International Master in Environmental Management & Sustainability
James Madison University, University of Malta
Description
The master's program in Environmental Management and Sustainability is an accelerated, immersion 12-month international dual degree program. Students completing the program receive a Master of Science degree from both James Madison University and the University of Malta, giving them an educational credential in both the American and European Union markets. Students complete a required core curriculum that includes systems analysis, public policy, principles of sustainability, GIS for the environment, water resources management, and field methods. A choice of electives allows program participants to concentrate on either natural resource conservation or the sustainability of engineered systems, such as renewable energy and industrial processes. Our curriculum provides a foundation for both natural resource conservation as well as sustainability management. The program starts September 1 and ends the following August. All coursework is completed in Malta from September to May; students work independently during the summer months to complete a capstone project. The degree is flexible, and enables graduates to design a program of study that meets their long term career goals, leverages their undergraduate degree, and builds on their work experience. There are typically 20 students in the program each year who include new college graduates as well as returning mid-career professionals. The educational benefits of the program are not just limited to the classroom. As a small Mediterranean island, Malta is an exceptional living laboratory for the study and practice of sustainability in one of the most biodiverse regions of the world. A number of field experiences provide a hands-on feel for both sustainable technologies and resource conservation, including site work at a natural resource preserve in Italy. Expert faculty from both the University of Malta and JMU are involved in all teaching and instruction, and demonstrate the value of different international viewpoints. Intercultural awareness and deepened self-confidence grow from working with students and faculty from around the world.