- Working professionals seeking to apply concepts of sustainability within an organization and the industry’s regulatory environment
- Students with a science or engineering foundation who are interested in sustainability (including those studying courses in chemistry, calculus, biology, microbiology, chemistry, or physics)
- Those who want to pursue a career in the wide field of sustainability or advance from their current positions in related fields
Master of Science in Sustainability Management and Policy (MSSMP)
Degree Program
As countries, governments, corporations, and the United Nations have set sustainability goals for decades to come, the demand for sustainability professionals will continue to increase. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported strong growth in all sustainability-related job categories, with a 11.9% increase in employment forecasted for 2019-2028. In addition to job growth, the demand for master’s degrees in managerial positions has increased according to a 2020 GreenBiz report.
CSULB's College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, College of Liberal Arts, College of Business (COB), and the College of Professional and International Education (CPIE) have joined efforts to offer a Master’s Degree in Sustainability Management and Policy (MSSMP). This program is designed to prepare students to apply the concepts of sustainability within an organization and the regulatory environment by engaging them in advanced training. This program will provide a transdisciplinary graduate degree that will empower students with in-demand technical, managerial, and problem-solving skills to guide the decision-making process in the context of sustainability.
The curriculum design objective is to offer a balance between theory and application by illustrating the holistic dynamics of social, economic, environmental, business, and technical systems. Students with a science or engineering foundation who are interested in sustainability will increase their knowledge and competence in the field, enabling them to pursue careers in management or policy with a sustainability focus.
The cohort-based MSSMP program is intended for individuals seeking management, entrepreneurial, and leadership positions related to sustainability. The program design considers those who are pursuing a position that includes responsibilities in sustainability as part of their organizational practices or are switching career paths to pursue opportunities in this field.
Students will engage with regional and national sustainability groups and collaborate with various professionals from a wide array of industries, government, non-government, and academic organizations, in order to excel as active leaders in sustainability fields. The program’s requirements comprise a 36-unit, lock-step sequence of courses covering three core components: i) developing an advanced understanding of sustainability in the management and policy realms; ii) acquiring data analytics, systems analysis, and design skills to tackle real-world problems in business and policy; and iii) demonstrating competency through a culminating project, in which students interact with local leaders.
The Integrative Capstone Experience course (6 units) will serve as the culminating educational experience for students in the MSSMP program. It is designed to integrate the transdisciplinary fields of the program’s curriculum. Students must draw on both the practical skills and the analytical knowledge they have gained in order to address crucial sustainability management issues as consultants for a real-world client, potentially related to the student’s ongoing professional positions. Under the guidance of faculty mentors, interdisciplinary teams of students will engage in a 12-week project with partner companies and non-profit organizations.
- Technical, managerial, and problem-solving skills to guide decision-making in the context of sustainability
- A balance between theory and application of social, economic, environmental, business, and technical systems
- Focus on security and assurance for protection of data, software, and resources
- Mentorships with sustainability professionals
- A culminating captone project within a professional setting that gives students real-world experience
- Evening courses
- How to define and apply sustainability principles and practices within professional responsibilities
- How the interaction of environmental, economic, and social values interact to foster or hinder sustainability and sustainable practices
- How to analyze and experience local, national, and global sustainability across disciplines
- How to apply sustainability principles within the context of personal and professional values
- How to develop proficiency with data collection, analysis, and representation on a range of sustainability-related topics
- Sustainability and Society
- Sustainability Science
- Sustainability Case Studies
- Data Analytics and Sustainability
- Sustainability and Organization Theory
- Environment, Law, Policy, and Ethics
- Decision-Making and Uncertainty
- Benefit-Cost Analysis
- Environmental Economics and Policy
- Sustainability and Strategic Management
Program Outline
Program Unit Requirement: 36 units
Required core courses:
SUST 601 Sustainability and Society: Introduction to sustainability using a transdisciplinary foundation based on social sciences and natural sciences. The focus is on developing the skills to integrate material from diverse disciplines to understand the human dimension.
SUST 602 Sustainability Science: This course will provide a comprehensive compilation of conceptual perspectives, methodological approaches and empirical insights of inter- and transdisciplinary sustainability science. Developed and taught by a transdisciplinary team of faculty, it will offer perspectives and topics focused on the development, integration, and application of knowledge about Earth systems.
SUST 603 Sustainability Case Studies: Examines the science of climate change and the prospect of global, regional, and local sustainability within the context of a warming planet. Uses contemporary case studies to examine climate impacts on natural and human systems and to evaluate climate-change policies.
SUST 604 Data Analytics and Sustainability: The course explores how data analytics applied to the area of sustainability can help managers enhance economics, environmental impacts, and social performance.
SUST 605 Sustainability and Organization Theory: Explore the core organization elements for building highly sustainable organizations that can achieve both business and environmental objectives. Identify the business issues related to sustainability. Develop analytical tools for assessing and designing organization structures and processes to achieve high sustainability.
SUST 606 Environmental Law, Policy and Ethics: Focuses on the law and politics that govern, manage, and change the relationships between human activities and the environment. Examine how those policies are created, how people respond, and the underlying ethical debates.
SUST 607 Decision-Making and Uncertainty: This course provides tools that allow decision makers to make better choices when uncertainty exists. Tools may include decision trees, determining risk tolerance, identifying subjective and objective probabilities, and other techniques.
SUST 608 Benefit Cost Analysis: This course introduces how and when to use the tools of benefit cost analysis while considering issues of sustainability. Content includes identification of both private and social costs and benefits used to evaluate projects and policies within the context of sustainability.
SUST 609 Environmental Economics and Policy: Economic analysis of environmental problems that lead to market failure. Analysis of policy options to provide incentive compatible mechanisms to correct for market failure from externalities, the tragedy of the commons, and information inefficiencies.
SUST 610 Sustainability and Strategic Management: Examine the strategic sustainability issues confronting contemporary organizations. Explore strategy formulation and implementation process for creating sustainable organizations that can achieve both business and environmental objectives. Integrate sustainability into the business value chain to create sustainable competitive advantage.
SUST 699A Project Orientation and Support: Develop skills necessary to complete an applied project. Specific focus on proposal development and writing. Review of research methods and project deliverables. A grade of C or better is required for students to progress to SUST 699B.
SUST 699B Applied Professional Project: Complete an applied project. Specific focus on proposal development and writing. Give an oral presentation and produce a written report. A grade of B or better is required for students to pass.
Information Sessions
Potential students interested in learning more about the MSSMP program are encouraged to attend a free information session. The information sessions include short presentations by a program representative, designed to provide you with an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the program's benefits.
Upcoming online-only Information Sessions are below. Click on each date to register for the Zoom meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Admission Requirements
Admission decisions are based on consideration of the applicant’s previous academic record, statement of purpose, resume, and letters of recommendation.
Admission requirements for the MSSMP program include:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in science and/or engineering; or another discipline that includes the following coursework:
- Chemistry
- Mathematics through college-level Calculus
- Additional science courses, which could include Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, or Physics.
- Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in other disciplines will be considered if the applicant has the above course work completed prior to applying.
- Minimum grade point average of 2.75 in the last 60 semester units attempted, and in good standing at the last college attended.
- A statement of purpose
- A recent resume
- Two letters of recommendation
- International applicants must take TOEFL and score 80 (550 paper-based) or higher. If not, international students will have to take the Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)
- Students from a U.S. institution located in a country where English is a primary language of communication have satisfied the GWAR and are not required to complete additional assessment.
How to Apply
To be admitted to the program, you must apply for admission using the California State University admissions portal called Cal State Apply. By applying online, you can start, stop, and save your application information throughout the process.
Note the following steps to begin the application process:
- Select a term to apply for (Fall).
- Sign in or create an account.
- Select "CSU Long Beach" as your campus and select "Extended Education" as the Source.
- Select "Sustainability Management" from the list of available programs; and once chosen, the program title will be highlighted in green, with a check mark to indicate that you have chosen the correct program.
- Use the dashboard to continue with your application for admission to the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Cost per unit: $1050 (Starting Fall 2021)
- Cost per 3-unit course: $3150
- Total cost of the program: $37,800
- Cost for books included in program tuition
Please contact Program Director Dr. Monica Argandoña at Monica.Argandona@csulb.edu.
Satisfy the university requirements for graduate admission:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in science and/or engineering or other discipline that includes the following coursework:
- Chemistry
- Mathematics through college-level Calculus
- Additional science courses, which include Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, or Physics
- Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in other disciplines may be considered if theapplicant has the above course work completed prior to applying.
In addition, the applicant must have:
- A minimum GPA of 2.75 in the last 60-semester units attempted and good standing at the last college attended
- A statement of purpose
- A recent resume
- Two letters of recommendation
- Admission and English Proficiency Exams
- A satisfactory score is required on either the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) that demonstrates balance between verbal and quantitative skills.
- International applicants must take TOEFL and score a minimum of (i) 80 on the online version or (ii) 550 on the paper version of this examination.
- A score of 4.0 or higher on the writing portion of the GMAT or GRE may be used to waive the TOEFL requirement for international applicants.
To be admitted to the program, you must apply for admission using the California State University admissions portal called Cal State Apply. By applying online, you can start, stop, and save your application information throughout the process.
Note the following steps to begin the application process:
- Select a term to apply for (Fall).
- Sign in or create an account.
- Select CSU Long Beach as your campus and Select Extended Education as the Source.
- Select Sustainability Management from the list of available programs; and once chosen, the program title will be highlighted in green with a check mark to indicate that you have chosen the correct program.
- Use the dashboard to continue with your application for admission to the program.
University graduates with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university in science and/or engineering or other disciplines that includes the following coursework: chemistry, mathematics through college level calculus, other science courses, which may include any of the following: biology, microbiology, chemistry, and/or physics. Applicants with a degree in other disciplines may be considered if the applicant has the above course work completed prior to applying.
There has been a 7.5% increase in LinkedIn members with a Sustainability job title. Top job with the greatest growth includes Sustainability Analyst, Sustainability Specialist, and Sustainability Advisor. Sustainability professionals may also have the title of Corporate Responsibility Manager, Sustainability Consultant, Sustainable Development Manager, and Sustainability Coordinator.
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in science and/or engineering or other discipline that includes the following coursework:
- Chemistry
- Mathematics through college-level Calculus
- Additional science courses, which could include Biology, Microbiology,
Chemistry, or Physics. - Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in other disciplines may be considered if the applicant has the above course work completed prior to applying.
A satisfactory score is required on either the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) that demonstrates balance between verbal and quantitative skills and ability.
A score of 4.0 or higher on the writing portion of GMAT/ GRE can be used to waive the TOEFL requirement of the Center for International Education and Global Engagement for international students. All other international applicants must take TOEFL and score 80 (550 paper- based) or higher. If not, international students will have to take GWAR.
Students from U.S. institutions located in a country where English is a primary language of communication have satisfied the GWAR and are not required to complete additional assessment.
Applicants with a score of 3.5 or lower on the GMAT/ GRE writing portion will not be admitted to the program.
The program requires 36 units. It will take 6 semesters to complete the program. Students take two 3 unit courses per semester Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. In the final Summer semester students will undertake their Integrative Capstone Experience which is 6 units and will serve as the culminating educational experience.
The College of Professional and International Education (CPIE) registers students in courses.
The MSSMP cohort will advance together in the summer semester of the first year of the program.
Advisory Committee
Professional Advisory Board

Deputy Executive Director of Planning and Development, Port of Long Beach

Chief Engineer, San Gabriel Valley of Governments

Environmental Administrator, City of Irvine

Senior Vice President, Environment, Health & Safety, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company

Sustainability Coordinator, California State University, Long Beach

Senior Sustainability Advisor, Southern California Edison

Senior Director, Cisco Environmental Affairs

Senior Executive Officer, LA Metro

Director of Global ESG, Ingram Micro

Vice President, Sustainability, Sony Pictures
Sustainability Coordinator, City of Long Beach

California Branch Chief, NOAA Fisheries

Energy Market Sector Leader, Senior Project Manager

CEO of Fierce Courage LLC

Sustainability Data Management, Netflix
Richard D. Cameron
Richard joined the Port of Long Beach as an intern in 1996, and was hired as an Environmental Specialist late that same year. In 2006, he became Manager of Environmental Planning, and was eventually named Managing Director in February 2014. He has overseen the Environmental Affairs and Planning Bureau, and subsequently led efforts for the Port’s signature environmental program, the Green Port Policy, as well as the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan. Under the Green Port Policy, his division coordinates programs to improve air, water, and soil quality, while preserving wildlife habitat and integrating sustainability into Port practices.
Mark Christoffels
Mark is responsible for the establishment of sub-regional funding allocations for the 30 member agencies of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments under the Los Angeles County’s Measure M program, and represents the San Gabriel Valley on Metro’s Measure M and Long Range Transportation Plan Advisory Policy Council. He oversees all project implementation for programs including the Alameda Corridor-East program, which has been cited as a national model for addressing the impacts of freight rail traffic on local communities. Mark has been a practicing civil engineer in local government for more than 35 years, including 11 years in Long Beach. He was inducted into UCI’s Engineering Hall of Fame in 2017.
Sona Coffee
Sona Coffee is a sustainability professional who works with local governments to help transform cities into environmentally sustainable communities. She started her environmental public service career as the Environmental Manager for the City of Manhattan Beach, and her current work as Environmental Administrator for the City of Irvine is leading climate action efforts in Orange County. Sona earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the Price School of Policy at USC, with an emphasis in environmental policy. She also volunteers on the Sustainable City Commission for her hometown of Long Beach.
Deborah Donovan
Debbie is responsible for the global development and implementation of environment, health, and safety programs as well as sustainability strategy. Debbie brings over 30 years of experience across the pharmaceutical, petrochemical and refining industries. Prior to joining Takeda in 2015, Debbie served as the Head of Environment, Health, Safety and Business Continuity for Novartis Group; and held a variety of roles for Amgen, Inc., Sunoco Inc., Ashland Chemical Company, and Texas Instruments. She graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and has received an MBA from California State University.
Holli Fajack
In her current position since 2014, Holli is responsible for developing and implementing campus sustainability practices and programs; and engaging students, faculty, and staff in those efforts. She also plays a lead role in guiding the work of the Presidential Commission on Sustainability. Holli’s previous positions include Policy Analyst for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office of Budget and Innovation; Student Program Director at the environmental education non-profit Sustainable Works; and Project Assistant at the City of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment. Holli has a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from UCLA, and a BFA in Photography from Santa Fe University of Art and Design.
Holly Hill
Holly Hill leads sustainability efforts across Southern California Edison (SCE). She drives cross-departmental initiatives to execute sustainability efforts and ensure operational adoption of SCE’s Pathway 2045. Prior to SCE, Holly held leadership roles in sustainability and green building at engineering, architectural, and consulting companies; and began her career at IBM ensuring environmental compliance. Holly is Chair of the USGBC-LA Board of Directors.
Joe Johnson
Joe Johnson manages an international team of environmental and legal professionals responsible for tracking and implementing regulatory and sustainability objectives to ensure compliance with global mandates and customer expectations. He represents Cisco in regional trade and standards associations such as the Information Technology Industry Council, DigitalEurope, and the International Electrotechnical Commission. Before joining Cisco, Joe led environmental activities at Mobil, Boeing, and Microsoft. He has served as a member of the EPEAT Advisory Council on Green Electronics, Chair of the iNEMI Environmentally Conscious Electronics Committee, and as regional director of the American Waste Management Association. Joe is a graduate of Cornell University and the University of Washington.
Laurie Lombardi
Laurie Lombardi is a planning and finance professional specializing in long-range forecasting, grants strategies, mega-project design, and management. She has 28 years of experience,
including 17 years in the Mass Transportation Industry in NYC and Los Angeles.
At MTA Capital Construction, she successfully delivered the Second Avenue Subway
Hudson Yard 7 Line extension and revitalization projects of Lower Manhattan. Laurie is currently focusing on funding initiatives, such as Measure M implementation and California’s Senate Bill 1, and project initiatives such as LA County’s Goods Movement Strategic Plan, Land Value Capture, and 2028 Olympics readiness.
John Marler
John is the Director of Global ESG at Ingram Micro, the Irvine, California-based global leader in technology and supply chain services. In this role, John manages and advances Ingram Micro’s ESG platform and programs, helping the company to meet its ESG goals and engage with its stakeholders. Prior to Ingram Micro, John led the energy management and environmental sustainability programs at AEG, the Los Angeles-based leader in live sports and entertainment. Previously, John held various roles at Southern California Edison, the law firm Ford Marrin, and at the Rocky Flats Coalition of Local Governments. John also currently serves on the Traffic and Transportation Commission for the City of Claremont, California.
John Rego
John has led Sony Pictures Entertainment’s global sustainability department since 2009. The department is focused on driving value for the company through sustainable practices, primarily by integrating stewardship into the corporate culture, product marketing, and the company’s operations. He previously spent 11 years consulting in a variety of sectors including technology, food and beverage, transportation, energy, and education. In 2007, he served as Environmental Director and eco-spokesperson for Live Earth, a worldwide campaign to drive action to solve the climate crisis. John is a graduate of Brown University and has a Master in Business Administration from Duke University, with a focus on social entrepreneurship.
Larry Rich
Larry helped create the Office of Sustainability in 2008 and currently leads a staff of 10 analysts, interns, and field workers in implementing the Sustainable City Action Plan and administering the Sustainable City Commission. Larry started with the City as an intern in 1991 while completing a degree in Geography at CSULB, and worked for the Community Development and Planning & Building Departments prior to coming to the City Manager’s Office. He has promoted the value of natural system services and has developed programs to expand the urban forest, capture rainwater, reuse green waste, and develop local food sources through urban agriculture.
Penny Ruvelas
Penny oversees a staff dedicated to the conservation of protected species and habitats including sea turtles, abalone, marine mammals, and essential fish habitats along the California coast. She has worked for NOAA Fisheries for 30 years, focused on the conservation of protected marine species and habitats under the Endangered Species Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Penny and her staff are responsible for the analyses and minimization or mitigation of the impacts of major marine activities in the area including fisheries, aquaculture, and coastal development and restoration.
Clay Sandidge
Clay is the energy market sector leader and a senior project manager at P2S. He has 30 years of experience in project development, renewable energy development, water/wastewater, engineering, environmental, and real estate development business. He provides integrated solutions to municipal, state, local, and federal government clients as well as private industry, ports, utilities, developers, and manufacturers. Clay’s primary focus is in the alternative and renewable energy arena working with new technology development, energy efficiency and storage, and microgrid development. He is focused on developing legislative and policy initiatives to facilitate the growth of renewable energy technologies for environmental projects and air-quality emission reduction.
Jeannine Pearce
With nearly 20 years of community organizing experience, Jeannine Pearce has delivered progress in her role as a Councilwoman in the city of Long Beach, as a non-profit Director, a Board Member, and as a political and strategic planning consultant. She served for four years on the Long Beach City Council representing the 2nd District. Pearce was previously a Director for the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy; and she co-founded Long Beach Rising, a civic engagement coalition. At her consulting firm Fierce Courage LLC, Pearce helps leaders build progressive, strategic, and sustainable plans.
Cherita Young
Cherita previously worked at Alexandria Real Estate Equities, where she was responsible for developing the company’s utility data management process. She also worked in environmental compliance for Kern County and in corporate sustainability at Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) in Los Angeles, where she monitored environmental footprints and implemented sustainability practices with professional sports teams, music and sports venues, and music festivals. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering with minors in Green Engineering and Math from San Jose State University.