Sustainability Leadership - Executive, EMSL
Business, Environment, Executive Masters, Global Context, Governance, Green, International, Management, Society, Strategy, Sustainable, Transformation, government, nonprofit, professional
Are you an experienced working professional who wants to drive high-impact, transformative sustainability results for your company, organization, government agency, community or career? Learn from experts about organizational leadership through the lens of sustainability.
A sustainable future requires leaders who are able to integrate sustainability into existing institutions and new enterprises. A particular knowledge base and skill set is required to drive this kind of transformational change. Professionals with tools and skills learned in the sustainability leadership program, as opposed to other degree programs, are in a prime position to establish sustainability practices in any type of organization.
The Executive Master of Sustainability Leadership program prepares professionals to advance social, economic and environmental responsibility. Designed to be completed in 12 continuous months, the program is created and delivered by people who have worked in and with companies making sustainability transitions and those who continue to be on the forefront of global sustainability leadership.
The curriculum includes coursework in the following synergistic thematic areas:
- communications and change management
- global context of sustainability
- leadership for sustainability
- sustainability and strategy
The program also includes opportunities for students to add elective coursework that is related to their specific area of interest. In addition to the coursework, students also have monthly individual coaching sessions with program faculty to help with career planning and professional development.
- College/school:
College of Global Futures
- Location: Online
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
30 credit hours including the required capstone courses (EMS 515 and EMS 516)
Required Core (18 credit hours)
EMS 522 Mastering the Global Sustainability Context (3)
EMS 523 Strategic Sustainability and Leadership (3)
EMS 524 Sustainability Storytelling and Communications (3)
EMS 525 Essentials for Transformative Leadership in Sustainability (3)
SOS 508 Pathways to Sustainability (3)
SOS 509 Leading Sustainability Transitions (3)
Electives (6 credit hours)
Culminating Experience (6 credit hours)
EMS 515 EMSL Capstone Course I (3)
EMS 516 EMSL Capstone Course II (3)
Additional Curriculum Information
Students are encouraged to attend one in-person session in a major metropolitan city in the United States. Students who cannot attend should contact the college for an alternative option.
Elective courses must be at the 500 level or above.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants | International applicants | English proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the College of Global Futures.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- personal statement
- resume or curriculum vitae
- two letters of recommendation
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Applicants to the program should be interested in and passionate about advancing sustainability in their organizations, either directly or indirectly. Successful candidates are expected to draw from and apply solutions to actual professional challenges and opportunities.
Because this is an executive master's degree for experienced professionals, work and life experience may be taken into account in lieu of additional coursework from past bachelor's degree program experience. Applicants with GPAs lower than 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") may be admitted on a provisional status. Applicants should contact the program for more details if their GPA falls below the 3.00 requirement.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | 08/01 | Final |
| Session A/C | Online | 06/01 | Priority |
Graduates of this program advance their leadership skills with practical, actionable tools and can accelerate sustainability throughout their organizations.
An EMSL degree enhances career opportunities in a variety of sectors, including business, technology, science, education and government. The School of Sustainability's 2022 alumni employment survey shows that 95% of degree program respondents are either employed or pursuing continuing education. Of those employed, 89% of respondents have jobs directly related to sustainability.
Typical careers include:
- business organization manager
- chief executive officer
- chief sustainability officer
- consultant
- director of strategic initiatives
- sustainability analyst
- sustainability coordinator
- sustainability director
- sustainability manager
- training manager
School of Sustainability
|
WCPH 3rd floor
EMSL@asu.edu
480-727-6963
Admission deadlines
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
