USA Today: College Students Want to Study Sustainability

It’s not just businesses and policymakers who are concerned about sustainability and energy. USA Today has a story about college students pursuing green degrees in programs that will give them the tools to succeed in the growing market of jobs focused on innovation in energy:

    One popular program is an MBA that teaches skills for operating sustainable businesses. 

 

    A University of Pennsylvania program that started this year lets students earn an MBA and a master’s in environmental studies at the same time. 

 

    … 

 

    Architecture schools are responding to the increased interest in energy-efficient buildings. 

 

    Christoph Reinhart, associate professor of architectural technology at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, says the school’s decision last summer to start offering a concentration in sustainable design was driven by interest from students and changes in the field. 

 

    "Over the past few years, there has been an increased interest and pressure to provide this knowledge in more depth, whereas before, maybe a class would have been sufficient," he says. "Now there’s an expectation that more of these skills are being learned." 

 

    Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability graduated its first class in May. The school offers a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of science in sustainability as well as a graduate degree. 

 

    Charles Redman, the director of the School of Sustainability, says the school takes an interdisciplinary approach. 

 

    Student Drew Bryck says what drew him to the school was the opportunity to study biology, economics and a variety of other fields. 

 

    Bryck says he is "fairly confident" his degree will help him land a job because the need for people with a well-rounded background in sustainability is growing, especially in the private sector. 

 

    The program resonates with students, Redman says; 300 undergraduates enrolled the first year it was offered. 

 

As policymakers make it possible for businesses to pursue innovative strategies for creating sustainable energy solutions, these students will be able to join a growing and revolutionary field.

— Matthew Faraci

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