The City College of New York (CCNY) will offer a new, interdisciplinary graduate program, “Sustainability in the Urban Environment,” that incorporates emerging approaches from the disciplines of architecture, engineering and science. The program will enroll its first students for the Spring 2010 semester. It will award a Master of Science degree in Sustainability to its graduates.
“None of the masters-level programs in sustainability currently listed on the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education website integrate the disciplines of architecture, engineering and science,” noted Dr. Latif Jiji, Herbert G. Kayser Professor of Mechanical Engineering in The Grove School of Engineering and Director of the program.
The 30-credit program is designed to respond to the increasing demand for a workforce equipped to meet the sustainability challenges of the 21st century. Students in the program will be prepared to adapt old and advance new generations of buildings, urban infrastructure and open spaces using approaches that take into account rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, peak oil, and climate change.
The program’s core curriculum lays a foundation in sustainability values, strategies and metrics through coursework in urban and natural systems, environmental economics and industrial ecology. It draws upon approaches such as ‘whole systems thinking’ and life cycle analysis to understand and evaluate complex urban eco-systems.
An interdisciplinary capstone project, which requires teamwork and interchange among groups of architects, engineers and scientists, will develop experience with the processes and dynamics of integrated design. Additionally, students will take electives in relevant advanced courses within architecture, engineering and science.
Graduates will ultimately develop leadership and teamwork skills that will give them an advantage in diverse professional settings where interaction and collaboration among teams of scientists, engineers, architects and others are commonplace.
This timely new program is designed to meet employment demands in the Tri-State area as well as nationally. For example, New York City’s “PLANYC 2030: A Greener Greater New York,” which outlines 10 major goals and 127 initiatives to sustain and improve the quality of life in New York City, will require a host of trained professionals to achieve its objectives. Prospective employers for graduates of the program include:
- Local, state, and federal governments
- Intergovernmental organizations
- Non-governmental organizations
- Firms that plan and design sustainable buildings, building complexes, and infrastructure
- Construction companies that build sustainable buildings
- Commerce and Industry
- Consultant companies
- Regulatory agencies
- Utilities
- Research and development
- Education
For admissions information and other questions about the new graduate program in Sustainability in the Urban Environment call (212)650-6977 or write to g%72aduate%61d%6dissions@ccny.cuny.ed %75" rel="nofollow"> graduateadmissions@ccny.cuny.edu . An online application is available at: /prospective/admissions/grad
MEDIA CONTACT
Ellis Simon
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esimon@ccny.cuny.edu