The Master in Sustainable Development (MSD) is a two-year master’s program offered through the Department of Development Education at Kathmandu University School of Education (KUSOED). The program carries 54 credit hours across four semesters and accepts applicants with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline who meet the specified academic threshold.
MSD approaches sustainable development through environmental, social, economic, educational, technological, and institutional perspectives. Its curriculum covers sustainability fundamentals, ecology and environment, sustainable economics, global change, gender and social inclusion, environmental management, development projects, communication, participatory development, research, electives, internship, and dissertation or research projects.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Course: | Master in Sustainable Development |
| Abbreviation: | MSD |
| Institution: | Kathmandu University School of Education |
| University: | Kathmandu University |
| Department: | Department of Development Education |
| Level: | Master’s |
| Duration: | 2 Years |
| Semesters: | 4 |
| Total credits: | 54 Credit Hours |
| Eligibility: | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with CGPA 2.5/4.0 or second division |
| Practical component: | Internship and research |
The Master in Sustainable Development is part of KUSOED’s Development Education portfolio. The Department of Development Education connects education with development and engages with development issues through different academic and interdisciplinary perspectives. It also offers programs in Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Indigenous Education and Development, and advanced research in development studies.
The MSD curriculum is built around the interaction of environment, society, and economy. It also addresses governance-related, technological, social, cultural, and educational dimensions through subjects such as environmental management, gender equity and social inclusion, project management, communication, participatory development, and policy-oriented electives.
The program therefore examines sustainable development as an interdisciplinary field rather than limiting it to environmental study alone.
Duration: Two years
Semesters: Four
Total credits: 54 credit hours
The program consists of:
Core courses — 6 credits
Specialization courses — 33 credits
Elective courses — 6 credits
Practical courses — 9 credits
Students complete two core courses, eleven specialization courses, two electives, an internship, and either a dissertation or two research projects.
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 508 | Theory and Practice in Education | 3 |
| EDUC 509 | Research Methodology | 3 |
The core component places sustainable development study within an educational and research framework. Research Methodology also provides preparation for the formal research component later in the program.
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDSD 512 | Fundamentals of Sustainable Development | 3 |
| EDSD 513 | Statistical Techniques for Research | 3 |
| EDSC 514 | Ecology and Environment | 3 |
| EDSD 515 | Economics of Sustainability and Enterprises | 3 |
| EDSC 516 | Global Change and Sustainable Technology | 3 |
| EDSD 517 | Gender Equity and Social Inclusion | 3 |
| EDSD 518 | Sociology and Local Cosmology of Sustainable Development | 3 |
| EDSC 522 | Environmental Management | 3 |
| EDSD 527 | Project Management for Development Results | 3 |
| EDSD 528 | Communication in Sustainable Development | 3 |
| EDSD 546 | Participatory Approach in Development | 3 |
These eleven courses account for 33 credits and form the main specialization component of the degree.
The subjects move from foundational concepts to applied development concerns. Students encounter environmental and ecological study alongside economics, technology, inclusion, sociology, project management, communication, and participatory approaches.
Students select any two elective courses for a total of six credits.
Available options include:
EDSD 524 Natural Resource Management and Environmental Ethics
EDSD 529 Education for Sustainable Development
EDSD 530 Conservation Management
EDSD 533 Global Climate Change
EDSD 534 Policy and Planning for Sustainable Development
EDSD 536 Education for Social Transformation
EDSD 537 Discourses of Education and Development
EDSD 538 Globalization and Emerging Institution
EDSD 539 Management and Leadership in Sustainable Development
EDSD 542 Community Research
EDSD 543 Community Activity
EDSD 545 Independent Study
EDSD 532 International and Comparative Perspective in Sustainable Development
The elective structure allows students to add depth in areas such as climate change, conservation, policy, education, leadership, community work, globalization, or comparative sustainable development.
Practical and research study accounts for nine credits.
Internship: EDSD 541 Internship — 3 credits
Students then complete one of two research routes:
Dissertation: EDSD 559 Dissertation — 6 credits
or
Research Projects: EDSD 544 Research Project I — 3 credits and EDSD 554 Research Project II — 3 credits.
The internship brings an applied component into the program, while the dissertation or research-project pathway provides formal research experience. Statistical Techniques for Research and Research Methodology further support the research dimension of the degree.
Eligibility: Applicants need a bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum CGPA of 2.5 out of 4.0 or second division in the aggregate score.
The eligibility requirement is not restricted to graduates from environmental science, education, development studies, or another single discipline.
The Department of Development Education uses online and blended classroom arrangements within its academic activities. It also incorporates community-oriented engagement, including fieldwork, to connect classroom study with community contexts.
KUSOED more broadly uses blended pedagogy for postgraduate education, combining online and face-to-face learning.
For MSD, this wider environment complements coursework in participatory development, community research, project management, communication, and sustainable development.
Admission, entrance, curriculum administration, examinations, results, academic progression, and degree award follow the rules and regulations of Kathmandu University.
KUSOED organizes master’s admission according to program and intake. Applicants to MSD must meet the stated bachelor-level academic eligibility for the program.
Master in Sustainable Development integrates several areas within one degree:
Sustainable development theory
Ecology and environment
Sustainable economics
Global change and technology
Gender equity and social inclusion
Sociology and local perspectives
Environmental management
Development project management
Sustainable development communication
Participatory development
Research and statistical methods
Internship and applied study
The program may suit graduates interested in examining development through environmental, social, economic, educational, and institutional perspectives. Professional directions depend on previous qualifications, experience, competencies, and the requirements of individual organizations.
The program runs for two years across four semesters.
The program carries 54 credit hours.
Applicants need a bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum CGPA of 2.5 out of 4.0 or second division in aggregate.
MSD is offered through the Department of Development Education at Kathmandu University School of Education.
Yes. EDSD 541 Internship carries three credits.
Yes. Students complete either a six-credit dissertation or Research Project I and Research Project II.
Yes. Students choose two three-credit electives from the available Sustainable Development options.
The curriculum includes sustainability, environment, economics, technology, inclusion, sociology, project management, communication, participatory development, research, and related elective areas.
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