Master of Science in Sustainability Analytics and Management

In an era of rapid globalization and ecological change, environmental sustainability presents major challenges for societies, governments, and businesses alike. Across all industries and sectors of the economy, corporations and organizations are being driven by investors and other stakeholders, regulations, and public pressure to place more emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues and performance.

The Master of Science in Sustainability Analytics and Management (SAM) program at Stuart School of Business provides students who have backgrounds in engineering and other STEM fields with the training, knowledge, and real-world skills they need to address the full range of challenges facing today’s sustainability professionals.

Using an applied approach, the SAM program teaches you how to leverage technological innovation, data analytics, and entrepreneurship to develop and manage sustainability systems. Courses examine the interaction between economic growth and the environment, including how to apply environmental-economic models and pollution prevention and control strategies.

The program’s emphasis on technical analytics—a core competency that is increasingly required for sustainability professionals—prepares our graduates to excel in positions responsible for measuring and reporting on ESG data for companies and organizations.

Through Illinois Tech’s one-of-a-kind Elevate program, you are guaranteed hands-on experiences throughout your graduate education, such as virtual and in-person internships, and personalized guidance from a career adviser, academic mentor, and alumni coach.

Chicago boasts a dynamic mix of industries and companies, entrepreneurial activity, green businesses, and local efforts to build sustainable communities. Illinois Tech’s location and connections built by Stuart faculty put those resources within reach and provide students with opportunities for projects and internships, networking, and pathways to careers in the nonprofit, governmental, and business sectors.

STEM-Designated Program

This is a STEM-designated program, and international graduates of the program are eligible to apply for an extension for Optional Practical Training, which allows selected students to stay and work in the United States for up to three years after graduation.

Program Overview

The M.S. in Sustainability Analytics and Management program, designed for students with STEM backgrounds, teaches the analytical and environmental management skills required to develop and manage sustainable systems in government, industry, and corporate settings.

Career Opportunities

Our graduates are equipped to work in management, analyst, and consultant roles in sustainability, environmental compliance, and EHS (environmental, health, and safety) across a wide range of industries.

An analysis in 2021 by the World Economic Forum indicates that employers across all sectors are seeking employees with “green skills” and that manufacturing, healthcare, construction, and public administration are the areas with the highest concentration of employees with green skills.

ZipRecruiter reports that sustainability analysts pull in an average starting salary of $65,757 in the Chicago area. According to salary.com, sustainability managers in the United States have an average base salary of $117,595 as of December 27, 2022.

Companies, organizations, and governmental agencies that have hired Stuart graduates include:

• Motorola Solutions
• United States Environmental Protection Agency
• Abbott
• Solarmer Energy
• Fermilab (U.S. Department of Energy)
• Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
• TerraLocke Sustainability Consultants