Department of Geology, Environment and Sustainability Hofstra University
Master of Arts (MA) in Sustainability Graduate Handbook For information about applying to the MA in Sustainability program at Hofstra University, contact:
Dr. Jase Bernhardt, Graduate Director Department of Geology, Environment, and Sustainability Hofstra University jase.e.bernhardt@hofstra.edu 516-463-5731
Dr. J Bret Bennington, Chair Department of Geology, Environment, and Sustainability Hofstra University j.b.bennington@hofstra.edu 516-463-5568
Updated: Spring 2022
Masters in Sustainability
Graduate Handbook
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0
Introduction to the Department of Geology, Environment, and Sustainability Department and Degree Programs ……….… 2 1.1 History of the Department…………………………………... 2 1.2 Overview of the MA in Sustainability...………………….… 2
2.0
Admission to the Master of Art Degree Program………………. 3
3.0
General Information and Overview of Procedures……………... 4
4.0
Advising………………………………………………………… 5
5.0
Master of Art Degree Details………………………………….... 6 5.1 5.2 5.3
Traditional MA in Sustainability Studies Program…….... 6 Sustainability Studies (MA) and Master of Business (MBA) Dual-degree Program……………………………..7 Sustainability Studies (BA or BS) and Sustainability (MA) Dual Degree Program……………………………………………………7
6.0
Master of Art Degree Requirements: Thesis and Internship Requirements……………………………………………………. 8
7.0
Financial Support ……………………………………………….. 9
8.0
Faculty
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1.0 Introduction to the Department of Geology, Environment and Sustainability at Hofstra This section reviews the Department of Geology, Environment and Sustainability at Hofstra University. It introduces the unique vision of the department and provides a summary of the Master of Arts (MA) in Sustainability Degree Program, the Bachelor of Arts/Science (BA/BS) and MA in Sustainability Dual Degree Program, and the MA in Sustainability/Master of Business Administration (MBA) Dual Degree Program.
1.1
History of the Department
The Department of Geology, Environment and Sustainability at Hofstra University began as the Department of Geology in 1957, when Hofstra began to offer BA and BS degrees in Geology for the first time. Since then, the department has graduated hundreds of professional geologists who have gone on to work in a variety of fields from geoscience research to environmental consulting to education. In the last decade, as evidence has accumulated on the impacts of human activity on the natural environment and critical earth systems, the Department has progressively refocused its efforts to provide not only a strong traditional geology education, but also to expand its degree options to address the human impacts on the Earth. First, the Department added a BS degree in Environmental Resources with a greater focus on applied and environmental geology. In 2013, the Department incorporated the new Sustainability Studies Program that was started in 2012 at Hofstra University, further expanding opportunities to study and research the human dimensions of earth and environmental science. This innovative pairing of geology and sustainability studies adds an important anthropogenic perspective to the traditional geology curriculum and provides a multidisciplinary natural science grounding in earth systems to our sustainability studies curriculum. The Department compliments its innovative curriculum with a very strong record of placing students in jobs and graduate programs on Long Island and throughout the country and the world. We place strong emphasis on field experiences and one-on-one research with an academic advisor. For more information about the Department please see: https://www.hofstra.edu/academics/colleges/hclas/geol/index.html
1.2
Overview of the MA in Sustainability
Sustainability can be broadly defined as meeting the needs of all people while living within Earth’s planetary boundaries so as not to compromise future generations. The MA in Sustainability program at Hofstra delves deeper into the concept of sustainability and asks students to seek different ways of analyzing and achieving sustainability in different settings. This program also takes a balanced approach in trying to understand how to make developed countries more sustainable while also addressing the real-world 2|Page
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sustainability crisis that exists in the developing world. The Master of Arts program in Sustainability integrates environmental, economic, social, philosophical, and ethical themes of sustainability. The program is designed to give students real-world, hands-on experiences solving sustainability problems. In addition to a traditional MA program, Hofstra offers two Dual Degree programs in sustainability. The dual BA/BS-MA in Sustainability allows undergraduate students to receive both their bachelors and master’s degree in a five-year program. The dual MA Sustainability/MBA program allows students to merge sustainability with their graduate business education. Students may attend full- or part- time and either a thesis or internship is required of all students to complete the MA degree program in the traditional MA program as well as the Dual Degree programs. The specifics of each program are detailed in Section 5.0.
2.0 Admission Requirements For the traditional MA and the MA/MBA program, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in a discipline that will allow them to study some aspect of the field of sustainability at an advanced level and have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or equivalent. To apply, please send a letter explaining your interests in sustainability studies and qualifications to the graduate director, Dr. Jase Bernhardt at Jase.E.Bernhardt@hofstra.edu. This letter should review your relevant achievements and curricular preparation and include your academic and career goals in the area of sustainability and how the degree will help you achieve the goals. In addition, the letter should identify the faculty member(s) (see list at the end of this document) who share your areas of interest and who might serve as faculty mentors for your area of study and research. Official undergraduate academic transcripts are also required; however, unofficial transcripts may be submitted for initial consideration. For more information about Hofstra Graduate admissions requirements, and to apply online, visit this Website: https://www.hofstra.edu/graduate/apply.html International students will find the Department a welcoming place. We are very interested in international issues and global sustainable development. International students can find information about visas and other requirements on the Hofstra International Admission website here: https://www.hofstra.edu/graduate/internationalstudents.html Application materials are accepted at any time. However, students are encouraged to apply by February 28th for Fall admission and by October 15th for Spring admission in order to receive priority for financial aid. Students can begin their studies during any semester, but we encourage students to start in the Fall as that is when introductory courses are offered and when most financial aid is distributed.
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3.0 General Information and Overview of Procedures General guidelines for the MA program follow: 1. It is the responsibility of the student to be acquainted with all requirements and regulations of the University and the Department. 2. New students must attend a new student orientation at the start of the semester. 3. Students receiving scholarships and other financial support must take a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester unless receiving permission from the program director. 4. Graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0. In addition, students must attain at least a B in all required core courses. No grade below a “C” will be accepted toward a graduate degree but all grades will be counted in computing the overall grade point average. 5. Thesis students must complete 6 hours of thesis credits and internship students must complete 6 hours of internship credits. 6. A grade of incomplete may be awarded at the discretion of the faculty member only when the student is otherwise earning a passing grade and only if the incomplete is due to circumstances beyond the control of the student or instructor. Students are advised to complete a written contract for completing work to satisfy the course requirement and remove the incomplete grade. The contract should include a description of the work to be completed and the date by which the work is to be submitted. The instructor will specify a default grade based on work completed by the end of the semester. If the work required to satisfy the incomplete is not submitted by the contract deadline, the incomplete grade will be changed to the default grade. 7. If you are taking a break from the program and are not graduating that semester you will need to fill out a leave of absence request here: http://www.hofstra.edu/academics/academics-bulletin-graduate-academicpolicies-procedures.html. 8. You must be enrolled in at least 1 credit during the semester that you are graduating. Normally, you would be finishing up your final 3 thesis or internship credits during that final semester. However, if you are not sure that you will be able to completely finish your thesis or internship report, you can split your final 3 credits into 2 in one semester and 1 during the final semester. For example, if you are aiming to graduate in the spring but find that you might not finish your thesis/report in time, enroll in 2 credits in the spring and 1 in the summer in order to graduate in the summer.
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4.0 Advising The Director of Sustainability Studies will appoint a faculty member as an initial advisor (major professor) for each student accepted into the MA program in Sustainability. The advisor will advise the student in selecting appropriate courses and overall program planning in consultation with the Director. A student is encouraged to change their advisor if academic interests become more closely aligned with the interests of another faculty member and if that faculty member can accommodate the student. All changes in advisors must be approved by the Director of Sustainability. Guidelines for advising are: 1. Each student will select, or be provided with, a major professor, who will also serve as the student’s Supervisory Committee Chair and Academic Advisor. 2. The major professor should be a faculty member on the list at the end of this document with whom the student is willing to work. The major professor should be willing to give thoughtful direction with respect to the selection of courses and for directing a thesis or internship. Students with a particular interest in mind but unsure of which faculty member to approach should consult with the Director of Sustainability Studies. 3. Each student, in consultation with their selected major professor, must select a second reader to complete the Thesis Committee. It is in the student’s best interest to consider their second reader early by seeking out faculty who work in areas relating to their interests. 4. Thesis students are expected to present a draft research proposal to their Thesis Committee prior to beginning their 6 credits of thesis hours. The Committee will be given two weeks to review the written proposal after which the Committee will meet with the student to discuss the proposal. This meeting must take place at least two semesters before the semester in which the student plans to graduate. 5. Internship students should meet with their committee before the start of their internship to discuss expectations for the final internship presentation to the Committee. 6. Graduate Student Supervisory Committee Expectations of Conduct: There are rarely any problems with supervisory committees. However, the following expectations will be followed by all participants involved in a Thesis or Internship Committee including student, advisor (major professor), and committee members: •
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Regular communication of research between the student and committee members.
Masters in Sustainability • •
Graduate Handbook
If major changes occur to the proposed study, the student in consultation with his or her advisor is responsible to call a committee meeting to discuss the changes. If concerns arise either with regards to what can be considered major changes between committee members or other matters pertaining to the pursuit of the proposed study, these will be resolved by the Director of Sustainability Studies or the Chair of the Department of Geology, Environment, and Sustainability if the student’s advisor is the Director.
5.0 MA Degree Requirements 5.1
MA in Sustainability Degree
The MA in Sustainability requires 30 semester hours (s.h.) of coursework. As part of these 30 hours, students must complete 6 semester hours of internship or 6 semester hours of thesis credits. Required Core Courses (15 hours) SBLY 201 Sustainable Development 3 s.h., Fall course GEOL 251 Readings 3 s.h., Fall course SBLY 206 Sustainability Theory and Practice 3 s.h., Spring course SBLY 210 Sustainability Studio 3 s.h., Spring course SBLY 340 Sustainability Internship 6 s.h. Or SBLY 301 Sustainability Thesis 6 s.h. Students can take either the thesis or the internship for credit. Only six hours of one of those courses counts for the degree. Students must take SBLY 201, SBLY 206, SBLY 210, and GEOL 251 before or concurrently with SBLY 340 or 301. Thesis hours should be taken in the final year of study during two separate semesters. The six credits of internships may be split into two semesters or completed in one semester and will be decided once the student obtains an adviser and secures an internship. Electives 12 hours of graduate courses (i.e., four 3-credit classes) from the Departments of Biology; Computer Science; Engineering; Geology Environment, and Sustainability; Geography; Management; Philosophy; Public Health; or Sociology with the approval of the advisor. Other courses may count with the approval of the Graduate Director. 2000 Level Converted Undergraduate Courses Up to 6 hours of undergraduate upper level (100 or above) courses may be counted with the approval of the Director of Sustainability Studies. Undergraduate courses must be converted to 2000 level graduate courses by completing additional work for graduate credit. This must be arranged with the instructor of the course prior to the beginning of 6|Page
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the semester when the course is taught. No more than two 2000 level converted courses may be counted toward completion of MA degree requirements. 5.2
Sustainability Studies (MA) and Master of Business (MBA) Dual-degree Program
Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Frank G. Zarb School of Business offer this combined MA and MBA dual-degree program. Qualified graduate students can elect to enroll in this dual-degree program, combining a Master of Arts in Sustainability Studies (MA) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) allowing for a full body of course work and skill development within a variety of MBA concentrations, along with a broad and deep exposure to the field of sustainability studies. The MA in Sustainability Studies requires the successful completion of 30 s.h., of which 15 credits consist of courses taken within the MBA Program , subject to advisement from the MA and MBA Program faculty advisers. The Hofstra MBA requirements are the same as described for all students in the Hofstra University Graduate Studies Bulletin for the MBA program, except for the course MGT 228 - Organizational Strategy for Sustainability, which is a required course as part of the MBA concentration in this dual program. For the MBA portion, students must select an MBA major from the following areas: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Accounting, MBA Business Analytics, MBA Finance, MBA Full-Time Day Master of Business Administration Program, MBA Health Services Management, MBA Information Systems, MBA International Business, MBA Management, MBA Marketing, MBA Online Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program Accounting, Professional Accountancy, MBA Quality Management, MBA Sports and Entertainment Management, MBA Taxation, MBA
More information can be found in the Hofstra Graduate Bulletin at: https://bulletin.hofstra.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=113&poid=22132 5.3 Sustainability Studies (BA or BS) and Sustainability (MA) Dual Degree Program Qualified undergraduate students may elect to enroll in a dual-degree program, combining their undergraduate BA or BS degree in sustainability studies with a Master of Arts degree in sustainability. The dual-degree program requires successful completion of a total of 145 s.h., including at least 115 s.h. at the undergraduate level and 30 s.h. at the 7|Page
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graduate level. The dual-degree program can be completed in five years, including at least one summer session. Students who are admitted to the MA portion of the dualdegree program may apply the graduate courses SBLY 201, SBLY 206, and GEOL 251 toward both the BA/BS and MA degree requirements. These 9 s.h. will apply to the undergraduate degree in addition to the required 115 s.h. of undergraduate course work, for a total of 124 s.h. for the BA/BS. GEOL 251 and SBLY 210 must be taken before being enrolled in SBLY 301 or 340 thesis or internship courses. SBLY 201 and SBLY 206 may be taken at any time but are recommended for either the student’s junior or senior year. These two courses must be completed prior to the fifth year when students enroll in thesis or internship classes. More information on the dual degree programs in sustainability can be found in the Hofstra University Undergraduate Bulletin: https://bulletin.hofstra.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=113&poid=22130
6.0 Master of Art Degree Requirements: Thesis and Internship Requirements Thesis option: 1. The student must complete a thesis proposal as outlined above in consultation with their advisor and committee. The thesis proposal defense must be passed at least two semesters prior to the student’s expected graduation date. The thesis proposal must be sent to the adviser and the entire committee at least two weeks prior to the defense date. 2. When the thesis is complete, the thesis must be defended by the date two weeks prior to the last day of classes for the semester of graduation. The final thesis must be sent to the adviser and the entire committee at least two weeks prior to the defense date. The defense is scheduled and organized by the student’s advisor. The defense, which must include a presentation of the research, must be advertised in the Department and on the Department’s web and social media pages at least one week before the defense. 3. A copy of the thesis must be available in the Department for review at least two weeks prior to the defense. Internship option: The Internship provides an opportunity for the student to explore real-world work with a host institution. The student must complete the following requirements for the Internship: 1. Interview with student advisor and host institution to identify scope of work.
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2. Develop a Work Plan. The Work Plan should include a review of the work to be completed at the host institution along with a timeline of deliverables. The student’s advisor is responsible for ensuring that the Internship has appropriate rigor and duration for 6 academic credit hours (minimum of 28 hours off campus per credit hour). It is expected that the Work Plan will include a statement as to the significance of the Internship to applied issues in sustainability. It must also include a literature review. 3. Internship Report. The Internship Report is submitted to the advisor for evaluation and must be publicly presented by the end of the semester of graduation. This presentation could be an oral presentation for the entire department and/or a poster at the university wide Graduate Research Session. 4. A copy of the Internship Report must be available in the Department for review at least two weeks prior to the presentation.
7.0 Financial Support For information about Hofstra University Financial Aid or Loan Packages, see: Financial Aid https://www.hofstra.edu/sfs/financialaid/index.htmlThere are also a number of Hofstra University scholarships available. You can find out about them here: https://www.hofstra.edu/academics/grad/grad_fa_scholarships.html. The Department does have a limited number of partial scholarships available through the support of the University. Please send a letter stating your interest in a scholarship along with your application letter to Dr. Jase Bernhardt, Graduate Director of Sustainability Studies. Include a resume. In addition, there are occasionally research assistantship positions, including a small stipend, available at Hofstra through the support of the National Center for Suburban Studies or other sources of funding. These positions vary by semester so please contact Dr. Bernhardt for information about the current opportunities.
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8.0 Faculty The current Hofstra University Sustainability faculty members are: Jase Bernhardt is a meteorologist and climatologist with expertise in climate change, human impacts on climate, and weather risk communication. Annetta Centrella-Vitale holds a master’s degree in marine environmental science and oceanography and holds expertise in coastal and agricultural sustainability. Sandy Garren is a environmental sustainability expert with deep knowledge of climate change indicators, interdisciplinary methods, and environmental policy.
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