Program Options

The Program consists of four streams: a 3.0 credit Thesis Stream; a 4.0 credit Major Research Paper Stream; a 4.0 Internship Stream; and a 4.0 credit Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management Stream. All streams include a core course on sustainability, and participation in a Student Faculty and Community Colloquium. A number of elective courses are offered, in collaboration with other graduate programs at Trent, to allow students to pursue selected issues in research methods, sustainable enterprise such as strategic management, non-profit management, ethics, sustainability marketing, social enterprise and entrepreneurship with greater depth.

Program Structure and Streams

Full-time and part-time MA students may choose between the four streams described above. The Thesis stream requires the completion of a scholarly monograph with multiple chapters and will be assessed by an external examiner. The candidate will defend the Thesis before a committee of at least three faculty members including the external. The Major Research Paper will be modeled on a scholarly journal article and assessed by at least one faculty member. An academic supervisor will be appointed for all streams. Students will select research topics for the Major Research Paper or Thesis in consultation with their supervisor. Internship placements offer students practical experience alongside practicing professionals. The Entrepreneurship and Innovation stream allows you to graduate with a distinct notation on your degree.

The Streams for completing the MA Sustainability Studies program are summarized below:

1. Thesis

SUST 5000Y: Perspectives on Sustainability -1.0 credit

SUST 5010/5020H: Colloquium -1.0 credit

SUST 5002H: Research Methods -0.5 credit

1 elective course -0.5 credit

2. Major Research Paper

SUST 5000Y: Perspectives on Sustainability -1.0 credit

SUST 5010H: Colloquium -0.5 credit

SUST 5800H: Major Research Paper -0.5 credit

4 elective courses -totalling 2.0 credits

3. Internship

SUST 5000Y: Perspectives on Sustainability -1.0 credit

SUST 5010H: Colloquium -0.5 credit

SUST 5700Y: Internship and Leadership in Sustainability -1.0 credit

3 elective courses -totalling 1.5 credits

4. Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management

SUST 5000Y: Perspectives on Sustainability -1.0 credit

SUST 5010H: Colloquium -0.5 credit

SUST 5600H: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management -0.5 credit

SUST 5700Y: Internship and Leadership in Sustainability -1.0 credit

2 elective courses -totalling 1.0 credits

In order to successfully complete your Program in the suggested timeline and maintain your GTA placement as a fulltime student, please view our Suggested Schedule for your Program Pathway below.

Students entering the program will, in their first term of study, establish an advisory committee for their program of study.

In conjunction with their committee, students will complete a Plan of Study that would establish specific course and research expectations for completion of their degree.

For example, a student pursuing the thesis option would normally be expected to develop an adequate thesis proposal before the end of their second term of study. A student pursuing a community-based research project would be expected to establish the details of their research project before the end of their second term, in anticipation of completing this project during the summer.

*Degree Requirements reflect the most recent changes made for 2021GF start. Please note students are expected to graduate following the calendar they entered upon.

Program Pathway