Master of Science in Sustainable Design

The Master of Science in Sustainable Design is a non-professional research-oriented program, rather than a design-oriented program. Generally speaking, it is intended for students who wish to prepare for a related Ph.D. program, work as sustainability consultants in the AE industry or those who plan to work in public policy and pursue activism related to sustainable architecture or urbanism. A background in architecture or design is optional but not required. 

The MSSD program is structured such that students primarily work individually, not in designated research groups. By the end of the first year of the program, students select their thesis advisors. The admissions process is centralized and faculty cannot directly admit students to work under their supervision, and conversely, students cannot preselect their faculty thesis committee. Student funding is competitive and there are currently no full scholarships available. Admissions are for the Fall term only, and students are eligible for TA and GRA positions after the first year of enrollment in the program. 

As part of the Master of Science in Sustainable Design degree, students must complete a Master’s Thesis:

A Master's Thesis is a demonstration of a student's ability to synthesize knowledge gained during his or her course of study, and to apply that knowledge in the writing of an analytical text grounded in evidence derived from relevant literature(s) and empirical analysis. The thesis is not a summary of existing knowledge in the field created by others, but the production of new knowledge.