If you hear “education,” you might think of a classroom. But for Oren Pizmony-Levy, Ph.D., education is something bigger — something that happens across settings, relationships, and even systems.

“There is a difference between education and schooling,” says Pizmony-Levy, associate professor of International and Comparative Education and director of the Center for Sustainable Futures at Teachers College. “Education is the bigger process where people interact with other people, technology, and the natural world — animals, trees, parks, and ecosystems. Through these interactions, they change their perspective or understanding of a given phenomenon.”

That idea powers the online master's in Sustainability & Education at Teachers College, Columbia University — a first-of-its-kind Ivy League graduate program that prepares students to lead change through learning, communication, and collaboration.

Whether you’re designing curriculum in a museum, shaping policy in government or a think tank, or managing programs in a nonprofit, this unique online master’s in sustainability equips you with research tools, storytelling skills, and global frameworks to use education as a force for change.

This type of education can happen in K–12, yes, but it could also happen in corporations, in museums, in parks. All of these policies and practices educate people about sustainability, even if it’s not in the classroom specifically.

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

A master's in sustainability for changemakers across generations and sectors

The TC Sustainability and Education program attracts a wide range of learners — from recent college graduates to experienced professionals. Many are motivated by climate change, social justice, and a desire to lead change through education, especially those exploring how education can address social and environmental inequities.

“Younger Americans — Millennials and Generation Z — stand out for their high levels of engagement with the issue of climate change,” says Pizmony-Levy. “They care about this topic beyond the more technical or scientific aspects.”

Others are looking to shift their careers. “People are realizing they want to do something in sustainability. They might work in corporations or in government and want to bring these values into their organizations,” he adds.

And while the program does not lead to teacher licensure, K–12 educators can benefit, too. Teachers already engage with sustainability at TC through initiatives like the Summer Institute hosted by the Center for Sustainable Futures, and this degree offers another pathway. “A certified teacher might want to take this advanced degree in order to learn how to do this work in a creative, interdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary way,” says Pizmony-Levy.

Careers that center sustainability in education

Graduates of the online master’s in Sustainability and Education program are prepared to lead sustainability education efforts across many settings, with career paths that include environmental education careers focused on program development, communications, or policy implementation.

“We definitely see this program feeding into leadership positions,” says Pizmony-Levy. “It’s not enough to know sustainability. You have to know education as well.”

Examples of where graduates can make an impact:

• Nonprofits: Lead sustainability programs that educate communities, influence policy, and mobilize volunteers.
• School districts: Coordinate environmental initiatives and integrate sustainability into teaching practices.
• Museums, zoos, aquariums, and parks: Design educational exhibits and events that raise awareness and inspire action.
• Corporations: Shape internal training, employee engagement, and sustainability goals through educational strategies.
• Local government: Lead public sustainability campaigns and learning initiatives that inform and engage communities.

In New York City Public Schools, for example, the Office of Energy and Sustainability employs 20+ professionals, including directors of education and sustainability. TC has collaborated with the district on initiatives such as bringing environmental education into classrooms.

“These programs need vision and coordination. They need leaders,” says Pizmony-Levy.

In addition to sector-specific opportunities, graduates are well positioned for roles that require both educational insight and sustainability fluency — roles that benefit from the program’s emphasis on systems thinking, communication, and strategy, such as:

• Education program coordinator: Design and manage instructional programs that integrate sustainability and climate literacy.
• Sustainability coordinator: Lead green initiatives and connect organizational practices to sustainable goals.
• Science teacher: Bring climate and sustainability topics into the classroom and community learning spaces.
• Education and outreach coordinator: Build awareness and partnerships to promote environmental justice and sustainability practices.
• Corporate responsibility manager: Guide organizations in embedding sustainability principles into culture and operations.
  
• Climate change specialist: Develop and implement initiatives that address climate adaptation, resilience, and education. 

“We want students to see the system and understand where they can intervene — not just talk about change, but make it happen,” says Pizmony-Levy.

A curriculum rooted in human and planetary well-being

Unlike a traditional master’s in environmental education, which often focuses on conservation or science instruction, TC’s program examines sustainability in education — not just through environmental science, but through policy, health, food systems, and more. Students explore international frameworks and gain tools to lead educational efforts that support both people and the planet.

“We’re not going to be anchored within science education,” says Pizmony-Levy. “We’re going to bring together the planet and humans. That’s the sustainability.”

Courses in the online master’s in sustainability include:

• Introduction to Sustainability & Education: Explore frameworks linking sustainability and education through site visits to the United Nations, parks, community initiatives, and sustainable infrastructure in New York City.
• Climate Change, Society, and Education: Understand the causes and consequences of climate change and how to communicate them.
• Nutritional Ecology: Explore how food systems affect both human and planetary health.
• Environmental Health: Examine pollution, noise, and other environmental factors that affect well-being.
• Science in the Environment: Learn how to connect environmental science to education and everyday life.

Students also take a yearlong sequence in research methods, gaining experience with both qualitative and quantitative approaches. These skills help graduates evaluate programs, make evidence-based decisions, and support grant applications or policy change.

Turning knowledge into action through sustainability education

Instead of culminating in a thesis, students in the program deliver a five-year strategic plan, helping them connect their learning to a long-term professional goal.

“We want students to leave the program with all the tools we’ve given them but also a roadmap for how they’re going to use those tools to create meaningful change,” says Pizmony-Levy.

Students also participate in a yearlong professional seminar where they build leadership, communication, and management skills, supported by faculty and peers.

Additional professional skills developed in the program include:

• Data storytelling: Use evidence to persuade, educate, and inspire.
• Project and time management: Lead initiatives that stay on track and deliver results.
• Grant writing and public speaking: Secure funding and share ideas effectively.
• Teamwork and leadership: Collaborate with partners and guide teams toward common goals.

The program prepares students not just to understand climate science but to communicate it.

“We have a lot of knowledge about how bad the situation is,” says Pizmony-Levy. “The question is: How do we tell that story? How do we center on hope and joy?”

By focusing on storytelling, equity, and strategy, this program gives graduates the tools to bring sustainability education topics into schools, workplaces, and communities in ways that lead to real results.

Creating community in an online master's in sustainability

When you earn your master’s in sustainability online at TC, the learning experience is both immersive and collaborative. Students begin and end the program with one-week residencies in New York City, where they meet faculty and classmates, visit iconic sustainability sites like the United Nations and High Line, and learn from local and international leaders.

“We’re online, but we’re not anonymous. Starting in person makes a difference. If I’ve had lunch with you and hiked the High Line with you, I’ll show up differently when I see you on Zoom.”

Oren Pizmony-Levy

During the online semesters, students take both asynchronous and synchronous courses. They also participate in weekly webinars, small group discussions, and Center for Sustainable Futures activities that create lasting professional relationships.

Bring education and sustainability together at Teachers College

If you’re looking to pursue a master’s in sustainability online and combine your passion for learning with action, Teachers College offers both flexibility and real-world relevance. The program blends scholarship, strategy, and community to help students design and implement solutions in their own settings, including those in environmental education careers focused on leadership, policy, or communication.

“I want students to lead efforts to decarbonize systems. They won’t be the engineers, but they’ll do the storytelling, the convincing, the mobilization of others,” says Pizmony-Levy. “That’s how we create a better world.”

Take the next step toward advancing sustainability through education — learn more about the online master’s in Sustainability & Education or start your application today.