Program Overview
Respond to a changing planet by leading initiatives to implement sustainable practices. Learn the science of sustainability and help both businesses and people transform careless behaviors into mindful habits. Explore the broader field of sustainability, choose a concentration or customize your own emphasis.
Study under academically credentialed and real-world sustainability practitioners. Gain field experience to see how theories become tangible and how problems become solutions. Grow and network with your cohort to eventually participate in a growing discipline that impacts every sector.
Hone in on almost anything—from the move toward green schools to alternative food systems to renewable energy in construction, sustainability is transdisciplinary and diversely relevant. No matter your academic or professional background, sustainability impacts your future.
By the time you’re finished, you’ll be equipped with a holistic approach that helps focus on the triple bottom line: people, profit and planet. Add regenerative energy to your community and the world.
Admissions Requirements
A four-year undergraduate degree, background courses in business or environmental sciences, as well as prior relevant work experience, will most enhance the student experience, but are not necessary for successful completion of the program and professional advancement. In addition to meeting all Lipscomb University requirements for admission, each applicant to the graduate program in sustainability must submit the following:
- Application Form. Each applicant must complete an application form.
- Application Fee. Each application should be accompanied by a $50 nonrefundable application fee.
- No Standardized Exam Required. Students must submit a writing sample that demonstrates clarity of thinking, reasoning ability, logic, and strong writing and communication skills. The sample should be an academic or professional document that has been previously written and perhaps evaluated in an academic or professional setting. Previously published work may also be considered. The sample should not be something prepared for the sole purpose of admission to the program.
- References. Two letters of reference are required: one academic and one character reference.
- Official Transcript(s). Each applicant must submit an official transcript, showing degree conferral when appropriate, from all schools attended.
- Health Form. Upon acceptance, each applicant must submit a completed health form signed by a health care provider.
- FERPA. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act affords students certain rights of access to educational records; even if you are independent of your parents, you must submit this form prior to enrollment.
- Candidate Interview. Each applicant must visit the campus or meet by video conference call to participate in an interview to identify the applicant's unique goals and objectives and to determine the applicant's suitability for successful completion of the program and leadership potential in the field of sustainability.
- TOEFL. The Test of English as a Foreign Language is required for international students.
The above referenced materials support a successful "final review" admission score equal to or greater than 30 points. Additional assessments may be provided for lower scores. All application items should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions at Lipscomb University no later than 30 days before the beginning of the month in which the student plans to enroll.
Candidates pursuing the dual degree must meet admission requirements for both the sustainability program and the MBA program.
Courses
Tuition & Aid
Tuition for sustainability courses is:
- $1,091 per credit hour for On-Campus courses
- $899 per credit hour for Online courses
Students may enroll in courses in any of the following fashions:
- 100% On-Campus courses
- 100% Online courses
- A mix of online and on-campus courses as a "hybrid student"
Payment is due prior to each class or at the start of the term.
Notable Alumni
Sustainable Classrooms - Diana Andrews
Diana Andrew (MS 2012) works for Urban Green Lab, which received the Frist Innovation in Action award at the 2019 Center for Nonprofit Management (Nashville)'s "Salute to Excellence" awards! The organization received the award on behalf of Diana's educational program, "Sustainable Classrooms", a program dedicated to training educators and integrating sustainable living in the classroom.
Watch Video of CNM 2019 Award
Harvesting Excellence - Zeke Cutts
Zeke Cutts (MS/MBA 2018) provided a briefing on cranberry harvesting to New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher in a flooded cranberry bog on Cutts Brothers Cranberry Farm in Bass River. According to the Burlington County Times, New Jersey is among the top three producers of cranberries in the United States.
Read Article
Leaders in Energy - Alan Edington
Alan Edington (MS 2014), joined Gates Corporation as their first Global Director of Energy Efficiency shortly after graduation. Alan contributed the energy data featured in Gates Corporation's first corporate sustainability report.
Read Report
Sustainable consultations - Samantha S. Hart
Samantha S. Hart joined the Milepost Consulting team as Project Manager due to her diverse experiences with small businesses, education, the non-profit sector, and in the concrete industry.
Visit Milepost ConsultingOur Faculty
Career Paths
Natural Sciences Managers
Natural Sciences Managers both managers and lead scientists. They oversee the efforts of scientists working on sustainability issues. For example, if there are multiple scientists, such as a chemist, atmospheric scientist, and an environmental scientist working on a large project, the science manager will oversee and coordinate the efforts of the other scientists.
Engineers
Engineers who work in sustainability devise technical solutions for reducing waste and cutting costs. They also might be responsible for developing methods to increase safety and to reduce the risk of illness and injury for a company's employees.
Business Operations Specialist
Business operations specialists is a broad category that includes recycling coordinators and energy auditors. Firms recycle many of the materials used in production and operations, such as excess packaging, office paper, used chemicals, and scrap metal. Energy auditors, also known as energy raters or energy consultants, help prevent energy waste by inspecting buildings to find areas of air leakage and advising customers on how to fix and prevent leaks.
Accountants and Auditors
Accountants and auditors measure the impacts of sustainability programs. They determine the monetary savings and costs and may measure non-monetary aspects, such as environmental performance and the amount of waste reduction.
General and Business Operations Managers
General and operations managers work to ensure that sustainability strategies are implemented in day-to-day operations and that any sustainability measures are incorporated into the production process.
Construction and Compliance Managers
Construction managers supervise green building and site development processes and costs. Compliance officers manage eligibility and conformity with laws, regulations, and third-party green certifications or recommend how to exceed them.
