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OU Online MS in Sustainability | University of Oklahoma Online

18+ MONTHS

10 COURSES REQUIRED

30 CREDIT HOURS

$985 CREDIT HOUR

Learn. Grow. Succeed. Make an Impact.

The MS in Sustainability: Energy and Materials Management will help you advance your career, or step into a new career in a growing field. This flexible, 100% online, 30-credit hour, 10-course degree program can be completed in just 18 months. The degree helps build an understanding of the science, policies, technologies, financial models, and practices that support sustainable development, preparing students to lead their organizations to a more sustainable future. 

Admission Deadline

Rolling Admissions

Program Start Terms:

Fall, Spring

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Pursue Your Sustainability Master's Degree

Take the next step for your career with a degree from the University of Oklahoma. Applications are reviewed year-round for eight-week sessions in the fall, spring, and summer. Choose your program, choose your start, and apply today.

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Benefits of the Sustainability Master's Degree

Lead in Today's World

Higher ROI for graduates in the field with a master's degree, Additional earning potential and increased access to job opportunities implies significant value for a degree focused on sustainability. Employer-advertised potential ROI of at least $21,500 higher salary for those with a master’s, with an average median salary of $100,200 annually (Emsi Burning Glass, 2022).

A Collaborative Impact

Opportunity for collaboration and shared learning via group project: Students will take a required group project elective to demonstrate in dissertation format the combined materials learned from all courses. Possible projects could be recycling of asphalt, techno-economic analysis of CO2 sequestration, or cradle-to-cradle design of materials, etc.

A Diverse Experience

OU Online’s MS in Sustainability is open to students of all backgrounds. This makes pivoting to a sustainability career easier for interested students that may not have a STEM or engineering-specific background. This will help students meet the rising pressure to understand, comply with, and implement governance surrounding ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) sustainability regulations.

Same Academic Excellence

OU Online’s MSS program has identified objectives aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, and ten courses offered within the MSS program will contribute to achieving those objectives. 

Accredited Program

Earn the credentials needed for opportunities in any industry looking to advance, implement, maintain, or improve sustainability practices. Graduate with a valuable degree from a world-renowned university while expanding your professional network as part of the global OU alumni community.

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An Investment in Your Future

Earning an MS in Sustainability from OU Online gives you the skills and credentials to succeed in a growing field. It also gives you access to career support and an expanded professional network as part of the OU alumni community. Put yourself at the forefront of where the industry is moving while enjoying the potential for higher pay, career advancement, and new opportunities.

Tuition and fees for the program are $29,550* ($985 per credit), not including books and course materials.

*Tuition and fees are subject to change at the discretion of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

Tuition Calculator

Our tuition calculator can help you estimate your tuition and financial aid for your program of interest.

 

   Estimated tuition and fees

Program Breakdown

Offered through the University of Oklahoma’s Gallogly College of Engineering, the online Master of Science in Sustainability intends to focus on the energy and materials sectors of sustainability, leveraging the current expertise and cutting-edge research conducted within the School of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering, while diversifying the economy, fulfilling socio-economic gaps identified by the policymakers and enabling under-represented minorities to successfully engage in managerial positions. Focusing on the energy and materials sectors, the degree integrates relevant economics, social sciences, project management, and leadership studies, empowering students to be change agents and equipping them with the skills to develop solutions that move the world forward.

Students can start in the fall or spring, joining synchronous sessions led by world-class OU faculty. Courses are conducted over Zoom one evening per week, Monday-Thursday. Students will also be given the opportunity for collaboration and shared learning in the “Challenge- Group Project” course, where groups of students complete an independent study on topics of their choice, with the option to attend in person at OU’s Norman campus.

  • Core Courses:
    • Sustainable Engineering Principles
    • Emerging Technologies Toward Water Sustainability 
    • Sustainable Process Design
    • Sustainable Polymer Manufacturing
    • Challenges- Group Project
      • Students are welcome and encouraged to attend one week or more (upon discussion with instructors) of the “Challenge-Group Project” course in person. This opportunity will occur during the summer on the OU Norman Campus. Travel and onsite expenses are not covered by the program.
  • Elective Courses
    • Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage
    • Environmental Separations
    • Project Management and Leadership
    • Business Sustainability
    • Decision and Risk Analysis

Program Details

 

To apply to the online Master of Science in Sustainability program, you must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or the international equivalent). In addition to completing an online application, you will need to provide the following:

  • Official college transcripts from all institutions
  • Must have completed college algebra in their undergraduate studies
  • A detailed resume documenting relevant work experience and past education
  • Personal Statement questions that will be asked to understand applicants' reason for applying:
What are your expectations for this program? What are your career ambitions? What experience will you bring to the program and to your classmates?

 

The admissions committee operates under a rolling admission process, and admissions may continue until two weeks before the start of classes. The committee strives to respond to all applicants within two weeks from the time a completed application is submitted.

For more information on the admissions process, please complete the contact form above and an admissions counselor will be in touch shortly.

If you would like to compare the estimated cost of your program with a typical financial aid package, use the cost calculator on our OU Online financial aid page. 

While tuition waivers generally cannot be applied to OU Online programs, some OU employees may qualify for a tuition waiver and fee exemption package approved by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

If you have questions regarding financial aid for your online program, please contact the Online Aid office by emailing onlineaid@ou.edu or calling at 405-325-2929.

Why OU Online?

We are a top-tier public institution offering high-quality, affordable, professional graduate programs that are committed to maintaining academic excellence in an online format.

Our Online Programs

Every OU Online program is built on the foundation of world-class faculty mixed with professors of practice providing valuable instruction. By linking industry experts with our online programs, we are offering the most advanced curriculum available and preparing students for future career success.

Our Online Degrees

When you graduate from an OU Online program, you’ll earn a degree from the University of Oklahoma. Graduates join the network of 250,000 OU alumni and are forever part of the OU family. Become part of the tradition of excellence that OU has established in its 130-year history.

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