Online Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Sustainability
Advance Your Career Combating Climate Change
100% online
20 months
30 total credits
$850 per credit
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Drive Sustainable Solutions
Learn how to design, implement, and manage sustainable solutions for a wide range of organizations. You will be prepared to lead initiatives for governments, nonprofits, and businesses to advance environmentally sustainable solutions when you earn the Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Sustainability online at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
Throughout this public administration degree program, you’ll gain expertise in economic viability, environmental protection, and social equity—the three pillars of sustainability— as well as organizational development and leadership.
Inspire change in your organization while stewarding human, financial, and environmental resources.
Program Details
- Build in-demand skills with real-world, hands-on projects
- Collaborate with faculty who bring years of industry experience to the classroom and mentor you throughout the program — unlike other online programs with minimal faculty interaction
- Engage in deep learning experiences carefully crafted to meet the unique needs of working professionals
- Connect with influential alumni and industry experts who actively recruit our students
MPA in Sustainability Curriculum: Build Your Experience and Expertise
10 courses
Real-world experiences
The 10 courses (30 credits) in this program are all asynchronous (no required live class meetings), so you can continue working as you learn to thrive as a sustainability professional.
You will develop real-world skills that you can immediately apply to your work through course projects, like creating an assessment report for an organization of your choice to improve its performance.
Course Highlights
- Sustainability and climate science
- Policy and social justice
- Sustainability assessment and disclosure
- Sustainability strategy and action
Admissions Requirements: Get Started Today
Application Deadline 08/15/24
Start Date 09/03/24
We’re excited you’re taking the next step to make a difference in the world! We look forward to welcoming you to our 100% online Master of Public Administration in Sustainability program. There’s no GMAT or GRE required. To be considered for admission, you will need to complete an application, which includes the following:
| Online Application | Apply Now |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $65 |
| Transcripts | Bachelor’s degree transcript |
| Additional Requirements |
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Some international students must submit additional requirements to join our online program. Nonnative English speakers will need:
| Test Scores |
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Tuition Overview
Calculate your cost for attending the Middlebury Institute Use our tuition calculator to help you estimate your total tuition costs.
Your education is an important investment in your future, and who you learn from matters. Our tuition rate is $850 per credit.
Many employers help cover the costs of your professional development, so we encourage you to contact your human resources department to take advantage of any tuition benefits available to you. Our Student Financial Services team is ready to help you determine your financial aid eligibility. You can speak to an enrollment advisor to explore options or call 1-800-390-8580.
| Cost per Credit Hour | $850 |
|---|---|
| Total Number of Credit Hours | 30 |
| Total Estimated Cost, Minus Fees* | $25,500 |
Military Students
The Middlebury Institute values the contributions of U.S. military service members and veterans to our campus community and provides advising, support, and resources to complement your experience. As a Military Friendly® School, we offer admissions benefits to help military students finance their education. Each year we offer up to 100 percent tuition coverage for 75 qualifying U.S. veterans through the Yellow Ribbon Program. For more information, contact Student Financial Services at miisfinaid@middlebury.edu.
Financial Aid Options
We are here to help you understand, manage, and finance the costs associated with your Middlebury Institute education. You may qualify for loans, veteran benefits, or external scholarships.
Tuition Details
Industry Insights: Public Administration and Sustainability
Build the skills and experience you need to succeed in the fast-growing sustainability industry. Recent surveys and reports highlight the increase in demand across the public and private sectors:
- U.S. employment in sustainability has increased by 237% over the past five years1
- 33 states and 35 of the largest fifty cities in the U.S. have adopted climate action plans2
- Public-private partnerships can improve efficiency, increase access, and reduce the risks of investing in sustainable infrastructure to meet policy goals3
Public Administration and Sustainability Career Opportunities
Sustainability Officer $110,000 per year4
Sustainability Manager $88,610 per year5
“Your greatest resource at [the Middlebury Institute] is your professors. Your success is their success.”– Matthew Levie, Graduate 2018
Program Outcomes
By the end of the MPA program, you will master the priority sustainability and management competencies that employers want most. Graduate in 20 months prepared to make a difference in the public administration field.
What You’ll Learn
- Science: Understand and mobilize climate and sustainability science along with threats and solutions to sustainability
- Policy: Understand sustainability-related policies, standards, frameworks, good practices, including in public-private partnerships, stakeholders and their implementation at global, national and local levels
- Risk Assessment: Conduct climate and Environmental & Social Governance (ESG) risk assessment, including compliance and reporting
- Equity and Ethics: Design sustainability strategies and initiatives through the lens of social and climate justice
- Project/Program Management: Design, implement, manage and evaluate sustainability-related programs and projects with systems thinking perspective
Expert Faculty
All faculty have diverse experience in their fields, bringing a wide range of perspectives to the table. Many of our instructors remain active in their field.
- Collaborate with faculty who bring years of industry experience to the classroom and mentor you throughout your education
- Connect with influential alumni and industry experts
- Benefit from high levels of engagement with your faculty
Mahabat Baimyrzaeva, Professor
Faculty Spotlight: Professor Mahabat Baimyrzaeva
Dr. Baimyrzaeva’s focus areas include organizational learning, capacity building, change management, and strategy development using innovative methods. She has designed and taught more than 40 courses, including organizational leadership/management, social innovations, policy analysis, and applied research methods and design.
She regularly mentors students and delivers presentations, workshops, and hands-on training in decision-making, strategic leadership and change management for leaders across industries globally.
Dr. Baimyrzaeva has worked at government, nonprofit, academic, and international organizations, including as a civil society expert at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and as director of the Bureau of Legal and Social Assistance for Refugees in Kyrgyzstan. She is fluent in English, Russian, and Kyrgyz, speaks basic Turkish, and has basic familiarity with other Turkic languages.
Online Learning at Middlebury Institute
Our online programs provide the same top-level expertise and instruction that the Middlebury Institute is known for with the added flexibility for you to continue working while you earn your degree.
Our programs are:
- Asynchronous, meaning you don’t have to attend live class meetings and can complete weekly coursework on your schedule
- Available in part-time formats, so you can continue to work while you earn your degree
- Not time-zone dependent, allowing you to work worldwide
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore our frequently asked questions for in-depth answers. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, reach out to us.
Ready to get started? Our online application is available now.
The online MPA is offered fully online. This allows you to study in a flexible format and learn from anywhere with no on-campus requirements.
You can take up to five years to complete the degree. This online program is designed for working professionals. If something interrupts your normal course of study, you don’t have to worry about losing the courses you’ve completed. To see the curriculum, view our courses page.
You’ll complete 30 credits to earn your degree. You can review the curriculum and topics covered on the courses page.
Tuition for the MPA in Sustainability is $25,500. Students complete 30 credits at $850 per credit hour. Tuition and fees are subject to change each academic year. You can review updated information here.
Graduates with an MPA in Sustainability often pursue careers in urban planning, emergency management, transportation, health care (especially public health), economic development, urban management, community development, education, and environmental policy.
Sources and Disclaimer
- LinkedIn Economic Graph. Global Green Skills Report 2022. Retrieved from https://economicgraph.linkedin.com.
- Center for Climate Change Energy Solutions. U.S. State Climate Action Plans. Retrieved from https://www.c2es.org.
- United States Environmental Protection Agency. Public-Private Partnerships Beneficial for Implementing Green Infrastructure. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov.
- Payscale.com. Average Sustainability Officer Salary. Retrieved from https://www.payscale.com.
- Payscale.com. Average Sustainability Manager Salary. Retrieved from https://www.payscale.com.
*This figure does not include additional fees and expenses such as textbooks, technology fees, supplies, etc.