SUSM MES Thesis Degree

The Master of Environmental Studies (MES) in Sustainability Management (SUSM) offers two formats. The thesis-based master’s degree option is offered on campus and is available as a full-time or part-time program (with approval).

The thesis-based degree is offered in three streams:

• The general MES in Sustainability Management
• The MES in Sustainability Management - Water, with courses from the Water Institute 
• MES in SUSM - Thesis-based - Aeronautics, with courses from the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics

Thesis-based students complete five courses, with two of the courses selected from graduate level electives, as well as complete a thesis. Full-time students can expect to be enrolled for 6 terms (2 years). Part-time students must finish within 5 calendar years. Please see below the suggested program schedule for full-time students. Part-time students have greater flexibility.

Some thesis-based students are ready to defend in the fifth term, but most take six terms to complete writing and defend their masters research thesis. The MES courses in SUSM that are thesis-based focus less on semester-based results and generally have a lighter list of course requirements that vary depending on the degree, whether that be general, water, or aeronautics.

To graduate, students are required to have a minimum GPA of 70%.

If interested in applying to the SUSM MES thesis-based program, please reach out to potential research supervisors to discuss areas of faculty research interest, alignment with a professor's research program and possible student funding.