Oct 16, 2025  
2025-2026 Graduate Calendar 
    
2025-2026 Graduate Calendar

Sustainability (MS) - Co-op option

Location(s): Main Campus


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Master of Sustainability
Master of Sustainability, Co-op Option

Program Website: Master of Sustainability

Faculty and Administration

For a listing of program faculty and administrative contacts, please visit the program directory.

Program Description

This program is offered through the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC).

Human activities are shaping the Earth. Addressing the interactions between social and ecological systems requires new perspectives and academic approaches. The graduate program in Sustainability Science and Society (SSAS) responds to today’s environmental challenges and is aligned with the emerging field of sustainability science. The program aims to support society’s transition towards sustainability by training students to develop a deep knowledge of sustainability science, providing theoretical and applied research experiences for students that build competency in research and their chosen topic, and engaging students in real-world problem-solving through innovative pedagogy.

The program offers three degree pathway options:

  • Major Research Paper with Co-op Pathway - Students desiring a rigorous academic education enriched by practical application of classroom learning will pursue a Master of Sustainability, Co-op. Please note that students undertaking a co-op work term are not permitted to enrol in additional courses within that term.
  • Thesis Pathway - Students desiring a rigorous academic education enriched by an intensive research experience will pursue a Master of Sustainability, Thesis. Students are afforded a combination of a rigorous academic education enriched by an in-depth research inquiry about a specific topic.
  • Course-based Pathway - Aspiring sustainability professionals and other individuals who possess practical experience in the workplace may wish to pursue a Master of Sustainability, Course-based Pathway.

The major research paper with co-op pathway and thesis pathway are further differentiated from the course-based pathway by the number of required and elective courses.

Our Faculty, who come from diverse disciplines and units, share a common interest in environmental sustainability. Brock University is located in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve - a site seeking to reconcile social, economic and biophysical challenges confronting societies around the globe.

Facilities

The program has two graduate student offices equipped with computer monitors and internet access. Core and participating faculty have active research programs with access to a variety of laboratories, specialized equipment, and array of field sites in Canada and internationally. The geographical location of Brock University, in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, on the Niagara Escarpment and near the Great Lakes, provides rich opportunities for local field research.

Admission Requirements

Successful completion of four year Bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, from an accredited university with a minimum 75% (mid-B) average over the last two years of full-time undergraduate study.

In keeping with its transdisciplinary character, the program welcomes students with a focus on the environment and sustainability from a variety of academic backgrounds.

Applicants will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in English as specified in the section titled “Proof of English Language Proficiency” in the Brock University Graduate Calendar.

Admission to part-time study is not normally available. Individuals interested in part-time study should consult with the Graduate Program Director.

The Graduate Program Committee will review all applications and recommend admission for a limited number of suitable candidates. The Committee may also make conditional acceptances.

Degree Requirements


Graduate students follow one of three degree options, as listed below (major research paper with co-op, thesis, course based). The student’s plan of study must be approved by the Graduate Program Director.

For a full list of graduate course offerings by subject area, please refer to the Courses  tab in the navigation menu.

Research-based Pathways


Students in the Research Pathways may elect to complete either a Major Research Paper (MRP) or a thesis.

Major Research Paper with Co-op Pathway


The major research paper with co-op pathway is designed to normally be completed in four terms (16 months).

Students enrolled in this pathway must complete:

Elective courses are chosen from those offered by Sustainability Science and Society (SSAS) and a maximum of one half-credit from the general graduate course bank.

Student’s plan of study must be approved by the Graduate Program Director.

Thesis Pathway


The thesis pathway is designed to normally be completed in six terms (24 months).

Students enrolled in this pathway must complete:

Elective courses are chosen from those offered by Sustainability Science and Society (SSAS) and a maximum of one half-credit from the general graduate course bank.

Student’s plan of study must be approved by the Graduate Program Director.

Course Based Pathway


The course-based pathway is designed to normally be completed in three terms (12 months).

Students enrolled in this pathway must complete:

A minimum of three half-credit elective courses are to be chosen from those offered by Sustainability Science and Society (SSAS) and a maximum of three half-credits from non-SSAS offerings in the general graduate course bank.

Student’s plan of study must be approved by the Graduate Program Director.

Elective Course Options:


Elective courses requirements are specific to each pathway. Below you will find a full listing of both SSAS and non-SSAS elective course options that have been curated for students in the Master of Sustainability program. Please note: you may be required to seek program and/or instructor approval to register in any of the non-SSAS electives listed below.

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