Nonprofits, corporations, schools, and public agencies are increasingly asking their leaders to design sustainability initiatives that go beyond reducing emissions or conserving resources. Today, sustainability leadership also requires weaving in equity, community engagement, and organizational transformation. To meet these evolving priorities, leaders need multidisciplinary expertise — knowledge that bridges education, science, policy, and social justice.

At Teachers College, Columbia University, the online M.A. in Sustainability & Education blends these disciplines into one program. This integrated approach prepares you to lead initiatives that are not only environmentally sound but also socially equitable and educationally effective.

“Most programs in sustainability are very siloed,” says Oren Pizmony-Levy, associate professor of International and Comparative Education and director of the Center for Sustainable Futures at TC. “Here we are really committed to being interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary. The key point is that we’re focusing on education in its broadest sense.”

For leaders across sectors, that focus on education and sustainability defines TC’s program. You’ll learn to mobilize people, influence culture, and connect technical solutions with human change. Ultimately, these skills enable you to guide sustainability efforts across industries and communities.

Why a multidisciplinary master's in sustainability is essential for today's leaders

A world facing climate disruption, economic shifts, and social inequities demands leaders who can move fluidly across disciplines. TC’s master’s in Sustainability and Education develops this capacity by uniting climate science, environmental health, and energy systems with frameworks in education, social justice, and public policy.

"Climate change is not just a science problem. It's a human problem. If you want to change behavior, if you want to build new systems, you need education at the center."

Oren Pizmony-Levy, Associate Professor of International and Comparative Education and Director of the Center for Sustainable Futures

Unlike programs that emphasize only technology or policy, this degree gives students the tools to turn complex information into action. That means asking and exploring tough questions: Why do pollution levels differ by neighborhood? How do transportation or food systems reinforce inequity? And how can leaders design initiatives that address these challenges while building stronger institutions?

By addressing both scientific and social questions, TC students learn to advance sustainability in ways that resonate with people, organizations, and communities. This ability to bridge technical knowledge with human experience gives you a distinctive edge across education, nonprofits, business, and government.

Driving corporate sustainability through education and equity

If you want to work in the private sector, this master’s in sustainability offers more than technical expertise. True leaders learn to embed sustainability into organizational culture — not as a side project but as a guiding principle.

In TC’s program, you’ll gain the tools to:

• Develop employee training and engagement programs that connect sustainability to business values. Instead of presenting it as an external mandate, you’ll frame sustainability as part of organizational identity, thus building buy-in, loyalty, and a shared commitment.
• Lead cross-department initiatives that reduce environmental impact while advancing equity. Systems thinking helps students see how procurement, logistics, and HR decisions affect outcomes, positioning them to drive collaborations that cut waste and ensure fair practices.
• Communicate sustainability goals effectively to motivate internal and external stakeholders. You’ll learn to translate complex data into compelling narratives that align sustainability with strategy and reputation.

“We prepare students to work on systems like food, transportation, or energy,” Pizmony-Levy explains. “The goal is to understand how to move others toward sustainable alternatives.”

Whether you’re guiding corporate initiatives, consulting businesses, or leading change in socially responsible organizations, the ability to connect technical solutions with human learning is invaluable to make true change.

Learning how to make a nonprofit sustainable

Multidisciplinary expertise is also crucial if you want to work in sustainability in the nonprofit space. Nonprofits frequently balance immediate community needs with broader systemic challenges while also navigating funding cycles, organizational capacity, and public accountability. That’s why pairing sustainability with education and equity is so critical for long-term impact.

Through TC’s online M.A. in Sustainability & Education, nonprofit professionals learn how to make a nonprofit sustainable by:

• Using education to strengthen community engagement. By grounding projects in learning, you’ll discover how to build programs that invite participation rather than impose solutions — deepening trust, expanding reach, and creating lasting impact.
• Applying systems thinking for long-term resilience. Instead of focusing only on immediate outputs, you’ll learn how to anticipate future needs and pressures — from environmental changes to funding realities — and design initiatives that can withstand disruption.
• Designing programs that link environmental goals with climate justice and education. You’ll be equipped to address disparities in access, health, and resources, ensuring initiatives are inclusive and effective while also strengthening credibility with funders and stakeholders.

"Some students come to us because they want to reimagine what schooling looks like, and some because they want to transform how nonprofits operate," says Pizmony-Levy. "We give them frameworks to do both — and more."

For anyone wondering how to make a nonprofit sustainable, TC’s program provides both the conceptual grounding and the practical tools to ensure long-term stability within organizational culture.

Skills gained with TC's Master's in Sustainability and Education

In TC’s program, you’ll build the knowledge and hands-on skills to put sustainability and education into practice. Your coursework connects science, policy, and social justice with real-world application — from Climate Change, Society, and Education to Nutritional Ecology, Environmental Health, and Research Methods. To help you integrate what you learn across these areas, you’ll also take a professional seminar on sustainability and education change, where you connect the dots between disciplines and practice applying theories to real challenges.

Instead of a traditional thesis, the capstone project requires you to design a five-year strategic plan for sustainability and education. This plan brings together vision, goals, and indicators, serving as a roadmap you can begin implementing immediately after graduation.

In this program, you’ll practice skills such as:

• Designing sustainability education initiatives that connect global goals with local action, making international frameworks meaningful in schools, businesses, and community settings.
• Conducting research to evaluate impact so you can measure results, adjust strategies, and demonstrate outcomes to funders, boards, and policymakers.
• Building partnerships across disciplines and sectors by collaborating with educators, scientists, policymakers, and community leaders to address complex challenges.
• Developing strategies to integrate education for sustainability into mission statements, strategic plans, and daily operations so initiatives endure.

“These are skills you can use immediately,” Pizmony-Levy emphasizes. “Whether in schools, nonprofits, or corporations, students can apply what they learn right away.”

To gain these skills, you’ll complete internship opportunities, such as shadowing principals, working with NGOs, or advancing sustainability projects within your own organization. These experiences provide crucial experience to help advance your organization’s sustainability goals.

Expand your career possibilities with sustainability education

Many students come to TC because they want their careers to reflect their passion for addressing climate change and other environmental issues. If that sounds like you, our program enables you to connect this commitment with leadership skills and sustainability expertise, creating opportunities across education, policy, nonprofit, and corporate sectors.

Career paths with a TC master’s degree in sustainability include:

• Education for sustainability specialists in K–12 or higher education, designing curricula, leading teacher training, and introducing programs that empower students to respond to environmental challenges.
• Policy advisors embedding sustainability into local, state, or federal initiatives. With grounding in both science and education, alumni translate research into equitable, practical policy.
• Communications professionals conveying climate science through clear narratives that inspire engagement, support advocacy campaigns, and strengthen organizational transparency.
• Nonprofit directors designing justice-oriented education programs that link sustainability goals to social impact, addressing both ecological health and human well-being.
• Corporate trainers and consultants guiding employee learning around sustainability commitments, aligning organizational culture and business strategy to help companies achieve goals while fostering employee participation.

“We’re not telling people they must go into one profession. We’re preparing them to take leadership in whatever sector they’re in.”

Oren Pizmony-Levy

TC: A community of learners committed to sustainability

Though online, TC’s master’s in Sustainability and Education fosters strong connections among students, faculty, and sustainability leaders. In-person residencies in New York City bookend the program, creating opportunities for learning, collaboration, and mentorship.

Throughout TC’s program, students engage in synchronous courses, asynchronous discussions, and events hosted by the Center for Sustainable Futures. This peer-learning model brings together educators, scientists, policymakers, and advocates who learn not only from faculty but from one another.

“Students want to make sense of what’s going on in the world,” says Pizmony-Levy. “They also want to be part of a community that talks about it—and acts on it. Our program empowers graduates to expand these conversations within their own communities and networks. Research shows that while many people are aware of climate change, they rarely discuss it. We aim to change that by preparing educators and leaders who can spark meaningful dialogue and collective action.”

The relationships built often continue long after graduation, supporting careers in corporate sustainability, nonprofit leadership, and sustainability education.

Make Change With TC's Online M.A. in Sustainability & Education

TC’s online master’s in Sustainability and Education isn’t just an academic credential. It prepares leaders to integrate science, equity, and education into real-world impact. Whether you want to pursue sustainability education in schools, make your business more sustainable, or strengthen nonprofit resilience, this program equips you with the knowledge, skills, and network to succeed.

“Education can be a powerful antidote to despair,” says Pizmony-Levy. “We want to shift the focus from doom to doing — to help people feel that they can contribute, even in small ways, to a better future.”

If you’re ready to align your career with sustainability, explore TC’s online M.A. in Sustainability & Education — or begin your application today to take the next step toward leadership in sustainability education.