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Pros of the program: Biomimicry is an innovative and emerging field of sustainability. It is a flexible program that allows you to design your academic schedule around your personal lifestyle. It brings like-minded people of multidisciplinary backgrounds from around the world to connect and collaborate. Though competitive, the program provides the opportunity for professional training/certification and in-person immersion workshops alongside the Masters. The 24 hour technical service is a plus. Cons... Read More of the program: The program is quite expensive for an online program. I would like to see more opportunities for funding: scholarship, grant, research assistantships, etc. The perks of being an on-campus student does not necessarily provide the same access on the web platforms. Personal engagement with your peers and professors is limited, especially with the high numbers of participants (this is somewhat addressed with the help of TAs). The interface and interaction of the blackboard online education could be more engaging, interactive, and intuitive. The mobile apps need some help as they do not function as well as the web platform. I would like to see online education work similarly/seamlessly as free online education platforms like MOOC/EdX/Coursera. Though fairly new, I would like to see more connection of the main campus services (ASU-coach) to the Biomimicry Center at ASU better integrated with the Masters students. I feel disconnected from the University.

The program is very convenient, providing a master's degree in only one year. This is done by integrating part of your undergrad education into the grad program's curriculum. It's a program that is on the newer side, so they don't have everything worked out, but they aren't afraid to admit that and try to make things better. Having said all that, the program doesn't seem to have much credibility in the industry I aim to go in. They most likely accept anyone that applies because they are desperate... Read More to begin growing the program.

The faculty in SESE/ASU are the best in the world in their fields and they are not afraid to challenge their students. The graduate department is large enough that a healthy level of social activity is always present, but we all know our work comes first. Phoenix has a great Light Rail system to take students into the heart of Downtown Phoenix from Tempe, and there are two free bus lines students can take. There are plenty of apartments around campus to choose from. The worst part of ASU is all of... Read More the student fees that they hit you up for and aren't included in your financial aid. One class I want to take costs $350 extra dollars, a lot of money for a grad student! Otherwise I highly recommend SESE/ASU for space physics and geological sciences.