Degree overview

Degree Overview

The Master of Environmental Studies (MES) in Sustainability Management (SUSM) is available in two formats, both on-campus: 

• A graduate thesis-based degree with six courses and a thesis, typically requiring 2-years to complete
• A coursework-based degree with nine courses, designed for completion in 1-year when taken full time

As a future sustainability innovator, you’ll gain interdisciplinary research skills, management approaches, strategies, and processes to realize sustainable growth outcomes within business, government and not-for-profit organizations and others.   

A broad range of courses covers a spectrum of topics in sustainable development, environment, management and innovation, with elective courses available from other graduate programs in the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED) and in other departments at Waterloo. Sustainability Management MES graduates work as consultants, program managers, junior analysts, and many other positions that utilize the skills they developed in the program. 

For more information on the degree options for SUSM MES check the coursework-based or thesis-based degree overview. 

Differences between SUSM Coursework-based and Thesis-based Programs:

Note: If there is a discrepancy between the Graduate Calendar and the program schedule, the Graduate Calendar will take precedence.  Please notify the MES Thesis Graduate Program Coordinator and Advisor or the MES Coursework-based Graduate Program Coordinator and Advisor is any discrepancies.