Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning

Fifth-Year Master’s Degree Program: BA/BS and MS in Sustainability

The Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning department offers exceptional Tufts undergraduates the option of earning both a BA/BS and an MA in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning (MA UEP), or an MS in Environmental Policy and Planning (MS EPP), or an MS in Sustainability (MSS) in five years. 

Learn about the different paths to UEP as a Tufts Undergrad

The Fifth-Year Master of Science in Sustainability (MSS) program provides exceptional undergraduates with the opportunity to earn both an undergraduate degree and an MSS in just five years. These combined credentials will prepare graduates to take the lead in the field of sustainability at a time when urgent actions are needed to address the intersecting challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and equity, and thus secure livable and sustainable futures for all. Potential related majors include (but are not limited to): Anthropology, Architectural Studies, Biology, Community Health, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Economics, Environmental Studies, Sociology, and Political Science.

Program Requirements and Policies

Fifth-Year Sustainability Master's Advising Reference Guide

  • Students may apply up to six credit-hours of coursework at the 100-or 200-level taken as part for the undergraduate degree requirements towards the master's degree requirements. These shared graduate-level course credit-hours must be part of the master's degree requirements and must adhere to the policies in the Graduate Student Handbook.  
  • Students may reserve up to six credit-hours of coursework at the 100- or 200-level to count towards the graduate degree. These may be electives for the MS Sustainability or may fulfill a requirement with permission from UEP (e.g. Intro GIS).
  • To satisfy the credit requirements of both the graduate and undergraduate degrees, students may need to take courses during the summer.
  • Graduate tuition is paid per-credit. The overall cost of the 36 credit degree is reduced by up to 12 credits that have been reserved or double-counted.

Course Requirements

Fifth-Year MS in Sustainability students should review the requirements of the MS Sustainability program regarding core sustainability courses, electives, and internships.

Admitted fifth-year students can double-count 2 courses across both undergrad and grad programs and reserve 2 courses taken as an undergrad to count towards the graduate degree. Consult with UEP (Kate Davies or Rebecca Shakespeare) to ensure that double-counted and reserved courses are appropriate for the degree program. 

Admissions Requirements

All applicants must meet the following per-requisites before admission to the MS Sustainability program: 

Prerequisites are ideally completed before applying, by the end of their Senior fall semester for senior applicants. However, they must be completed as part of their undergraduate career (prior to graduation). Students who are enrolled in a prerequisite course in their Senior spring semester may be considered for the program; if admitted their admission will be conditional on completing the course with a satisfactory grade. 

  • Intermediate Economics with B- or higher (ECON 11 or ECON 30) 
  • MATH 21 with B- or higher 
  • ENVS major, co-major, or minor OR (with UEP permission) course, internship, or independent project with significant sustainability focus

Students seeking admission to the program should consult their undergraduate major advisors and UEP Professor Rebecca Shakespeare before applying. Interested students are encouraged to contact the department before applying during their first year, as sophomores, or as juniors. Juniors or Seniors may apply to this program and should start their application during the fall semester, noting the application deadlines on the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) website. Note that Tufts students do NOT have to take the GRE.