Degrees in sustainable practices may not be far off for University students in public policy, environmental science, architecture and a number of other majors.
The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that student demand for the degrees in renewable or alternative energy is growing, but schools that offer the degrees remain few and far between.
In recent years, Oregon established itself as a frontrunner in renewable energy academics with Oregon Institute of Technology’s renewable energy degree – the first degree of its kind in the state – whose first class of 50 students graduated last spring. The OIT campuses in Portland and Klamath Falls offer a four-year degree in renewable energy systems.
Outside of Oregon, schools offering renewable energy degrees include Humboldt State University in California, Arizona State University, University of Wisconsin, Illinois State University and Bronx Community College in New York.
As sustainability efforts grow in nearly every business sector, energy conscious college graduates are expected to be in high demand. Lane Community College has joined the ranks of colleges meeting the demand with its two-year energy management degree that teaches students to perform energy audits.
While a number of classes at the University incorporate alternative and renewable energy in their curriculum, environmental studies undergraduate adviser Katie Lynch said there is no actual degree or certificate for students who focus on this area of study.
“Our majors in both environmental studies and environmental sciences have quite a bit of freedom to select courses that fit their interests and we do offer quite a few courses that discuss the theme of alternative energy,” Lynch wrote in an e-mail.
However, University business professor Mike Russo hopes to put the University on the map with an official academic energy distinction for students to earn.
Russo and other professors submitted a proposal to the administration’s Big Ideas Plan to begin interdisciplinary, energy-targeted academic certificates starting with classes that the University already offers. If the submission is accepted, students in varied majors could graduate with a certificate in renewable or alternative energy studies.
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University may offer degrees in sustainable practices
Daily Emerald
May 13, 2009
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