Coursework Requirements

The MSS program is designed to be accessible to students from any undergraduate major once certain prerequisites are satisfied. In all cases, students complete a set of core courses as well as selected method courses in design thinking, systems thinking, and social innovation. To build on and complement these requirements, students take elective courses based on their study plan to best support their thesis research and practicum. Students will earn a Master of Sustainability Transitions (M.S.T.) after completing the coursework of their own design, thesis research, and practicum. Please be noted that the Master of Science (M.S.) and the Master of Arts (M.A.) tracks are not offered at this point.

•    6 Credits MSS Program－Master of Sustainability Transitions (M.S.T.) Track

。  120 Hrs Practicum + a Project/Thesis Report on Sustainability Transitions

The following are required of all MSS students:

•    A minimum of 24 credits of coursework.

•    All student’s coursework for the master’s program must be at the 5000 level or above (graduate-level courses).

•    A minimum overall GPA of 75 must be maintained.

•    Students can take courses taught in Chinese to meet the coursework requirements, but no more than 1/3 of the total required credits (24 credits) are allowed.

•    No more than 1/6 of the total required credits (24 credits) are allowed to come from micro-credit courses.

•    By the end of their first semester in the program, each student must devise a study plan that includes a robust set of courses appropriate to support their thesis research and practicum, as determined in consultation with the student’s advisor(s).

•    Suppose courses required for the master’s degree have been completed in the student’s undergraduate career. In that case, the student may, after consulting with program staff, apply to waive the courses and/or pursue additional electives to fulfill the 24 credits required for the master’s degree.

•    Students are required to complete the general education courses of academic ethics (a minimum of six hours), writing in Chinese and English (a minimum of one hour), and communication skills (a minimum of one hour) and obtain respective certificates before their graduation.