PSM-ESU - Professional Science, Environmental Sustainability Concentration, P.S.M.

Environmental sustainability combines the study of natural resources, green technologies, environmental regulations and social practices to address environmental issues on a variety of scales. Sustainable development relies on the understanding of economic, environmental, and social goals simultaneously. The proposed concentration in Environmental Sustainability will prepare students for entry into a variety of career options in industry, business, conservation, or government. The unique integration of expertise from a variety of fields such as engineering, economics, history, sociology, political science, philosophy, ethics and others will allow students a powerful platform to address sustainability in their future careers. Graduates from this concentration will be well-prepared to lead initiatives that balance profitability and environmental stewardship, with the ability to analyze data to drive impactful and sustainable solutions. The proposed new concentration will have a thesis or non-thesis route to allow students to choose the option that best fits their career and research goals. Tennessee Tech has a history of fostering interdisciplinary teaching and research initiatives and there is a strong critical mass of faculty in other disciplines who could serve as mentors and faculty advisors to master’s students. The addition of a new concentration in Environmental Sustainability will increase the sustainability and stability of the PSM program by increasing enrollment and graduation rates, stimulating external grant funding for projects related to Environmental Sustainability, and providing a pathway for current industry and government employees as well as undergraduate students who hope to pursue a graduate degree at Tennessee Tech.

Since 2006, the Council of Graduate schools endorsed the PSM program model and currently over 100 institutions have developed these interdisciplinary graduate programs that are characterized by science and mathematics with skills-based courses in management and leadership with an internship component. The proposed PSM program with a concentration in Environmental Sustainability meets all those criteria and will seek PSM recognition from the Council.

The Professional Science Master’s degree in Environmental Sustainability is a 30 hour degree program with a thesis and non-thesis option. The degree requirements include:

Non-thesis option:

• Required Core Courses: 12 hours

• Concentration Course Requirements: 6 hours

• Committee-Approved Electives: 12 hours

• Total Degree Requirements: 30 hours

Thesis option:

• Required Core Courses: 12 hours

• Concentration Course Requirements: 6 hours

• Research and Thesis: 6 hours

• Committee-Approved Electives: 6 hours

• Total Degree Requirements: 30 hours