M.A. Brochure

M.A. in Global Sustainability Full-time/Part-time/Distance Learning

M.A. in Global Sustainability at USFApply your passion for the environment with cutting-edge research and on-the-ground experience. Our Master’s degree in Global

Sustainability offers you a multidisciplinary study of the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability to

enable you to make informed decisions and create tangible change toward sustainable futures. Leading faculty and external experts

will give you national and international perspectives on issues of sustainability.

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Program Information

j 33 credit hours can be completed in as little as one year

j Flexible full-time, part-time and distance-learning options

j International internship requirement provides life-changing opportunities

j Fall admission only

“I firmly believe that our M.A. program is the realization of an idea whose time has come. All students today, regardless of their

major or profession, need environmental literacy, but our program goes beyond that. We present a multidisciplinary approach to a

common topic. Sustainability is the umbrella that unites us all.”

- Sharon Hanna-West, JD, Exide Distinguished Lecturer of Ethics and Sustainability, University of South Florida

M.A. IN GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITYConcentrations in

Water Entrepreneurship Sustainable Tourism

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CoursesStudents learn from top USF professors in sustainability, across multiple

disciplines. Program concentrations are offered in Water, Entrepreneurship and

Sustainable Tourism. Online classes feature videos and interactive materials.

GraduationGlobal Sustainability students join the strong and vast USF alumni

network. The USF Career Center, along with dedicated staff

members, help identify exciting employment opportunities in the

area of sustainability.

Global Internship ProgramTTo gain global research experience, M.A. students are offered opportunities to

travel the world and work with leading companies, major international bodies

and premier universities. The Patel School facilitates placements through its vast

international networks.

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Patel School of Global Sustainability

HighlightsInterdisciplinary Seminar

To properly orient each new cohort of M.A. students, the program begins

with a weeklong Interdisciplinary Seminar Course featuring lectures and

workshops by leading USF faculty and external experts. In addition,

students undertake several exciting field trips.

Patel School of Global Sustainability

VISION: The Patel School of Global Sustainability (PSGS) at the University of South Florida fosters

sustainable urban communities and environments through collaborative research, education and

community involvement. Its research generates innovations and new knowledge that helps cities around

the world, including those in developing countries, to reduce their ecological footprint while

improving their form and function to make them healthier, more livable and resilient.

Through its research, PSGS influences global practice and policy and has become the hub of a global network of sustainability

experts. The education and capacity-building activities at PSGS attracts world-class participants who are educated and trained in

the latest innovations by leading international experts in the field. Its graduates are champions of the developing green economy.

PSGS, through its Office of Sustainability, has positioned USF as an international exemplar and leader in institutional

sustainability through implementing innovative, cost-effective systems across campus, demonstrating that sustainability can be

feasible and affordable.

Global Challenges Global Research Global Solutions



Sustainability at the University of South FloridaUSF’s President, Dr. Judy Genshaft, signed the American College & University President’s Climate Commitment. USF is committed to neutralizing greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating research and education efforts to equip society with the information and tools to re-stabilize the earth’s climate. Leading the way is USF’s Office of Sustainability.

The USF Office of Sustainability coordinates and builds partnerships for university-wide initiatives that advance USF’s strategic goal of creating a sustainable campus environment.

Key accomplishments include:

j Listed in Sierra Magazine’s “Cool School” Ranking

j Tree Campus USA designation by The Arbor Day Foundation

j Student Green Energy Fund used to finance campus sustainability projects

j Sustainability Tracking Assessment & Rating (STARS) Gold Star Rating

j American College & University President’s Climate Commitment Second Nature Climate Leadership Finalist

USF has a multitude of student led professional organizations that work in the field of sustainability. Groups include, but are not limited to:

j American Water Works Association (AWWA)

j Emerging Green Builders (EGB)

j Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW)

j Engineers Without Borders (EWB-USA)

j Student Environmental Association

j Students in Free Enterprise

5 U N I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H F L O R I D A S C H O O L O F G L O B A L S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

Water Experts Needed!

One billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water and 2.5 billion suffer from

poor or non-existent sanitation. Finding solutions will require creative thinking, the ability to speak

across disciplines and cultural sensitivity.

NEW ANd EMERGING JOBS:

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s 2009 O*NET database, water resource specialists

and water/wastewater engineers are among the Green New and Emerging Occupations, which,

due to a burgeoning green economy, require unique skills and abilities.

Concentration in Water

Be part of the solution...The M.A. Global Sustainability concentration in Water will give you the tools to understand the complex regional and global

water-related sustainability challenges and the skills to develop innovative sustainable solutions in specializations such as green

infrastructure, urban water and coastal issues.

A multidisciplinary group of USF faculty with proven track records in water management will expose you to:

j The basic concepts of managing the dynamics of the urban water cycle and how it impacts sustainability.

j The application of appropriate environmental models to analyze problems that relate to the management and exploitation of

environmental systems.

j The interdisciplinary nature of sustainability and urban water issues along with the integrated and novel approaches needed

to find sustainable solutions.


Entrepreneurs Fuel the Green Economy!“Florida ranks in the top 10 states for jobs in the clean energy economy in 2007, with more than 30,000, and it has attracted nearly $117 million in venture capital in the past three years, half of which has supported clean energy generation” –(PEW, 2009)

FLORIDA RANKS:

#1 in job churning (an indicator of new startups)

#4 in entrepreneurial activities

#4 in inventor patents

#5 in the country for overall economic dynamism

–(Kauffman Foundation, 2010)


A GROWING SECTOR:

The global market for environmental

products and services is projected to

double from 2008 to 2020. –(International Labour Organization, 2008)

Concentration in Entrepreneurship

Lead the Way for Green Business…The M.A. Global Sustainability concentration in Entrepreneurship will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of

concepts, tools and skills in sustainability and green technology. Focus areas include green technology, transportation, energy and

sustainable enterprise.

In concert with the nationally ranked USF Center for Entrepreneurship, the program will teach you:

j Entrepreneurial skills that you can apply to take green innovations to the market place.

j The fundamentals of intellectual property, new venture formation, legal structures, strategic market assessment for new

technologies, venture capital and private equity for sustainable enterprises.

j Leadership skills to solve complex sustainability-related problems and create new business opportunities in the burgeoning

green economy.

Take advantage of our Entrepreneurship Industry Alliance:

j Network with local and national business leaders

j Intern at leading corporations and industries

j Acquire top-notch leadership skills


USF ranked #19 by the Princeton Review

as one of the top Entrepreneurial Graduate

Programs in the U.S. in 2011.

Wanted: Sustainable Tourism Experts!

j The World Travel & Tourism Council estimates that by 2021, 69 million new tourism related jobs will be created.

j Tourism is the fastest growing industry in the world with annual tourist visits expected to rise from 900 million to 1.6 billion this decade, according to the UN World Tourism Organization.

j Tourism contributes to about 8% of global GDP, and one in 12 jobs world-wide. (UNEP, 2010)

j In regions like the Caribbean, tourism accounts for over 30% of the area’s GDP. (UN, 2004)

j The Global Sustainable Tourism Council has set a global criteria to certify those in the tourism industry. Over 170 cities world-wide have already adopted the criteria.


Concentration in Sustainable Tourism

Set the Global Standard...The M.A. Global Sustainability concentration in Sustainable Tourism provides a holistic approach to tourism, that minimizes the

impacts on the environment and local culture, while creating new and exciting employment opportunities for local people in the

tourism sector.

A team of USF faculty and international experts will teach students:

j How to assess the economic, social and environmental impacts of sustainable tourism.

j How tourism development and implementation can balance the interests of all stakeholders including indigenous people, local

communities, visitors, industry and government.

j Leadership and management skills necessary to ensure that tourism development brings positive experiences for local people,

tourism companies and the tourists themselves.


Here’s What Our Students Are Saying...

“There were three major benefits to this program: 1) I got to work with some of the most respected

academics and professionals in the industry; 2) the online aspect of the program really worked with

my family’s schedule; 3) I got to travel to Accra, Ghana for my internship and studied a topic that

ended up steering my career.”

- Maria Booker, EHS+S Specialist/Environmental Engineer Alumni, M.A. 2011 (interned in Ghana)

“I think the best thing about this program is the interaction between students of different schools at

USF. In my Landscape and Ecology as Urbanism course, I was able to work with architecture students

on projects addressing local environmental issues. It was interesting to collaborate with professionals of

different backgrounds.”

- Estevan Baza, Graduate Student M.A. 2012 [Anticipated] (to intern in Barbados)

“The true value of the M.A. in Global Sustainability lies in its comprehensive interdisciplinary

approach. Being exposed to multiple disciplines and examining the connections among them has

helped me apply the principles of sustainability to water resource and ecological management issues

and demonstrate that sustainable solutions can deliver successful results.”

- Brandon Johnson, Aquatic Ecologist Alumni, M.A. 2011 (interned in Australia)

“The support system was one of the best program features. Our professors had an open door policy. We not only leaned

on the professors for assistance, but we provided support for each other within our student cohort. We were a team.”

- Shannee Green, Florida Legislative Assistant Alumni, M.A. 2011 (interned in Singapore)


Is a Career in

Global Sustainability for You?

Global Reach: “The mounting cost of energy-intensive production and consumption patterns is widely recognized. It is timely to move towards a

high-employment, low-carbon economy. Green Jobs hold the promise of a triple dividend: sustainable enterprises; poverty reduction;

and a job-centred economic recovery.” –(Juan Somavia, ILO Director-General, March 2009)

• Renewable energy jobs- now at over 2.3 million- are rapidly expanding

• Wind and solar could reach upwards of 8 million jobs by 2030

• During the next two decades, public and private investment for retrofitting or weatherizing buildings could add 3.5 million

jobs in the European Union and U.S.

• “Clean tech” investment reached $148 billion in 2007, up 60 percent from 2006

–(Cornell GLI- Worldwatch report on Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low Carbon World, 2008)

GO WITH THE INVESTMENT FLOW: In the U.S., clean technologies are the third largest

recipient of joint venture capital. As countries around the world transition into energy-efficient

buildings and green construction, millions of jobs will open up for workers adequately trained.

-(International Labour Organization, 2008)

NEW ANd EMERGING JOBS: Of the 965 occupations listed in the U.S. Department of Labor’s

2009 O*NET database, 215 are classified as “green” occupations.

FLORIDA SUSTAINABLE CAREER FACTS:

j In 2007, Florida ranked #3 in the country for the number of clean energy businesses and #5 for clean

energy jobs. -(Pew Research Center, 2009)

j For 2006-2008, Florida ranked 13th in clean energy venture capital investments.

-(Pew Research Center, 2009)

j Florida is 5th in the country for its grid-connected solar capacity. -(St. Petersburg Times, 8/12/10)

j Employers expected to add 3,385 green jobs between 2010 and 2011, amounting to 45,807 green

jobs in 2011 at a growth rate of 8.0 percent. (State of Florida Green Jobs Survey Report 2010)


Participate in World Class InternshipsThe Patel School of Global Sustainability has sent students to some of the most exciting and rewarding places on earth.

Our partners have included some of the largest and most respected companies, organizations and universities in the world dealing

with issues of global sustainability.


Where will YOU go?

PATEL SCHOOL OF GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITYUniversity of South Florida

4202 E. Fowler Avenue, CGS 101Tampa, FL 33620-8100, USA

(t) +1 813.974.9694

www.psgs.usf.edu 30%

Documents

M.A. Brochure