Course of study in Sustainable Communities

If you plan to complete the program in two years, you must take the required courses in the sequence indicated below. If you plan to be a part-time student, it is important to note that certain courses are only offered in certain semesters, so you will want to plan your program accordingly.

• Both full-time and part-time students are expected to complete the SUS 601 (fall) and SUS 602 (spring) sequence in the first year of admission to the program.
• All students are required to complete a total of two units of SUS 608 Fieldwork; this course offers credit for required community engagement work.
• Your electives may include an independent research, fieldwork/internship work, and/or two 400-level courses (if appropriate), as well as courses from across the university.
• You may substitute 3-unit elective blocks with a combination of 1- and 2-unit courses.
• To complete the program in two years, it is recommended that your course work be directly related to your thesis project.

Refer to the academic catalog for a full list of courses related to SUS.

Example:

Fall I

• SUS 601 Visions of Sustainable Communities: core course
• SUS 603 Social Transformation: core course
• SUS 608 Fieldwork: core course (1 credit)
• 2-3 Elective Credits, chosen in consultation with your advisor

Spring I

• SUS 602 Elements and Contexts of Sustainable Communities: core course
• SUS 604 The Craft of Inquiry: core course
• SUS 608 Fieldwork: core course (1 credit)
• 2-3 Elective Credits, chosen in consultation with your advisor

Summer seminars/study abroad

• Special seminars offered for 1-3 units of credit. Summer courses, including some taught abroad, can help you move through the program more quickly and/or they can give you more time to devote to your thesis work in the second year of your studies.

Fall II

• 6 or 9 Elective Credits chosen in consultation with your advisor

Spring II

• SUS 695 Achieving Sustainable Communities: core course
• SUS 699 Thesis: 6 thesis credits are required to graduate

View more courses on the Course Curriculum page and read more on what each course is about. Or download your Course and Thesis Timeline.

Potential pathways