This page of Frequently Asked Questions is intended primarily for prospective students in the MSSE and our related certificate programs (PBCs). Applicants must work through the UNCG Graduate School’s application portal. The UNCG Catalog provides the degree requirements for the MSSE and PBCs, and UNCG provides a digital brochure with an overview.
We have multiple application deadlines: February 1 and September 15 (for MSSE and PBCs), and April 1 (for PBCs). See below for more information.
For the MSSE, we strongly recommend that students start in the fall semester (application deadline: February 1). A spring start is possible (application deadline: September 15), especially for part-time study (students may switch between part- and full-time as desired), but we accept most students for fall entry. We do not have a summer entry for the MSSE, although some summer classes are occasionally available. MSSE applicants who miss the February 1 deadline may apply for the PBC in Sustainability by the April 1 deadline and, if accepted, switch to the MSSE at a later date.
For the various certificates (PBCs), the fall deadline is September 15 (for spring semester start) and the spring deadlines are February 1 (for summer start) and April 1 (for fall semester start). We strongly recommend that PBC applicants apply for fall and summer starts by February 1; because we currently accept PBC students on the same curricular paths as MSSE students (therefore PBC and MSSE students are in the same cohort and take the same classes), we recommend applying by February 1 in case by April seats in required courses are not available (which limits chances of admission).
The only MSSE prerequisite is an undergraduate degree in any discipline from an accredited institution. Students in our program have varied backgrounds, from the sciences to the humanities, from degrees in the liberal arts to those in technical and applied fields. The way the MSSE is structured requires that students have strong skills in written and spoken English. Courses emphasize process and communication over technical content and knowledge acquisition; evaluation is primarily (but not exclusively) via written work rather than exams. Spoken communication is important for group work and for contributing short videos in asynchronous classes. There is no GPA requirement, but a 3.0 minimum is preferred (lower than that requires other mitigating factors). There are no specific prerequisite classes required to be on a student’s transcript.
Absolutely! We welcome students from all over the world, and we are excited to learn from you. An excellent command of written and spoken English is essential. For more information see here. International students are not eligible for a visa via the MSSE because it is an online program; such students may want to consider our department’s MA in Applied Geography (including the sustainability concentration option), which is an on-campus program.
No, we do not require any standardized tests (but you may still submit your scores if you have them). We practice holistic admissions, so we do not weigh standardized test scores highly. That said, such scores can be useful to demonstrate your abilities and, potentially, qualify you for assistantships or other scholarships/awards. Moreover, high test scores could counterbalance low GPAs, or vice versa. (Note that some international students may be required to submit English language proficiency exam results.)
We consider the entire application to determine admission eligibility; we don’t just focus on so-called “objective” items such as test scores, GPA, or other numerical criteria. This holistic admissions review allows each student to be considered uniquely based on the entire application. In the MSSE, faculty members (usually 5 to 7 individuals) read applications and evaluate candidates based on three main criteria: academics, personal, and recommendations. The academic areas include: degree background (field) and performance (grades), communication skills (writing and speaking especially, but also creative/artistic), ideas for a final project, and work ethic. The personal areas include: past and potential contributions (leadership, extracurriculars, skills/talents) and personal background (culture, geography, work experience). The letters of recommendation are particularly important (see below). Our committee members glean ratings for each of these categories from various sources throughout the application, especially the personal statement, letters of recommendation, and resume.
After faculty members read the applications and evaluate them, the results are calculated to rank candidates. We then take the top-ranked applicants to fill the number of places we have available; the number of places is determined by the class size limits in our required core classes (and duly reduced by any returning/continuing students that might need to take or re-take them). The result is that we admit only a portion of applicants, although we will maintain a waitlist because applicants and returning students can and do change their minds and plans. Our admission rates differ by semester, but they tend to range 30-60%.
The absolute requirements include:
We would prefer to see at least a 3.0 GPA on your most recent degree, but because we practice holistic admissions, other factors may counterbalance a lower GPA (and you should explain your performance accordingly if that is the case). We do not require standardized tests (except for some international students).
The personal statement should make it clear why you are applying to the MSSE, what you want to eventually do with your degree, and how we at UNCG can help you succeed. We want to know:
The personal statement should also demonstrate your communication skills; our curriculum emphasizes written and oral communication, so we would appreciate any evidence you can present for your strengths in those areas. You should certainly discuss relevant aspects of your background (academic, personal, professional) and any experiences (life, work) and activities (clubs, organizations) that have been meaningful to you. If you have leadership experiences, do share them; we would also like to know about your ethical convictions. (Some of these issues may be conveyed equally well on the resume.)
We are particularly interested in students who can engage synthetically with the scientific, social scientific, humanistic, and ethical components of environmental and sustainability issues. While you may have expertise or interests in one area (which we would like to know about), we are also looking for your ability and willingness to make connections across all of them. If you have pursued other graduate studies (in part or resulting in a degree), please describe them and how they relate to your interests in this degree.
While you might describe some potential coursework of interest, you should absolutely describe which of the final projects (and on what potential topic) you are considering. You will certainly not lock yourself into anything now, but the committee is keen to know what you might like to do. If you are serious about a thesis, then prior to submitting an application, you should reach out to potential faculty advisors.
Please see also the above section on holistic admissions.
Applicants are required to have two individuals who can write about the applicant’s suitability for the program. You should choose carefully your recommendation letter writers: they should not be your friends but should should be individuals who have known you in a professional or academic capacity, such as former professors, advisors, employers, or supervisors. We would appreciate their comments about your strengths (particularly as a student), your communication skills, and any of the areas we evaluate via holistic admissions. Because we ask for two letters, you should consider different types of individuals for each letter, if possible; for example, if one writer is a former teacher/professor, then the other could be a co-worker or supervisor. (Because you are applying to an academic program, it’s a good idea for at least one of your letters to address your academic experiences and contexts.)
Yes, assistantship funding is available, although they are very limited and rarely provided to online students because assistantships require some number of hours of work, which may or may not be possible as a remote student. Foreign, online students are not eligible for assistantships; foreign students living in the US with the appropriate visa are eligible. We do occasionally have partial tuition waivers and scholarships available, but given the vicissitudes of state funding, they are few and far between. If you are interested in being considered for funding, then you should submit your application in the February deadline (i.e., for fall semester entry). We will evaluate all such applications automatically for potential funding from the UNCG Graduate School.
UNCG publishes tuition and fee schedules here. Note that MSSE students must pay an additional $100/credit hour in a state-approved “differential tuition” fee.
We do not evaluate applications on a “rolling” basis; a faculty committee examines all applications together shortly after the spring and fall application deadlines. A complete application should be submitted by the specific deadline (it’s fine if letters of recommendation and transcripts arrive a few days, and up to a week or so, late). You should have results of an acceptance, waitlist, or rejection in 2 months of the deadline. If you don’t hear from us within that time frame, please reach out to the program director or to graduate admissions.
Our acceptance rate varies from semester to semester and depends on the number and quality of applications we receive along with the number of seats available in our core classes (which is determined by faculty availability as well as any returning students who may be taking or re-taking those classes). Some semesters we may accept as few as 30% (so for every 1 student accepted, 2 are declined), while other semesters our acceptance rate may be as high as 60-70% (so for every 2 students accepted, 1 is declined).
If you have been accepted, you will need to let us know your “intent to enroll” by responding to the emails from the Graduate School. After you commit to attending, the program director will be in touch via email to initiate the advising process. The program director will be your advisor and will provide you with the code necessary to register for classes. More information on registration is here. Program Orientation (asynchronous, online) for new students entering into an academic-year cohort will take place shortly before the start of the fall semester; additionally, the Graduate School provides some general orientation materials and/or events.
Our program is small, and we are unable to accommodate all applicants.
If you are waitlisted, it means we would like to accept you but simply don’t have space in the program at the current time. In most cases, we are able to forward your application to the next entry cycle, if that is of interest to you. In some cases, a place may become available later in the same admissions cycle, and you may be removed from the wait list and duly accepted. Sometimes that space is available due to an existing student taking time off or a new student declining an offer to enroll.
If you are rejected, then you may certainly apply again! Perusing the advice in this F.A.Q. and revising your application accordingly would be appropriate next steps to take in order to improve your chances of admission. Remember, however, that sometimes it is just the chances of how many students apply versus how many spots are available in the program. In many cases, however, students who are not offered an acceptance or waitlist do, still, have much to offer the program and could certainly be a good fit. Often, it’s not because of fundamental content (or who the applicant is) but because of the way the applicant’s story is told and/or what areas are emphasized (or not). In other words, the same student with the same academic record but a different essay and/or different recommendation letters can often secure admission (especially following the advice in this F.A.Q.). Feel free to reach out to the program director for specific advice on re-applying.
After you have applied and been accepted, you can discuss transfer credits with the program director. Transfer credits will need approval by the student’s major advisor and the Graduate School. Only a maximum of 9 transfer credits, generally counted as interdisciplinary electives, can be applied to the MSSE. Hours only, not grades, will be transferred from other institutions. If you have graduate credits at UNCG, they can be applied to the degree provided they are relevant courses (to be discussed with your advisor), and these credits could be more than 9 if they are relevant (because they are not considered transfer credits).
Refer to the UNCG Graduate School Handbook, Section III for more information.
The MSSE requirements are 36 credits / 12 classes in two categories: core (18 credits / 6 classes) and electives (18 credits / 6 classes). A full-time student typically takes 9 credits / 3 classes per semester (part-time students take 3-6 credits / 1-2 classes). The MSSE core includes two foundations courses (on sustainability and on environmental studies) and four rotating topics classes (on environmental sciences, equity & society, development & economics, and ethics & aesthetics). The MSSE electives include three courses from our GES department (one of which must be your final project) and three from any other department(s), all subject to approval. Electives may be anything relevant to the student’s plan of study (subject to approval); consult the Catalog for all of UNCG’s potential course offerings and the Schedule for the actual offerings by semester. (See also the note in the other FAQ on online status.)
MSSE students have a lot of choice in the kind of courses taken. If you like math and quantitative materials, you can choose that type of work and find those types of classes (but our core program is more qualitatively focused, even as quantitative literacy is a learning goal). If you enjoy and excel at reading and writing, then you will find plenty to engage you (if you don’t, then you’ll have a steep climb). If you enjoy self-direction and appreciate choice, then you will be very much at home in the program (but if you need constant direction and rigid structures, you may be frustrated).
Our PBCs range between 12 and 21 credits (4 and 7 classes) and are a little more concentrated in their requirements based on the topic of each, but most do provide for some electives or flexibility. Most of the PBCs are designed to be completed in one full-time year of study, but most students do a certificate alongside a MSSE, therefore extending the timeline.
The six core classes in the MSSE are 100% online and asynchronous, and we have designed them with rigorous online pedagogical methods. Even as the schedule is very flexible, these are definitely not “correspondence” courses. These core classes have regular (weekly or bi-weekly) deadlines for assignments, and students occasionally meet online 1-on-1 with faculty and with other students for group work (always on a flexible schedule).
The six elective classes in the MSSE may or may not be online. Students may repeat the online core topics courses when the topic changes, and final projects are always organized online; some other departmental electives are online, while others are only available on-campus. Interdisciplinary electives depend on student choice. All MSSE students are allowed to take one on-campus course per semester, provided it fits into their schedule and plan of study. There are numerous options for electives as online synchronous courses, online asynchronous courses, and face-to-face courses. Thus, one student may complete the MSSE entirely asynchronously online, while another student may complete the MSSE taking only half the courses asynchronously online and the other half face-to-face.
Our certificates (PBCs) are a mixture of online and on-campus classes. While they are officially indicated as “on-campus” (face-to-face), some may be completed entirely online. For example, if electives are chosen accordingly, the PBC in Sustainability may be completed entirely online, as might the PBC in Environmental Humanities. The PBC in Climate Justice requires an on-campus course, but some students have substituted it for an online option. The PBC in Conservation requires courses in Biology, which at UNCG are usually offered only on-campus, so fully online completion is likely not possible. The other PBCs offered in GES (Urban and Economic Development, Global Societies and Governance, and Digital Earth Technologies) all have significant on-campus requirements that would likely not be possible to complete online.
Note: In the Catalog, it is not possible to know if a class is offered online or not, but in the Schedule you can do an advanced search and limit the “Campus” (or “Campuses” in Schedule Hero) to “online” and/or, further, limit the “Instructional Methods” (or “Instructional Modes” in Schedule Hero) to your chosen type. Usually if a class has a day/time and room assigned, then it’s on-campus; if it has neither day/time nor room, then it’s asynchronous online; but if it has a day/time but no room, then it’s usually synchronous online.
This is a complex question that involves policies at the University as a whole, which we cannot address here. However, it is worth understanding that the MSSE core courses, which are run through the learning management system Canvas, will present you in particular ways, as will our university email system. You will be identified by name (which you can adjust to a limited extent, including adding and changing preferred pronouns), you will provide a small photo of yourself for your profile in Canvas, and you will make short videos of yourself for Canvas discussions. All of the Canvas materials are available only to other students in the specific course (but never the public or other students).
All master’s programs at UNCG require a final project, which may take many forms. A thesis is one option, but it is not the required one. In the MSSE, we allow our students to choose one of three options: internship (3 credits), capstone (3 credits), or thesis (6 credits). Further info (intended for current students) is here. If you are interested in the thesis option, before you submit your application, you might reach out to potential professors in our program to discuss the topic or possibility of working with them; you should then discuss, however generally, your thesis ideas in your application. (In your personal statement, we would like to read about your tentative ideas for doing the final project, thesis or otherwise.)
The MSSE is a skills-based program emphasizing the evaluation, analysis, and interpretation of sustainability and environmental problems and solutions. Students are equipped with knowledge and skills that they demonstrate through the creation of professional oral, visual, and written communication. In that sense, it is a liberal arts program (not technical training); it is about professional development and preparation for careers in any field (not specific jobs in particular industries). In general, the program considers human-environment interactions in broad and particular ways. There are numerous websites that offer advice on sustainability jobs (the Drawdown Project has a good overview here), but our contention is that sustainability and environment are relevant to ALL jobs. To learn more about our program learning objectives, see here.
Yes, the six core courses each make use of all or part of three books: Critical Skills for Environmental Professionals (2020); Companion to Environmental Studies (2018); and Sustainable Solutions (2020). Additionally, instructors provide free/reserve materials in the core classes (but you may need to purchase occasional additional materials). We also require all students to use Zotero.
Workload is dependent on which and how many classes you are taking. Full-time students typically take 3 courses (9 credits), while part-time students may take 1 or 2 courses (3 or 6 credits); all MSSE core classes are semester-long courses, but some electives may be offered in half-semester or summer versions, which may be shorter and more intense.
In the MSSE core, there are two categories of classes: foundations and topics. The foundations courses are more demanding: they involve more assignments that are due more frequently, and the pace is faster than in the topics courses. The topics courses all begin with a few weeks of general materials before spending the bulk of the semester (10-12 weeks) diving deeper into a topic. Both types of courses involve reading and writing as well as group work; foundations courses involve more testing (quizzes). Elective courses vary significantly in their workload.
Online courses are distinct from in-person courses: while they offer greater flexibility in terms of schedule and allow for more time to think and engage materials, they do not necessarily result in less time spent on work. It’s easier to “get away” with certain things in an in-person course: if you don’t do the reading, you might hide in the back or not volunteer your thoughts or not raise your hand to answer questions. But in an online course, such “hiding” is not really possible!
As we teach in the MSSE, the online courses are not about “delivering information” but instead about developing your thinking, communication, and writing skills based on key readings/viewings/information. Sometimes crafting the required videos, discussion posts/replies, essays, and group assignments takes considerably more time than you might expect.
All the MSSE core classes involve requirements to meet 1-on-1 with faculty, and most require you to work in groups with your classmates. The groups typically involve rotating membership so that you can meet other students to build connections, learn from each other, and have some social experiences in an otherwise asynchronous, online program. Additionally, there are departmental colloquia and other events organized that allow online participation. And if it fits your schedule, you can take one on-campus class per semester. Get to know some of our current students here.
UNCG is accredited by SACSCOC.
For further information on the MSSE, see also the article by UNCG News, the blog post from UNCG Online, the official university brochure, and the many links on this page to other websites as well as other parts of the Program website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the program director.
Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability
UNC Greensboro
Physical Address:
237 Graham Building
1009 Spring Garden Street
Greensboro, NC 27412
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 26170
Greensboro, NC 27402
Phone: 336.334.5388
Fax: 336.334.5864
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