Department of Sustainability and Social Justice

Join our community of researchers, practitioners, students, and partners working to drive inclusive and equitable societal change.

Be part of a just and sustainable future

Through our work, we strive for a more just and sustainable world. We understand the complexity of urgent social, political, and ecological challenges and develop leaders who are prepared to find solutions through collaborative scholarship and innovation.

The Department of Sustainability and Social Justice is an evolution of the legacy begun by IDCE, with a transformed curriculum and new programming to better address today’s greatest global challenges.

From the Director

Why study at Clark?

Whether you’re interested in sustainable food systems, addressing health disparities, tackling climate-change impacts and inequities, or formulating human-centered policies to tackle global migration, you’ll learn how to draw from and integrate multiple forms of knowledge to inform meaningful action.

Laurie Ross standing with community partners in front of a building marked 'Center for Community Revitalization.'

Degrees that make a difference

Our degree programs are distinctive and designed to make a difference through integrative, collaborative, and experiential learning. Our students learn by working alongside practitioners and communities that are most impacted by social and ecological inequities.

Academics

faculty member with students taking water samples

Experiential learning

Work collaboratively with communities, both in the city of Worcester and around the world, to help find solutions to real-world challenges. Our faculty build local partnerships, guide internship programs, and lead global learning collaboratives that help you gain valuable real-world experience in your chosen field.

Hands on

Faculty

The Department of Sustainability and Social Justice has been a pioneer in areas of international development, participatory rural appraisal, gender and development, environmental science and policy — and their integration — for decades. We are advancing scholarship and practice that expands educational access and equity in the Caribbean, drives efforts to increase affordable housing in the United States, models climate change in Mexico, and increases food security by enhancing our understanding of traditional farming practices in Ethiopia.

Innovation

Students smiling, seated in a seminar classroom in the Department of Sustainability and Social Justice

Learning outcomes

Our undergraduate and graduate programs are grounded in interdisciplinary frameworks and professional practice. Prepare for your chosen career by gaining a foundation in social and environmental science and professional skills such as project management, monitoring and evaluation, policy analysis, organizational leadership, and spatial analysis. You’ll design and assess projects through an intersectional lens as you engage communities in an ethical and authentic way.

Outcomes

Academic Programs

A group of undergraduate students in the audience of the Presidential Lecture Series

Undergraduate majors

The Department of Sustainability and Social Justice brings together decades of collective experience in North America, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Find meaning and purpose as you join a network of thousands of alumni working for positive change across the world.

Bachelor’s degrees

Graduate students gather for a casual conversation on the porch of the Department of Sustainability and Social Justice building

Graduate degrees

Our distinguished master’s degrees focus on critical analysis and hands-on practice, giving you the knowledge, skills, and experience to put your skills to work. Find a master’s degree or certificate program that will help you advance in your chosen field.

Master’s degrees

Featured Event

Climate Narratives of Hope: Coral Refuge in the Red Sea – Eman Lasheen

November 14, 2024 @ 12:15 pm – 1:15 pm Eastern Time, Lurie Conference Room

Join Professor Lasheen for an engaging talk on Climate Narratives of Hope, where she delves into the powerful intersection of climate action and storytelling, focusing on the health and resilience of coral reefs in the Red Sea. Amid the increasing challenges posed by climate change, this talk emphasizes hope as a catalyst for meaningful environmental progress. By examining the strength of Red Sea coral ecosystems, and climate adaptation initiatives by local stakeholders, Professor Lasheen reveals how these reefs continue to thrive, offering critical insights into conservation and inspiring optimism in the face of global environmental challenges.

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Upcoming Events

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