School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
Graduate Programs in Geospatial Information Sciences
Master of Science in Sustainability Planning and Policy
30 semester credit hours minimum
EPPS Faculty
Professors: Yongwan Chun, Dohyeong Kim, David J. Lary, Fang Qiu, May Yuan
Associate Professor: Muhammad Rahman, Michael Tiefelsdorf
Assistant-Professor: Elías Cisneros, Alexander Michels
Professor Emeriti: Ronald Briggs, Daniel A. Griffith
Lecturer: Bryan Chastain
Mission
The mission of the Master of Science in Sustainability Planning and Policy program is to provide students with the multidisciplinary toolkit required to navigate contemporary sustainability challenges. Through a blend of technical expertise and policy analysis, the program fosters a commitment to environmental stewardship and social equity across all organizational levels. More specifically, graduates of the program will:
- Establish a comprehensive understanding of sustainable development principles.
- Analyze the interactions between human systems and rural/urban environments.
- Utilize advanced digital tools and smart-city technologies to address ecological issues.
- Assess the efficacy of regulatory frameworks in advancing global sustainability goals.
Admissions Requirement
The Master of Science in Sustainability Planning and Policy program seeks applications from students with a baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education.
In addition to the University's general admission requirements, applicants are required to submit the following materials as part of their application file for holistic admission consideration:
- Two letters of recommendation.
- A statement of purpose/essay.
Deadline: Please take note of application deadlines. All applications completed by the deadline will be reviewed for admission. Applications submitted or completed after the deadline may be reviewed for admission only if spaces remain within the upcoming cohort and will be reviewed in order by the date the application file became complete.
Although applications will be reviewed holistically, in general, entering students have all of the following:
- a GPA of 3.00 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
- English Proficiency (per UTD requirements)
- a Statement of Purpose, approximately one page in length, outlining their background, education and professional objectives.
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- all Official Transcripts
Degree Requirements
The University's general degree requirements are discussed on the Graduate Policies and Procedures page.
To earn the Master of Science in Sustainability Planning and Policy, students must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours of work. Students must achieve an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher to graduate. Courses may be substituted for those listed below with the written permission in advance of the Sustainability Planning and Policy Head.
Required Courses (30 semester credit hours)
GISC 6336 Fundamentals of Sustainability
or EPPS 6336 Fundamentals of Sustainability
GISC 6338 Hazard and Disaster Management
or EPPS 6338 Hazard and Disaster Management
GISC 6381 Geographic Information Systems Fundamentals
or GEOS 6381 Geographic Information Systems Fundamentals
EPPS 6313 Introduction to Quantitative Methods
or GISC 6301 GIS Data Analysis Fundamentals
or EPPS 7313 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
GISC 6325 Remote Sensing Fundamentals
or GEOS 5325 Remote Sensing Fundamentals
GISC 6384 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
or GEOS 6384 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
EPPS 6334 Urban Planning
or GISC 6324 Urban Planning
or PA 6324 Urban Planning
PPPE 6321 Economics for Public Policy
PPPE 6329 Ethics, Culture, and Public Policy
PPPE 6367 Environmental Economics and Policy
Substitutions with approval of program head