Program Overview
The PhD in Sustainability program at ASU prepares students to become leaders in sustainability research and practice. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches, equipping graduates with expertise in analyzing social-ecological systems and developing solutions for sustainability challenges. Graduates are highly sought after in various sectors, including business, academia, government, and non-profit organizations.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Objective:
The PhD program in Sustainability aims to prepare students to become scientists and leaders in research, focusing on the pressing sustainability challenges of the 21st century. The program's flexible and transdisciplinary nature enables students to tailor their studies to their interests, drawing on knowledge from sustainability science and various disciplines.
Description:
This full-time program boasts a high degree of faculty interaction and collaboration. All doctoral students gain:
- Communication: The ability to effectively communicate their research to both academic and non-academic audiences.
- Research Skills: The ability to conduct research on specific sustainability challenges using theoretical frameworks and methods from sustainability science and a range of complementary disciplines. This includes:
- Translating challenges into research questions.
- Developing research methods.
- Hypothesis formulation and testing.
- Data elicitation and analysis.
- Stakeholder engagement.
- Statistical and other analytical techniques.
- Building and applying models of social-ecological systems.
- Expertise: Expertise in analyzing institutional policies and regulations, designing the built environment, and employing technologies to support sustainable development.
- Foundational Knowledge: Foundational knowledge of concepts and methods required for conducting interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and effectively communicating their findings across academic disciplines, as well as to policymakers and the general public.
Overall:
The program equips graduates with an advanced understanding of social-ecological system dynamics and the ability to conduct original research, informing robust solutions for specific sustainability challenges. They are equipped to lead others in developing sustainable solutions at local, national, and global levels.
Outline:
Program Structure:
The program consists of 86 credit hours, including coursework, a written comprehensive exam, a prospectus, and a dissertation.
Components:
- Required Core (11 credit hours):
- Perspectives on Sustainability
- Research Design and Methods for Sustainability
- Social-Ecological-Technical Systems (SETS): Domains and Interfaces
- Community of Graduate Student Scholars (taken twice for 1 credit hour each)
- Solutions Workshop Electives (6 credit hours): Courses focusing on specific sustainability solutions.
- Open Electives (45 credit hours): Students choose courses from a list approved by the academic unit.
- Research (12 credit hours): Includes independent research under faculty supervision.
Assessment:
Assessment Methods:
The program utilizes various assessment methods to evaluate student learning, including:
- Comprehensive Exam: Assesses students' mastery of core concepts and their ability to synthesize knowledge from across the program.
- Prospectus: Evaluates students' ability to define a research topic, develop research questions, and propose a research methodology. These criteria typically focus on the depth of understanding, critical thinking, research skills, originality, and clarity of communication.
Teaching:
Teaching Methods:
The program employs diverse teaching methods to cater to different learning styles and maximize student engagement. These methods include:
- Interactive lectures: Encouraging active participation and discussion.
- Seminars: Providing opportunities for in-depth exploration of specific topics and critical analysis of research.
- Workshops: Focusing on developing practical skills in research design, data analysis, and communication.
- Independent research: Students work closely with faculty advisors on their research projects.
Faculty:
The program boasts a distinguished faculty with expertise in various areas of sustainability science, including:
- Climate change
- Energy
- Food systems
- Environmental justice
- Urban sustainability
- Social-ecological systems
- Policy and governance
Unique Approaches:
The program emphasizes:
- Interdisciplinarity: Encouraging students to draw on knowledge and perspectives from various disciplines.
- Transdisciplinarity: Engaging stakeholders and practitioners in the research process to ensure research is relevant and impactful.
- Sustainability science: Providing students with a strong foundation in the theoretical and methodological frameworks of sustainability science.
- Action-oriented research: Focusing on research that can inform and contribute to solutions for real-world sustainability challenges.
Careers:
Career Opportunities:
Graduates with expertise in sustainability frameworks and interdisciplinary research are highly sought after in various sectors, including:
- Business
- Academia
- Government
- Non-profit organizations
Specific roles:
- Chief Sustainability Officer
- Data Analyst
- Environmental Scientist
- Geographic Information Systems Coordinator
- Professor
- Program Manager or Director
- Research Scientist
- Sustainability Consultant
- Sustainability Policy Advisor
- Sustainability Specialist
Employment Outcomes:
Other:
International Opportunities:
Students are encouraged to participate in international research, study, and professional development opportunities.
Global Education:
The College of Global Futures encourages and supports studying abroad as part of the program. Numerous faculty-directed and exchange programs are available, offering students the chance to gain international experience and expand their professional networks.
