A total of 33 credits is required to complete the Master of Arts in Social Innovation and Sustainability Leadership. The average completion time for the program is two years.
Required Courses (21 credits):
(SUST 650) Foundations: Leadership for Social Innovation and Sustainability
This course provides the foundation for the Social Innovation and Sustainability Leadership Program. It creates a community of reflective learners that
support each other in becoming effective social entrepreneurs and sustainability change agents. The course also explores relationships among sustainability, economic development, and social equity.
(SUST 651) Self and Natural Systems
How do we live in harmony with the natural systems of the planet in order to create wellbeing in ourselves, communities and organizations? Students explore the importance of understanding climate
change, sense of place, eco-systems, indigenous knowledge systems, technology, energy, food, water, and waste.
(SUST 652) Innovation for Social and Economic Well-Being
In this course, we consider the challenges to organizational and community change presented by global trends and by traditional socioeconomic and public policy models,
and we introduce alternative models aimed at meeting these challenges: equity, ecological economics, community development, sustainable development, the sharing economy, social innovation and participatory democracy.
(SUST 751) Designing Regenerative Communities
This course offers students opportunities to explore how housing, economic development, inclusive community-based engagement and sustainable infrastructure (built and governance)
might come together to more rapidly and more equitably advance wellbeing for all, in the urban context.
(SUST 752) Leadership for Organizational and Community Well-Being
This course explores examples of community and organizational practices that fulfill the vision of co-creating inclusive well-being that reflects
the interrelatedness of personal well-being, organizational culture, socio-economic well-being, and the well-being of nature. Along with examples and case studies, students learn specific leadership skills that facilitate the creation of well-being
in their organizations and communities.
(ORG 630) Organizational Change
Investigates the nature of change, forces for change, and the impact of change on its recipients. Introduces students to the practice of organization development with respect
to change efforts in organizations as they examine their own roles and skill sets as change agents. Students learn to choose between, and then design, appropriate interventions to transform an organization from a current state to a desired
future state.
(SUST 760) Capstone A & (SUST 761) Capstone B
The Capstone courses are run as a peer-coaching learning community where each student implements a social innovation project of their choosing. Capstone A focuses on analyzing
the system that the student is interested in changing, identifying a leverage point, and creating a theory of change. In Capstone B, students implement a prototype and social impact evaluation based on the systems analysis conducted in Capstone
A. Students are encouraged to take Capstone A and Capstone B in their last two semester of the program.
Sample Elective Courses (12 credits):
Elective credits allow students to tailor their degree to a special area of interest or deepen specific leadership skills and knowledge. Sample elective courses may be taken from the programs listed below. Elective courses must first be approved by your academic advisor.