Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Sustainability, (M.S., J.D.)


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Admissions Information  
Student Learning Outcomes M.S.  
Student Learning Outcomes J.D.   

The M.S./J.D. option is available only to candidates who are concurrently enrolled in the School of Law. 
Ordinarily, students complete the first year of the J.D. before beginning the M.S. in Sustainability.

Program Overview


Sustainability is an interdisciplinary field of study. Sustainability is often described as having three pillars: environmental sustainability, social sustainability, and economic sustainability. USD’s faculty has expertise in all three areas in the Department of Sustainability and Environment and others including environmental sustainability expertise through departments of biology and chemistry; social sustainability expertise through departments of political science, sociology, anthropology and philosophy; and economic sustainability through the Beacom School of Business. USD is the second university in the U.S. to offer sustainability degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. levels. Sustainability prepares students for careers in the areas of sustainable practices, natural resource management, renewable energy, community planning and non-governmental organizations focused on sustainable development and education.  The M.S./J.D. - non-thesis only - is available to candidates who are concurrently enrolled in the School of Law. Students complete the first year of the J.D. before beginning the M.S. in Sustainability. Learn more at usd.edu/sustainability.

DELIVERY: On campus

Concurrent Master of Science with Juris Doctor, Sustainability (Non-thesis): Total 32 credit hours


LAW courses, with approval from the student’s sustainability advisor and the Sustainability Graduate Program Director, can be used to partially fulfill the elective requirements for the M.S. Non-thesis option  .  Up to 12 of these credits can also be used to fulfill requirements in the student’s J.D. degree .

General Application Requirements


  1. Completed application
  2. $35 application fee
  3. Official transcripts*
  4. Letters of recommendation*
  5. Statement of purpose
  6. Resume/CV*

*Requirements for admission vary by program and may require different documentation and have different deadlines. This list is not all-inclusive, to view specific program requirements and submission deadlines, follow the “Admissions Information” hyperlink at the top of this page OR visit the specific program/dept. page found here: link.usd.edu/grad-catalog

Location Matters for Non-Licensure Track Programs


This program is not designed or advertised to lead to a professional license or certification required for employment.

USD is permitted to operate under the terms of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) policies and standards in offering online courses/degree programs to residents in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.  Online courses/programs may also be offered to residents of California (a non-SARA state) because it does not regulate out-of-state public institutions.

Additionally, this program is authorized to offer supervised field study experiences (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) in South Dakota. Please be aware that there may be some restrictions on your ability to engage in supervised field study outside of South Dakota. Please contact a program representative if you have questions regarding supervised field study.

Distance education courses or programs will not be offered outside of the United States without prior written approval from the University, which may be withheld for any reason. If you are taking distance courses while physically located outside of the United States, it is your responsibility to confirm the following: (a) if the country will recognize an online degree; (b) the availability of supervised field study opportunities in the country; and (c) if the country charges any additional taxes, withholdings or fees associated with online distance education programs.

For more information, please visit USD’s State Authorization page or contact your admissions counselor.

Questions?


Sustainability Program
605-658-6801 | sustainability@usd.eduusd.edu/sustainability

Graduate Admissions
605-658-6140 | gradadmissions@usd.edu | usd.edu/grad

 

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