Energy and Sustainability Concentration

Training the sustainability professionals of the future

Catalog Year: 2023-2024

Banner Code: LA-MAIS-ISIN-EAS

Green Leaf

The MAIS in interdisciplinary studies is for students who seek a master's degree that integrates knowledge from several disciplines. It addresses the rapidly evolving demand for unique graduate study by promoting advanced scholarship that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. Students can pursue one of the following structured interdisciplinary concentrations and also have the opportunity to design an individualized concentration to meet the special needs of their careers.

The MAIS in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Energy and Sustainability is a Green Leaf program

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 36

This is a Green Leaf program.

Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.

Students pursuing this degree must successfully complete 36 credits of graduate coursework. Students must submit a curriculum worksheet that has been approved by their concentration head and the director. Some concentrations require a project or thesis.

Concentration in Energy and Sustainability (EAS)

This concentration is designed for students interested in careers in energy and sustainability-related positions in the public, private, or non-profit sectors, including law, national and international policy, media, government, and business. As one of the University's Green Leaf academic programs, the concentration in energy and sustainability focuses on finding ways to meet present needs for energy and material goods without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. A sustainability education lies at the intersection of environmental science, engineering, economics, business, public policy, social justice, and many other areas. Energy required to fuel all of these endeavors is a crucial component of sustainability.

Core Courses in Energy and Sustainability

Required Courses  
EVPP 533 Energy Policy 3
GGS 507 Geographic Approaches for Sustainable Development 3
Natural Science Course  
PHYS 581 Topics in Renewable Energy 3
or GEOL 521 Geology of Energy Resources
Total Credits 9

Energy, Sustainability or Environmental Policy

Students choose from the following courses or other relevant courses chosen in consultation with an advisor.

Select two courses from the following: 6
National Security Technology and Policy  
Special Topics in Economics 1  
Selected Topics in Environmental Science (take 3 credits) 2  
Corporate Environmental Management and Policy  
Environmental Policy  
Topics in Policy and Government (when topic involves environmental or sustainability policy)  
Topics in Public Policy 3  
Total Credits 6

Humanities or Social Science Approaches to Sustainability and Environmental Issues

Students choose from the following courses or other relevant courses chosen in consultation with an advisor.

Select two courses from the following: 6
Climate Change and Sustainability Communication Campaigns  
Special Topics in Economics 2  
International Environmental Politics  
Problems in American History 1  
Contemporary Issues in Social Justice Human Rights  
Environmental Ethics  
Religion and the Natural Environment  
Total Credits 6

Planning, Modeling, or Management

Students choose from the following courses or other relevant courses chosen in consultation with an advisor.

Select one from the following: 3-4
Infrastructure Modeling  
Corporate Environmental Management and Policy  
Ecosystem Analysis and Modeling  
Directed Studies in Environmental Science and Public Policy (take 3 credits)  
Total Credits 3-4

Natural Science

Students choose from the following courses or other relevant courses chosen in consultation with an advisor.

Select one from the following: 3
Scientific Basis of Climate Change  
Fundamentals of Ecology  
Applied Ecology and Ecosystem Management  
Total Credits 3

Electives

Students who elect to complete a project or thesis will not need any elective credits. Students who do not complete a project or thesis will take 3 elective credits.

Select 0-3 credits from the following: 0-3
National Security Technology and Policy  
Infrastructure Modeling  
Transportation Engineering and the Environment  
Scientific Basis of Climate Change  
Climate Change and Sustainability Communication Campaigns  
Special Topics in Economics 1  
Selected Topics in Environmental Science (take 3 credits) 1  
Fundamentals of Ecology  
Corporate Environmental Management and Policy  
Environmental Policy  
Ecosystem Analysis and Modeling  
Applied Ecology and Ecosystem Management  
Directed Studies in Environmental Science and Public Policy (take 3 credits)  
International Environmental Politics  
Geology of Energy Resources  
Problems in American History 2  
Contemporary Issues in Social Justice Human Rights  
Experiential Learning 3  
Environmental Ethics  
Topics in Renewable Energy  
Topics in Public Policy 2  
Transportation Economics  
Religion and the Natural Environment  
Total Credits 0-3

Research Methods Course

Students choose one of the following courses or other relevant courses in consultation with an advisor.

Select one course from the following: 3
Numerical Methods for Bioinformatics  
Qualitative Research Methods for Environmental Scientists  
Ecosystem Analysis and Modeling  
Multivariate Data Analysis for Ecology and Environmental Science  
Interdisciplinary Research Methods  
Computational Methods in Engineering and Statistics  
Introductory Data Analysis for Policy and Government  
Topics in Public Policy 1  
Methods and Logic of Social Inquiry  
Total Credits 3

Integrative Learning Experience Course

MAIS 793 Integrated Learning Experience 3
Total Credits 3

Optional Project or Thesis

Students have the option to select one from the following: 3
Interdisciplinary Studies Project (take 3 credits)  
Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis (take 3 credits)  

 

Students interested in pursuing a dual master's program linking global affairs or interdisciplinary studies (concentration in women and gender studies) with a discipline other than that listed below should discuss their interest with the graduate program directors of both programs and review the university policies in AP.6.9.6.

Global Affairs, MA and Interdisciplinary Studies, MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) Dual Degree

The Global Affairs and Interdisciplinary Studies Programs offer a dual master's program where a student can earn both a Global Affairs MA and the Interdisciplinary Studies MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) in 54 credits rather than 66 credits. This program is governed by university policy AP.6.9.6

Application Requirements

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For information specific to this dual master's program see Application Requirements and Deadlines.

Requirements

Total credits: 54

Required Global Affairs Courses

GLOA 600 Global Competencies 3
GLOA 610 Economic Globalization and Development 3
GLOA 615 Case Studies in Globalization 3
GLOA 710 Seminar Abroad 3
Select three courses from the chosen specialization for the global affairs MA 9
Total Credits 21

Required Women and Gender Studies Courses

WMST 630 Feminist Theories 3
WMST 640 Transnational Issues of Gender and Race 3
Select one course in critical race studies from the following: 3
Critical Race Studies  
Representations of Race  
Genealogy of Black Feminist Thought  
Policing Black Bodies
Policing Black Bodies  
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies  
Special Topics  
Select one course in bodies and sexualities from the following: 3
Gender, Sexuality, and Disability  
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies  
Queer Theory  
Select one course in transnational and global perspectives from the following: 3
Transnational Sexualities  
Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights  
Sexuality, Race, and Immigration  
Sociology of Globalization  
Social Justice and Equity in International Education  
Select 9 credits in elective courses chosen from the following and not used to fulfill another requirement: 9
Gender, Sexuality, and Disability  
Transnational Sexualities  
Sexuality, Race, and Immigration  
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies  
Special Topics  
Queer Theory  
Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights  
Internship  
Total Credits 24

Required Methods Course 

Select one from the following: 3
Interdisciplinary Research Methods  
Feminist Research Methods  
Total Credits 3

Capstone

Select one of the following: 3
Capstone Research Seminar  
Integrated Learning Experience  
Total Credits 3

Project or Thesis

Select one of the following: 3
Interdisciplinary Studies Project (take 3 credits)  
Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis (take 3 credits)  
Total Credits 3

Total Credits: 54

Students interested in pursuing a dual master's program linking philosophy or interdisciplinary studies (women and gender studies concentration) and a discipline other than that listed below should discuss their interest with the graduate program directors of both programs and review the university policies in AP.6.9.6.

Philosophy, MA and Interdisciplinary Studies, MAIS (Concentration in women and gender studies) Dual Degree

The Department of Philosophy and the Interdisciplinary Studies Program offer a dual master's degree program where students can earn both the MA and the MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) in 55 credits rather than 67 credits. This program is governed by university policy AP.6.9.6.

Application Requirements

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For information specific to this dual master's degree see Application Requirements and Deadlines.

Requirements

Students pursuing dual master's study linking the Philosophy MA and the Interdisciplinary Studies MAIS with a concentration in women and gender studies will complete WMST 630 Feminist Theories across the Disciplines/PHIL 658 Feminist Theory and 3 additional credits of WMST courses approved by the Department of Philosophy to apply to the philosophy degree as elective credit. Six credits of approved PHIL credits will apply to the MAIS degree as elective credit.

Students interested in pursuing a dual master's program linking sociology or interdisciplinary studies (concentration in women and gender studies) with a discipline other than that listed below should discuss their interest with the graduate program directors of both programs and review the university policies in AP.6.9.6.

Sociology, MA and Interdisciplinary Studies, MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) Dual Degree

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the Interdisciplinary Studies Programs offer a dual master's program where a student can earn both a Sociology MA and the Interdisciplinary Studies MAIS (concentration in women and gender studies) in 57 credits rather than 69 credits. This program is governed by university policy AP.6.9.6.

Application Requirements

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions. For information specific to this dual master's degree see Application Requirements and Deadlines.

Requirements

Total credits: 57

Required Sociology Courses

SOCI 601 Proseminar in Public and Applied Sociology 3
SOCI 620 Methods and Logic of Social Inquiry 3
SOCI 711 Classical Sociological Theory 3
SOCI 712 Contemporary Sociological Theory 3
Elective Methodology and Analysis Course 3
Survey Research  
Evaluation Research for Social Programs  
Special Topics in Sociology  
Qualitative Research Methods  
Statistical Reasoning  
Feminist Theory  
Ethnography  
Historical and Comparative Sociology  
Analytic Techniques of Social Research  
Methods in Anthropology  
Select three advanced courses (500-800 level) in sociology 9
Total Credits 24

Required Women and Gender Studies Courses

WMST 630 Feminist Theories 3
WMST 640 Transnational Issues of Gender and Race 3
MAIS 793 Integrated Learning Experience 3
Select one course in critical race studies form the following: 3
Critical Race Studies  
Representations of Race  
Genealogy of Black Feminist Thought  
Policing Black Bodies  
Policing Black Bodies
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies  
Special Topics  
Select one course in bodies and sexualities from the following: 3
Gender, Sexuality, and Disability  
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies  
Queer Theory  
Select one course in transnational and global perspectives from the following: 3
Transnational Sexualities  
Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights  
Sexuality, Race, and Immigration  
Sociology of Globalization  
Seminar for Supervision in Teacher Education  
Social Justice and Equity in International Education  
Select three courses from the following that address the study of women and gender and that are not taken as part of the core focus. 9
Gender, Sexuality, and Disability  
Transnational Sexualities  
Sexuality, Race, and Immigration  
Current Topics in Women and Gender Studies  
Special Topics  
Queer Theory  
Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights  
Internship  
Other relevant courses from other disciplines chosen in consultation with concentration head
 
Total Credits 27

Required Methods Course

WMST 610 Feminist Research Methods 3

Capstone, Project, or Thesis

Select one from the following: 3
Interdisciplinary Studies Project  
Interdisciplinary Studies Thesis  
Thesis  
Master's Capstone Paper  
Total Credits 3