Specialization in Leadership of Sustainable Systems (MA, PhD)

We are living in a time when new economic, environmental, and social challenges call for innovative leadership to create thriving organizations and institutions across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

The challenge is not a technical one:  we have the technology.  The challenge is a human one:  do we know how to get a stakeholders at the local, national, and global level to work together? 

Our specialization in Leadership of Sustainable Systems brings a unique focus on the human dimensions of sustainability.  It puts the human experience and the practice of engaged collaborative leadership at the center of questions of resilience and regeneration for a viable future. 

With a transformative and systems approach, this specialization encourages students to use systems thinking to understand the complex problems and opportunities of our time to engage in collaborative leadership, learning, and actions to build partnerships across diverse organizations, cultures, and sectors. This specialization is designed for and prepares people working in business, public, non-profit, social services, and education, to learn about the challenges of environmental and social sustainability and apply their knowledge and skills to help organizations to develop values and practices which support sustainable human and environmental systems. The specialization in Leadership of Sustainable Systems is designed to develop leaders who:

• Understand the challenges of organizational change.
• View organizations and communities as complex social systems.
• Create new structures and processes informed by humanistic values
• Support humane and sustainable practices

Our Vision of Sustainability

The true challenge presented to leaders committed to fostering sustainable organizations is the ability to manage the tension between diverse individuals, interests, groups and sectors, and design an inquiry process that leads towards a collectively desired future. Our belief in the power of human and organizational systems drives our approach to educating a new generation of change agents committed to healthy and thriving human communities, organizations, and ecosystems.

Our Students

Our specialization is for individuals who are passionate about their leadership role in moving organizations and groups toward sustainability. They understand that the problems they seek to address cannot be solved through one sector, one organization, one discipline, or one leader but that rather systemic, cross-sector, and collaborative approaches are necessary in the complex world in which we live.

Students who participate in this specialization focus their study in the OS program toward preparing themselves as leaders of change toward sustainability. They take at least two courses in sustainable systems specific to acquiring the knowledge base needed. This knowledge is then used in other OS courses with a focus on developing the ability to work with organizations and lead change. Students in this specialization then integrate their knowledge and skills in this area into their MA project, thesis, or dissertation research.

Be a part of it.

Apply now! 

Or, to find out more about if the PhD in Organizational Systems program is right for you, please email admissions@saybrook.edu or call 800-825-4480.