

Unfortunately the majority of data available on internet are unstructured, but they potentially contain very useful information offering a great opportunity for the advancement of researches on human behaviour.

This does not mean that the key for success is BD itself, but our challenge is to create value from it by creating transparencies and unvealing relsationships, to better understand the human behaviour thorugh the utilization of big data analysis (BDA).

For the above-mentioned reasons this research aims at understanding some specific aspects of the human behaviour by taking full advantage of the most recent big data analysis tools through an interdisciplinary approach open to the collaboration of scholars from different disciplines.

Network leadership for advancing transformative capacity of social innovation

Tim is working half-time as a PhD researcher, investigating learning processes in networks of transformative social innovation initiatives like Impact Hubs, Transition Towns, TimeBanks, Hacker Spaces and Ecovillages.

This research draws on involvement with the recently completed EU-funded TRANSIT project (2014-2017), which developed an empirically grounded theory on how such social innovations relate to transformative social change. The focus lies on better understanding how network leaders can effectively shape the learning processes at various network levels for social innovations to develop transformative capacity.

• Completed PhD Projects

Shared Value Creation and Inter-organisational Collaboration for Sustainable Business Model Innovation       Myrthe Velter

Spatially Modelling the Positive and Negative Effects of Nature on Human Health: a Focus on Optimizing Urban Green Infrastructure       Bram Oosterbroek

Global Sustainable Governance: Partnerships Between Fragmentation and Cohesion       Ceren Pekdemir

Organisational Transformation and Systemic Change: Navigating pathways towards Sustainability for the University       Alex Baker-Shelley

The OPEDUCA Concept - Basing schooling (from primary to higher) on Education for Sustainable Development in a local-to-global multi-stakeholder reality of Learning       Jos Eussen

Climate and ENSO variability effect on dengue incidence in Aruba       Marck Oduber

Certification contracts from an institutional economic perspective      Esther Sri Astuti

Learning for sustainability: the learning process      Anneloes Smitsman

Ecological Consequences of Globalization: Implications for Sustainable Development (2017) Lukas Figge |  Read more

Social and Economic Effects of Coffee Certification, with a Specific Focus on the Livelihood Effects for Farmers (2017) Ibnu Muhammad |  Read more

The Role of Governments on Sustainable Agriculture (2017) Atika Wijaya |  Read more

The Social and Economic Effects of Palm Oil Certification, with a Specific Focus on the Livelihood Effects for Farmers (2017) Nia Hidayat |  Read more

Religion and sustainable development (2017) Laura Kurth

The transition of farmers’ sustainable agricultural production behaviors:  comparative cases study in China and Netherlands Jing Wang

Climate change and health: consequences and adaptation in Europe (2015) Su-Mia Akin |  Download

Climate change and dengue transmission in Vietnam: an integrated assessment (2015) Toan Do Thanh | Download

A sunny future for photovoltaic systems in the Netherlands? An analysis of the role of government and users in the diffusion of an emerging technology (2014) Veronique Vasseur | Download

Stepping stone cities? Exploring urban greening and gardening as a viable contribution to global biodiversity conservation (2014) Carijn Beumer | Download

The Perspectives Method: Towards socially robust River Management. Maastricht University (2012) Astrid Offermans | Download

Regional sustainable development: Barries in Practice (Findings from policy, citizens, practitioners and monitoring) (2011) Annemarie van Zeijl-Rozema | Download

Living with Less: Prospects for Sustainability (2010) Jeanine Schreurs

Sailing on the winds of change. The Odyssey of Sustainability of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. Maastricht University. (2010) Niko Roorda

Union democracy: The challenge of globalisation to organised labour in Ghana. (2010) Akua Britwum

Innovation in car mobility. Co-evolution of demand and supply under sustainability pressures. (2010) Marc Dijk

Climate change and tourism: Impacts and vulnerability in coastal Europe. (2010) Alvaro Moreno

The role of future studies in innovation processes Nicole Rijkens-Klomp

• Laura Niessen Better, Not More – Business strategies to enable sufficient consumption
• Ningna Xie Transboundary learning in higher education for sustainable development: Designing learning environments and competence assessments
• Diego Ramírez Overpassing the hot spot: Climate proofing with in a sustainable development strategy for Central America.
• Julia Backhaus The Role of Assumptions in Social Change Processes
• Bingtao Su The Role of Animals and Nature in Learning for Sustainable Development --a Chinese Perspective
• Alex Baker-Shelley Organisational Transformation and Systemic Change: Navigating pathways towards Sustainability for the University
• Wendy Broers Are energy decisions about energy?
• Xu Liu Sustainability Assessment tools for Urban Mobility –policy lessons from a China-Europe comparison
• Mo Chen Understanding Human-Ocean Relationships: A Multi-Perspective Analysis of Chinese Ocean Society
• Alessandro Concari Detecting and analyzing assumptions and behavioural changes on pro-environmental consumer behaviour in relation to waste management through Big Data Analysis (BDA)
• Tim Strasser Network leadership for advancing transformative capacity of social innovation

Sustainability

Programs & Courses › Specializations

Schulich’s new PhD in Sustainability is research-oriented and at the cutting edge of topics relating to responsible and sustainable business. Students will develop the theoretical and methodological skills to conduct leading edge research at the intersection of sustainable business and society and have the opportunity to pursue research on such topics as corporate social responsibility, environmental accounting/standards, social change/innovation, stakeholder ethics, and sustainable real estate. Working alongside Schulich’s globally renowned faculty, graduates will learn to generate innovative insights as a member of the global community of scholars.

Specialization Details by Category

Study options.

Student admission is restricted to full-time study exclusively for the first four years. It is not recommended to be working outside of the PhD program during your studies. Students must be able to participate in the PhD program in Toronto.

Choose a study option to view its details and requirements

Available delivery options

• Full-time 48 to 72 months

Location(s)

• Keele Campus Toronto

The requirements to successfully complete the program are outlined below in “Curriculum Overview.”

The Sustainability field within the doctoral program in Administration offers outstanding students the opportunity to develop the theoretical and methodological skills that will enable them to conduct leading edge research at the intersection of sustainable business and society. Students have the opportunity to pursue research on such topics that include corporate social responsibility, environmental accounting/standards, social change/innovation, stakeholder ethics, and sustainable real estate.

The doctorate is an individualized program of study that is composed of the four tightly linked phases of study. Students first take a series of core courses and electives to acquire in-depth knowledge of theories and methods used in conducting research related to Sustainability. These courses also help students develop the skills necessary to conduct research and to teach Sustainability. Second, candidates complete a comprehensive examination to test mastery of theoretical methodological foundations of the field. The third phase of the PhD program consists of the preparation of the formal research proposal, which must be defended. Then students conduct the research that is reported in their dissertation, the culmination of the PhD degree.

Course Work

Students are required to take 12 courses during the first two years of the program. The foundation courses are designed to provide the prerequisite disciplinary knowledge relevant to sustainability and methodological expertise required to conduct research in sustainability. The elective courses enable students to gain depth in sustainability related topics and/or broaden your topical knowledge.

Required SUST Courses

The scholarly discourse on responsible business draws on a myriad of legacy fields of study including, but not limited to, strategic management, organizational behavior, political economy, philosophy, history, economics, etc. While this broad approach matches the complexity of the activities and structures endemic to responsible business, recent decades have witnessed the emergence of novel, integrative, theoretical approaches indigenous to the study of business’s role in broader society. This seminar examines these novel approaches to responsible business at depth. Students will examine key legacy works that are the foundation of these novel approaches as well as more recent scholarly advances. During the seminar, students will develop a deep appreciation for these works as well a critical basis for making their own contributions to these deepening conversations.

Specifically, by the end of this course you should be able to: • Understand, recall, and explain core texts in the field of responsible business; • Evaluate and critique research in the field; • Recognize and contribute to leading edge theory and research in the field.

This course introduces students to leading paradigms and current topics in organization theory. Students obtain an intensive overview of "macro" theories in organizational behaviour and develop an ability to assess organization theory and research critically and comprehensively. Class discussions focus on the strengths, weaknesses and contributions of leading-edge theories and topics; and students are encouraged to think creatively about future directions that various topics and theories might take to advance the field's understanding of organizations. By the conclusion of the course, students: (a) are familiar with important sources and references on prevailing issues in organization theory; (b) have a solid grasp of advanced theory and research on a breadth of topics in macro organizational behaviour; (c) have a better understanding of the process of writing theoretical articles; and (d) possess the ability to evaluate critically the contributions of various research streams to the field of organization theory.

The course offers students the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the rich scholarly research in business and society, with a particular emphasis on its relationship to global governance. Students will develop insights into how one can make a theoretical, methodological, and practical contribution to the management literature through business, society and global governance research.

Required DCAD Courses

• DCAD 7100 3.00 LOGICS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH This examines the major philosophical debates in the social sciences and explores the rationale of different approaches to social research. Students learn how to select and develop appropriate research strategies and how to critically examine the use of various research strategies.

This course focuses on the use of univariate and multivariate statistics as applied to social and behavioural research within the fields of organizational, management, and consumer studies. It covers descriptive statistics, mean difference testing, analysis of variance and covariance, linear and logistic regression, and a priori sample size calculations, as well as power and effect size calculations.

• DCAD 7250 3.00 RESEARCH DESIGN This course introduces students to research design, strengthens their reasoning and theoretical development skills, helps them effectively apply a range of empirical methodologies to their own research and critically review empirical studies done by others. Topics include types of variables, relationships, sampling and measurement, survey and field research designs, experimental designs, and alternative designs, and research design biases and artifacts.
• DCAD 7400 3.00 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS This course provides students with detailed exposure to the qualitative research methodologies that have begun to exert a major influence on management research over the last 10 years.
• DCAD 7600 1.50 GRADUATE COLLOQUIUM IN MANAGEMENT The rules, norms, and standards that surround the field of academics can seem ambiguous, confusing, and opaque to new Ph.D. students in the management disciplines. The purpose of this two-semester course is to provide a means of articulating central themes in this tacit process, and to provide a means of community-building among management-oriented Ph.D. students. Prerequisite: Open to and required of first- or second-year Ph.D. students in Strategy/Policy and Organization Studies areas.
• DCAD 7610 1.50 GRADUATE COLLOQUIUM IN MANAGEMENT The rules, norms, and standards that surround the field of academics can seem ambiguous, confusing, and opaque to new Ph.D. students in the management disciplines. The purpose of this two-semester course is to provide a means of articulating central themes in this tacit process, and to provide a means of community-building among management-oriented Ph.D. students. Pre-requisite: Open to and required of first- or second-year Ph.D. students in Strategy/Policy and Organization Studies areas.

*    This colloquium is a mandatory course held once a month over both the fall and winter s emesters in years 1 (DCAD 7600) and 2 (DCAD 7610).

**   It is highly recommended that these two courses be taken concurrently.

Elective Courses

Four elective courses (12 credits), chosen from SUST courses and other Schulich and York courses.

Comprehensive Exam

Students are expected to write their comprehensive exam at some point between their 22nd and 26th month of the program. This examination is designed for students to demonstrate their knowledge of the sustainability field, bodies of theory that are relevant to your specific research interests, and research methodologies. Students must have successfully completed all coursework to write their comprehensive exam. Students should schedule their exam with the Sustainability PhD Coordinator at least six weeks in advance, and should also specify their research area of interest at that time. Students are expected to coordinate their schedule with other students at the same stage in the program.

Dissertation Proposal

After completion of their comprehensive exams, students are expected to focus on developing their dissertation proposal. Students are required to appoint a Supervisory Committee consisting of three faculty members, of whom one is identified as the supervisor, and who is a member of the Sustainability area within the School. Before initiating dissertation research, students are required to submit a formal written proposal that outlines their topic and research plan. Each proposal will then be defended in the form of a formal presentation before the Supervisory Committee. Normally, students are expected to defend their dissertation proposal within one year after the completion of their comprehensive exams. There may be available a monetary bonus from Faculty of Graduate Studies for completion of the proposal by September 15th of the 4th year.

Dissertation

The dissertation is produced under the guidance of the Dissertation Supervisory Committee, and examined by the Dissertation Examining Committee, under guidelines established by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. For details on the composition of the Dissertation Examining Committee and the procedure to be followed for the examination of a dissertation students are referred to the “Guidelines for the Preparation and Examinations of Theses and Dissertations” published and updated periodically by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, York University.

Selected faculty members

Professor of Sustainability and Organization

Professor of Sustainability Accounting; Erivan K. Haub Chair in Business & Sustainability

Associate Professor, Real Estate Finance and Sustainability; Brookfield Centre in Real Estate & Infrastructure

Professor of Public Policy and Sustainability; Director, BBA/iBBA Programs

Professor; RBC Chair in Social Innovation & Impact; Area Coordinator, Sustainability

Professor of Sustainability; Hewlett-Packard Chair in Corporate Social Responsibility

Professor of Sustainability; George R. Gardiner Professor in Business Ethics; Director, Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business

Associate Professor of Business and Sustainability; Director, MBA Program

Career Opportunities

Sustainability is an increasingly salient concern to managers and policymakers. The goal of the PhD program in Sustainability is to equip students with the skills to provide management education and policy advice focused on sustainability or pursue careers in scholarly research.

Student Research

Current phd students in the sustainability area:.

as of Fall 2023

• Sean Sullivan

PhD Profiles

Maxwell woody.

I research the environmental impact of transportation across modes, and technologies and policies that can help decarbonize the transportation sector. I use methods including life cycle assessment, greenhouse gas accounting, technoeconomic analysis, multi-objective optimization, and systems modeling.

M.S.E. Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2020

M.S. Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, 2020

B.S.E. Engineering Physics, Tulane University, 2018

B.S. Economics, Tulane University, 2018

Maxwell Woody, Shawn Adderly, Rushabh Borha, Gregory Keoleian, “Electric and Gasoline Vehicle Total Cost of Ownership Across U.S. Cities” Journal of Industrial Ecology, 2024 (https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13463)

Maxwell Woody, Gregory Keoleian, Parth Vaishnav, “Decarbonization Potential of Electrifying 50% of U.S. Light Duty Vehicle Sales by 2030” Nature Communications, 2023 (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42893-0)

Maxwell Woody, Michael Craig, Parth Vaishnav, Gregory Keoleian “Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of the USPS Next Generation Delivery Vehicle Fleet” Environmental Science & Technology, 2022 (https://doi/full/10.1021/acs.est.2c02520)

Maxwell Woody, Parth Vaishnav, Gregory Keoleian, Robert De Kleine, Hyung Chul Kim, James Anderson, Tim Wallington “The Role of Pickup Truck Electrification in the Decarbonization of Light-Duty Vehicles” Environmental Research Letters, 2022 (https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac5142)

• Sustainability Systems Analysis Lab
• Research and Projects
• Publications
• Resources and Outreach
• Educational Materials and Outreach

Ph.D. Positions in Sustainability Systems Analysis Lab

Research areas: The United States is actively pursuing a transition from fossil fuel-based economy to a bio-based economy that sustainably utilizes renewable biomass resources for producing energy, intermediate and final product. Prof. Yuan Yao is looking for Ph.D. students to take a lead role in developing state-of-the-art analysis tools for quantifying environmental impacts of bioenergy and biomaterials, optimizing existing and future industrial systems, and identifying feasible pathways to a more sustainable future.

About the Advisor:

Dr. Yao is the Assistant Professor of Sustainability Science and Engineering at North Carolina State University (NCSU), where she leads the Sustainability Systems Analysis Lab. Dr. Yao received National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2019, the most prestigious award from NSF to junior faculty in the United States. She has been collaborating with multiple national labs, energy consulting firms, and universities to develop quantitative analysis for accelerating Research and Development in renewable energy technologies, carbon capture, chemical process improvements, and supply chain optimization.

Qualifications: Ph.D. students will receive financial support that includes stipends, tuition and health benefits as Graduate Research Assistants (GRA). The successful applicants should have relevant backgrounds in Chemical Engineering or other related engineering fields. Applicants should hold a Master’s degree or graduate in the very near future – date of graduation must be enclosed in the application. Good speaking and written English is required (TOEFL > 90 is preferred for international applicants). GRE is required for all applicants.

Previous experience and/or documented knowledge in one or more of the following areas are highly recommended to apply:

• Process optimization and mathematical programming (e.g., Matlab, R, Python, GAMS)
• Chemical process modeling and simulation (e.g., AspenPlus or similar software)
• Life Cycle Assessment methodologies and ecosystems services assessment

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Course type

Qualification, university name, phd degrees in sustainability.

26 degrees at 22 universities in the UK.

Customise your search

Select the start date, qualification, and how you want to study

About Postgraduate Sustainability

Sustainability is an extremely relevant and versatile degree choice, which outlines the way we can mitigate our impact on the environment by adopting regenerative and sustainable practices to support ecological and economic health. It is a future-focussed field and studying it at PhD level offers a highly interdisciplinary learning experience with the option to specialise in a huge variety of professional environments.

To gain admission onto one of the 25 UK-based PhD degree programmes, you’ll first need to hold a strong postgraduate degree in a relevant subject area, and typically will need to demonstrate a significant amount of professional experience. Additionally, a clear research project proposal is usually required as part of the application process, and this will determine the work you do for a large part of your studies.

What to expect

You can expect to engage in advanced training in research methodologies, critical analysis, and the development of solutions for sustainable practices. You will study the environmental and human impact of mass industry and energy systems; the effect of sustainable practices of different types of communities; the life cycle of products and the technologies which can be integrated into our lives to find a more sustainable way of living.

As a doctoral candidate, you’ll conduct original research, contributing new insights to the field. The programme serves as excellent preparation for careers in academia, research institutions, policy development or leadership roles in organisations dedicated to advancing sustainability goals. Graduates are currently in high demand, and this demand is likely to only increase in the future as sustainability is one of the fastest-growing global employment sectors.

Related subjects:

• PhD Sustainability
• PhD Conservation and Protection of Specific Environments
• PhD Energy Economics, Management and Conservation
• PhD Environmental Analysis
• PhD Environmental Biology
• PhD Environmental Conservation and Policies
• PhD Environmental Health and Safety, Protection and Conservation
• PhD Environmental Management
• PhD Environmental Monitoring
• PhD Environmental Policy
• PhD Environmental Protection and Conservation
• PhD Environmental Science
• PhD Environmental Studies
• PhD Forensic Science
• PhD General Environmental Health
• PhD Marine and Coastal Conservation and Protection
• PhD Nature Conservation and Protection
• PhD Police Services
• PhD Pollution and Pollution Control
• PhD Renewable Energy Resources
• PhD Security, Police and the Armed Forces
• PhD Wildlife Conservation and Protection

• Course title (A-Z)
• Course title (Z-A)
• Price: high - low
• Price: low - high

Sustainability PhD

Anglia ruskin university.

PhD Pursue your research degree with an internationally known institute that works with influential partners, including government and Read more...

• 2 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 2.5 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 3 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)
• 3.5 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

PhD Sustainable Futures

University of bath.

Explore environmental change and the diverse responses needed to foster behaviours, practices and policies which promote Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,800 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,400 per year (UK)

MPhil PhD Sustainability, Development, and the Environment

University of east london.

Studying for a PhD with UEL's Sustainability Research Institute will push you to new levels of innovation - and our world-class academic Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £5,740 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,870 per year (UK)

Environmental Sustainability PhD

University of glasgow.

Based at Dumfries Campus, our staff are experts in many areas of environmental sustainability, including sustainable tourism, environmental Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Chemistry PhD/MPhil - Sustainable Synthesis and Catalysis

University of leicester.

The School of Chemistry offers supervision for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - full-time and part-time Master of Philosophy Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,786 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,393 per year (UK)

Sustainable Hydrogen CDT PhD

University of nottingham.

Sustainable Hydrogen provides low-carbon solutions as an energy store, supporting the rapid deployment of renewable energy generation, and Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £5,100 per year (UK)

Environment and Sustainability PhD

University of surrey.

Why choose this programme The University of Surrey has been leading the way in environment and sustainability research for more than 25 Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,712 per year (UK)
• 8 years Part time degree: £2,356 per year (UK)

Resource Efficient Future Cities PhD

Brunel university london.

Research profile The Resource Efficient Future Cities has current strengths in two streams of research energy use efficiency focuses on Read more...

• 6 years Part time degree: £2,355 per year (UK)

MPhil/PhD (Sustainable Environment)

University of south wales.

A PhD is a doctoral degree based on a significant and original individual research project which culminates in an in-depth thesis (or Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,716 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,358 per year (UK)

Sustainable Heritage MPhil/PhD

Ucl (university college london).

Research is at the core of ISH. Through it, we've successfully put sustainable heritage on the map of museums, galleries, libraries, Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £6,035 per year (UK)
• 5 years Part time degree: £2,930 per year (UK)

MPhil/PhD in Strategy, Enterprise and Sustainability

Manchester metropolitan university.

RESEARCH CULTURE We undertake innovative research that is rooted in industry, driven by the global environment and reflective of evolving Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £4,850 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree

Practitioner Doctorate in Sustainability PhD

Why choose this programme The University of Surrey has been leading the way in environment and sustainability research for more than 30 Read more...

• 36 months Full time degree
• 72 months Part time degree

PhD (Sustainable Environment)

Sustainable resources mphil/phd.

Faced with a growing global population and increased demand and competition for natural resources our mission is to generate knowledge in Read more...

Sustainable Energy PhD

Why choose this programme Champion our ‘One Health, One Medicine’ approach which brings together expertise from a broad range of Read more...

PhD Sustainable Energy Technologies

University of hertfordshire.

Our research expertise in Renewable Energy Technologies specialises in areas including renewable energy, smart grids, novel wind energy Read more...

• 3 years Full time degree: £5,925 per year (UK)
• 6 years Part time degree: £2,960 per year (UK)

University of Exeter

The Universities of Exeter, Bristol, Bath, Plymouth and UWE Bristol have created the South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP) which Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree
• 8 years Part time degree

PhD Sustainable Industrial Systems

University of manchester.

Programme description The main aim of our research is to help identify sustainable solutions for industrial systems on a life cycle basis, Read more...

DPhil in Sustainable Urban Development

University of oxford.

The Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Sustainable Urban Development is a part-time doctoral programme that provides outstanding students an Read more...

• 4 years Part time degree: £14,535 per year (UK)

MPhil/PhD in Global Sustainable Development

University of warwick.

Find out more about our MPhil/PhD in Global Sustainable Development. Our MPhil/PhD in Global Sustainable Development (GSD) offers you the Read more...

• 4 years Full time degree: £4,950 per year (UK)
• 7 years Part time degree

1-20 of 26 courses

Course type:

• Full time PhD
• Part time PhD

Qualification:

Universities:.

• University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education
• University of Suffolk
• University of St Andrews
• Keele University
• University of Bristol
• Abertay University

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• PhD studies
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Vetenskap om hållbar utveckling

Subject description

The PhD programme in Sustainability science aims to develop researchers who are able to address the sustainability challanges of the Anthropocene.

Subject representative

Head od subject: Örjan Bodin,  [email protected] Director of Studies: Victor Galaz,  [email protected]

PhD studies at the Stockholm Resilience centre

General syllabus for doctoral studies in Sustainability science, PDF (Swedish) General syllabus for doctoral studies in Sustainability science (English)

PhD studies

The programme leads to a licentiate or doctoral degree. All PhD positions at Stockholm University are announced here.  

Last updated: March 4, 2024 Page editor: Lina Enell Source: Faculty of Science

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Open PhD Positions in Sustainability Science

The Hall Sustainability Science Lab at Northeastern University, Nahant & Boston Massachusetts, USA has openings for two fully funded graduate Ph.D. research assistantships in Marine and Environmental Sciences to study fundamental questions about generating usable knowledge for sustainability transitions in water resources management and climate change adaptation.

Doctoral students will work on projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) engaging communities to understand local-scale implementation of Nature-based Solutions for addressing flooding, drought, and storm surge and explore how engaging professional practitioners in social–ecological system modeling can improve decision making. The work requires regular field research throughout the upper Midwest and Western US.

We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a background in social science research on environmental topics or environmental science-related majors with experience in policy or social research. Candidates must have strong communication and writing skills, work well independently and as part of a team, and the ability to talk with anyone. Ideal candidates have worked with community stakeholders and government agencies, are familiar with social science theories, and have experience conducting interviews and qualitative data analysis. All candidates should have a passion for conducting transdisciplinary research that matters to people and the planet. We are committed to promoting diversity in conservation and sustainability science and therefore strongly encourage applicants from all historically marginalized groups.

The Sustainability Science Lab (sustainabilitysciencelab.org/) is located in the Marine Science Center (MSC, cos.northeastern.edu/marinescience/) at historic East Point in Nahant, Massachusetts. The MSC juts into the ocean five miles northeast of the entrance to Boston Harbor. Our lab and the MSC offer a vibrant intellectual, collaborative, and friendly work environment. Students live and work by the ocean, take classes in downtown Boston, and conduct field research throughout the US.

Research Assistantships include a full tuition wavier, a monthly stipend, and health insurance. Research assistants work 20 hours per week while completing coursework. Start date is negotiable in 2024. Students have opportunities to co-design and conduct research, write, and present study results at international conferences. Students will participate in policy-relevant research making recommendations with and for practitioners, agencies, and communities who will use the data.

Deadline: December 1, 2023.

Damon M. Hall, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences,

School of Public Policy & Urban Affairs

Marine Science Center, 430 Nahant Road, Nahant, MA

About Northeastern University

Northeastern University (NU) is a global leader in experiential education and research with expertise in marine and coastal ecology, environmental forecasting and climate adaptation, fisheries and ecosystem-based management, ecological engineering and restoration, environmental sociology, and sustainability science.

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses.

Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.

The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment.

Full Tuition + Health Insurance

Please send: a statement of your interest in the position noting relevant coursework, CV, and the names and contact details of three references in a single pdf file to: [email protected]. Visit the Northeastern University Graduate Studies (phd.northeastern.edu/program/marine-and-environmental-sciences-2/) website for application information for the Marine and Environmental Sciences program.

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PhD Positions in Sustainability Analysis, North Carolina State University, USA

PhD Positions in Sustainability Analysis: Join the Sustainability Analysis and Innovation Lab (SAIL) at the Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, with multiple fully-funded PhD positions for highly motivated students. Research areas include sustainable bioenergy, biomaterials, carbon footprint, climate change mitigation, and circular economy. Opportunities for interdisciplinary research using innovative methods and integrated modeling frameworks.

PhD Positions in Sustainability Analysis and Innovation Lab (SAIL) Designation: PhD Student (Graduate Research Assistantship) Research Area: Sustainability Analysis and Innovation Location: North Carolina State University, Department of Forest Biomaterials, USA Eligibility/Qualification:

• Educational background in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental engineering, material science, biological engineering, or related fields .
• Experience in process-based simulation (e.g., Aspen Plus, SuperPro) is preferred.
• Strong interest in sustainability research.
• Enthusiasm for exploring unknown research areas.
• Strong academic writing and communication skills.
• Preferable if you have related research experience.

Job Description:

• Contribute to innovative methods and integrated modeling frameworks for sustainability in bioenergy and biomaterials.
• Address sustainability issues using interdisciplinary approaches, including industrial ecology, sustainable engineering, and artificial intelligence.
• Explore research directions such as sustainable energy, carbon footprint, climate change mitigation, forest carbon dynamics, soil carbon modeling, green building, upcycling solid waste, process design and simulation, and techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) of emerging technologies.

How to Apply: Interested candidates, please send your resume/CV, transcript, a short personal statement (no more than one page), and your previous research work (if any) to [email protected] . The email subject should be in the form of “Your Name_PhD_Application.”

Last Date for Apply: Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled. Early applications are encouraged.

About SAIL: SAIL, led by Dr. Kai Lan, develops innovative methods and integrated modeling frameworks to advance industrial systems and the built environment in sustainable bioenergy and biomaterials. The lab employs interdisciplinary approaches to address sustainability issues, particularly in the context of climate change mitigation and circular economy.

About North Carolina State University:

• Located in the vibrant city of Raleigh, North Carolina.
• Multiple fully-funded PhD positions with tuition, stipend, and benefits.
• Expected starting time: Fall 2024 or Fall 2025.
• Explore exciting research directions and contribute to addressing sustainability challenges.

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Developing and validating sustainability indicators for measuring social impact of university–community engagement programs, 1. introduction, 2. literature review, 2.1. universities and sustainable development: the need to measure the holistic impact, 2.2. social impact measurement indicators for sustainable development, 2.3. overview of existing literature for social impact measurement indicators, 3. materials and methods, 4.1. respondents’ background data, 4.2. descriptive statistics and kruskal–wallis h-test, 4.3. exploratory factor analysis, 4.4. confirmatory factor analysis, 5. discussion, 6. conclusions, 7. limitation and implications for future research, author contributions, institutional review board statement, informed consent statement, data availability statement, conflicts of interest.

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Compan, P.; Kongyok, C.; Prommachan, T.; Rodsaard, N.; Socheath, M. Developing and Validating Sustainability Indicators for Measuring Social Impact of University–Community Engagement Programs. Sustainability 2024 , 16 , 5232. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16125232

Compan P, Kongyok C, Prommachan T, Rodsaard N, Socheath M. Developing and Validating Sustainability Indicators for Measuring Social Impact of University–Community Engagement Programs. Sustainability . 2024; 16(12):5232. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16125232

Compan, Pongpan, Chanakamol Kongyok, Thongchai Prommachan, Nuchanart Rodsaard, and Mam Socheath. 2024. "Developing and Validating Sustainability Indicators for Measuring Social Impact of University–Community Engagement Programs" Sustainability 16, no. 12: 5232. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16125232

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