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Aerial view of Puerto Rico where faculty in the Department of Sustainability and Social Justice research and work.

Calling all change makers

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.

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.

Anita Fabos

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.

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.

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.

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.

Featured Event

Upcoming Events

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Featured Event


Refugees, Rights, and Belonging

April 3, 2024 @ 12:15 – 1:45 p.m. Eastern Time, Grace Conferrence Room

Refugees, Rights, and Belonging – a brown bag discussion with Manya Kagan and Gaisu Yari

Refreshments will be served!

Join us for a discussion with Gaisu Yari and Manya Oriel Kagan, who bring perspectives from their work on human rights, gender justice, and the educational rights of refugee and migrant children. Gaisu Yari shares insights from her experiences as an Afghan refugee and her role in the Afghan Voices of Hope Project, focusing on the lives and aspirations of Afghan women. Manya Kagan discusses her research on the education of refugee and migrant children in urban settings, examining how migration, development policy, and social justice intersect in Uganda.

Join online: https://clarku.zoom.us/my/anitafabos?pwd=cVNkdW1rN1RNczBWVzByS0ZaUU9OZz09

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