Sustainability Analytics and Management (M.S.)
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 M.S. 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 access to hands-on experiences throughout your graduate education, such as virtual and in-person internships, and personalized mentorship to guide your academic studies and career planning.
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
The M.S. in Sustainability Analytics and Management program integrates business, analytics, science, law, and public policy so that you can develop the managerial and in-demand quantitative skills for career advancement.
This degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours (10 courses) for completion.
- Completed online application
- Official transcript submission with a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- No GMAT or GRE scores required
- Candidates for the SAM program should have an academic background in environmental engineering, civil engineering, or the sciences
- A one-page statement of purpose, with goals and objectives
- English proficiency exam, if required
Have Questions? Connect with Us
For any questions about Stuart School of Business degree programs or the application and enrollment process, contact our Director of Student Recruitment Claire Johnson.
Sustainability Analytics and Management: Ask a Professor
Virtual sessions on Thursdays at 8–8:30 a.m. CT
Find out how you can master the analytical and environmental management skills for a fulfilling career in sustainability in government, nonprofit, industry, and corporate settings. Talk about Stuart’s STEM-designated M.S. in Sustainability Analytics and Management degree with Program Director Roland Calia.
Scholarships
Domestic students pursuing the M.S. in Sustainability Analytics and Management degree are eligible to apply for the Chicago Talent Pipeline Scholarship, which supports motivated individuals to advance their career paths in Chicago’s global business environment. In academic year 2024–25, this scholarship awards a maximum of $14,000 per degree.
International students pursuing the M.S. in Sustainability Analytics and Management degree are eligible to apply for the Stuart School of Business Dean’s Scholarship, which in academic year 2024–25 awards up to $14,000 for the full two-year program.
Veteran applicants: Illinois Institute of Technology proudly processes Department of Veterans Affairs benefits for admitted veteran students. Click here for more information.
Read more about Stuart scholarship opportunities and tuition and fees:
Stuart Scholarships Tuition and Fees
One of the Best
Stuart’s M.S. in Sustainability Analytics and Management program has been recognized as one of the Best Data Analytics Courses in the USA to Enroll in 2024 by Analytics Insight.
Transforming Our Food System
In the M.S. SAM program you’ll study with outstanding faculty such as Professor of Environmental Management and Sustainability Weslynne Ashton. Recently she was a panelist in a discussion about food safety and local food access on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight (watch the video).
Find out about more of her projects, including two supported by grants from the National Science Foundation.
Read MoreMore Program Options
Dual Degree Programs
Prepare for leadership positions in the private or civic sectors by combining the M.S. SAM with another graduate degree in business (M.B.A.) or law (J.D.).
Certificate Programs
Enhance your expertise with the latest industry-relevant ideas, skills, and tools.
Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP)
Current Illinois Tech undergraduates can earn both a bachelor’s degree and a M.S. SAM degree in as few as five years through the AMP co-terminal option.
Hone Your Skills with Hands-on Projects
“The curriculum is put together to provide the most valuable and actionable skills that can be translated to a profession, no matter what aspect of sustainability or environmental management or environment, health, and safety you get into.”
"The most valuable part of the [sustainability] program was the experience of the professors having hands-on knowledge of industry, and being able to explain what the theory is and then explain what companies actually do.”
Featured Faculty
Weslynne Ashton
Elizabeth J. Durango-Cohen
Ghazale Haddadian
Keith Harley
Stuart Stands Out
Stuart is AACSB Accredited. Only 6% of Business Schools Globally Are.
—Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International
Career Placement Rate
—Stuart School of Business 2022 master’s and Ph.D. graduates reporting
Only Business School in a Tech-Focused University in Chicago
Move Your Career Forward
