Program Details | Leadership for Sustainability Education

Total credits	Estimated resident cost	Estimated Washington border cost	Estimated non-resident cost
45	$28,175	$30,650	$39,245
Program cost estimates are based on 2025/26 PSU tuition and fees only. This chart is provided to help you estimate the minimum tuition and fees for program completion. Additional fees may apply depending on the course of study that you choose to pursue and the specific courses for which you enroll, so you may also find it useful to review detailed tuition and fee information and the full cost of attendance for PSU programs. Financial aid and scholarship options may be available to offset program costs. Visit COE Scholarships for specific details on how to qualify and apply.

Total credits

Estimated resident cost

Estimated Washington border cost

Estimated non-resident cost

$28,175

$30,650

$39,245

Program cost estimates are based on 2025/26 PSU tuition and fees only. This chart is provided to help you estimate the minimum tuition and fees for program completion. Additional fees may apply depending on the course of study that you choose to pursue and the specific courses for which you enroll, so you may also find it useful to review detailed tuition and fee information and the full cost of attendance for PSU programs.

Financial aid and scholarship options may be available to offset program costs. Visit COE Scholarships for specific details on how to qualify and apply.

Curriculum

The Leadership for Sustainability Education (LSE) curriculum integrates theory, practice, and reflection to prepare students to lead change toward ecological integrity, social equity, and community well-being. The core courses establish a foundation in systems thinking, cultural responsiveness, and transformational leadership. Students explore sustainability through multiple lenses across the program and have various opportunities for hands-on learning. Together, these experiences cultivate the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to lead transformative sustainability education and action across diverse communities and contexts.

Course descriptions

For full course descriptions, please consult the Bulletin or Class Schedule.

Program format

Modality

In-Person/Online Mix: This program includes in-person and online coursework.

Part-time or Full-time

Time to completion: 5 terms to 3 years

Scheduling

Afternoon/Evening: Classes are held primarily in the afternoon and evening, with occasional Friday/Saturday workshops.

Weekly Estimated Time Commitment

The PSU Credit Hour Policy defines 1 credit hour as requiring a minimum of 3 hours of student time per week over the course of the term. PSU operates on the quarter system, and terms last 10 weeks.

Graduate school is a big commitment; please consider this information as a starting tool to help you gain a sense of the time commitment. Students learn differently and you may find that it takes you more time to complete the coursework on a weekly basis. Generally, a graduate program is more intensive and should require more time on homework than undergraduate courses; therefore, we recommend planning for more time than the minimum.

In the LSE program, students have the flexibility to design a plan of study that fits their individual goals and schedules. Most students maintain employment while completing the program and typically enroll in 4–9 credits per term, adjusting their course load as needed. There is no requirement to register every term. Students who choose to participate in an optional independent study or internship experience should also plan for approximately 30 hours of daytime engagement over the course of a term.Internships/practicum and courses with a required community-based-learning (see below) project may require additional time.

Program of Study

Self-paced: This program is self-paced, meaning that students can take most or all courses on their own schedule, attend full-time, part-time or change their enrollment on a term-by-term basis. Classes follow the regular PSU academic calendar structure. All classes must be completed within 7 years of beginning the program.

Master's core coursework	CR	Terms offered
ELP 511 Principles of Educational Research and Data Analysis I	4	Fall, Winter, Spring
ELP 520 Developmental Perspectives on Adult Learning	4	Fall, Spring
ELP 551 Social Foundations of Education OR ELP 554 Philosophy of Education	4	Fall, Spring OR Summer, Winter
ELP 568 Educational Organization and Administration	4	Fall, Spring
Foundational Courses	CR	Terms offered
ELP 550: Leadership for Sustainability	4	Fall
ELP 517: Ecological & Cultural Foundations of Learning	4	Winter
Thematic Specialization and Electives	CR	Terms offered
ELP 518: Permaculture and Whole Systems Design: Principles and Practices for Sustainable Systems	4	Fall
ELP 508: Sense of Place	1	Fall
ELP 548: Global Political Ecology	4	Winter
ELP 540: Urban Farm Education	4	Spring
ELP 524: Spiritual Leadership for Sustainable Change	4	Spring
ELP 506: Leadership Seminar (strongly recommended)	1	Spring
ELP 508: LSE Comprehensive Exam (Comps) Prep	1	Winter
ELP 509: Learning Gardens Lab Internship	Varies	Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
ELP 506: Sustainability Projects (independent study)	Varies	Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Other ELP or Sustainability Courses	Varies	Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
Capstone/Culminating Experience	CR	Terms offered
ELP 506 LSE Comprehensive Exam (Comps)	4	Spring
Total Program Credits	45 (minimum)

Download a program of study

LSE Thematic Specialization and Electives (12 credits minimum)

Students each develop a unique plan of study with their adviser, choosing from courses below, other ELP courses, graduate-level courses from within the College of Education or from other departments at Portland State University. LSE students frequently choose courses from Conflict Resolution, Community Development, Geography, Environmental Science and Management, Women Studies, Gender, Race and Nations, Public Health or Urban Studies and Planning.

Culminating Experience (4 credits)

Candidates for the master’s degree in LSE must take the LSE Comprehensive Exam Course (Comps). The LSE Comprehensive Exam (Comps) is a course in which students develop a problem-based paper that focuses on one sustainability education issue, and demonstrates a satisfactory level of knowledge and skill related to LSE key learning areas. This course, ELP 506 LSE Comps, is taken as Pass/No Pass. Students should have completed a minimum of 35 credits, including the ELP Professional Core Studies, before enrolling in this course. The Comps course meets in-person 4-6 times during the term to help guide students through the completion of their Comps paper. Students give a presentation of their paper at the end of the course.

Community-based learning

Most ELP courses carry with them a requirement for 30 credit hours of community-based learning (CBL). Specific requirements for CBL are set by the instructor. CBL can be carried out in a variety of organizations and educational settings across the metropolitan region. LSE students with an interest in school and community gardens often volunteer or intern at the Learning Gardens Laboratory, assisting with classes for middle school students or with other projects. Other students volunteer in educational organizations or for nonprofit organizations. Students are advised to create a plan for their CBL hours that creates a variety of meaningful experiences that supports their future career goals.

Community-based learning (CBL) is experiential learning that takes place beyond the classroom and traditional academic settings. Through volunteering and internship placements, CBL complements coursework and theoretical concepts, allowing you to apply your learning in a work setting. Engage your head, heart, and hands by developing relationships and networks in the community and working in the field of sustainability education. Use your CBL requirement as an opportunity to build relationships with various organizations, try something new, or engage in a long term project with one group or organization.

This will vary from course to course, but typically 30 hours per term are required.

The following questions and reminders are useful to bear in mind as you begin.

What do you hope to get out of your CBL experience?
Does the work that the organization/program is doing fit with your academic interests, career goals and/or personal values? Are you excited and invigorated by the work they do?
What time commitment does the program expect from volunteers, (hours/week, one-time, short or long-term)? Is this commitment expectation one you can fulfill?
Is the organization/program conveniently located for you? If not, are you willing and/or able to travel to get there?
Does the program/organization operate during hours that are conducive to your schedule?

Other considerations to keep in mind:

Be kind to yourself — find a place to volunteer and start volunteering early in the term. Many students procrastinate on finding a place to do their CBL hours, or wait until the end of the term to cram them in. This can be stressful for you and for the organization where you are volunteering.
Keep a record of the hours you have spent volunteering and what you did. Some instructors will provide guidance and requirements for CBL record keeping, and some will not.
Trying to recall from memory what you have done and how long you did it can be stressful. Find a method of tracking that works for you and keep up with it.
Be reliable, considerate and timely. Remember, volunteering is a service that organizations come to rely upon. Additionally, you are representing Portland State University, the ELP Department and the LSE program. On a personal level, leaving an organization with a good impression can often lead to future employment or very valuable references and connections.
Talk with your instructors and volunteer supervisor if you need to. Your CBL hours should be meaningful and educational. If you are experiencing difficulty with your CBL hours or experience, don’t be afraid to talk to your instructors, advisor, or the person supervising your volunteer time. You’ll feel better if you do, and things have a way of working out.

Internships/practicum: local, regional or international

Students also have the option of pursuing an internship or practicum. Such internships must match the student’s interest, the content of the LSE program, and the host institution’s mission and needs. Internships are arranged on an individual basis by the student and must be approved by the student’s adviser. For international internships, all rules, regulations, policies, and procedures set by the International Studies Office of PSU must be followed.