Academic institutions offer sustainability degrees in both liberal and scientific education. Degree programs provide an academic foundation, while graduate programs expand on knowledge and certificate programs are for those who prefer not to pursue postgraduate studies. Curriculum varies, but most cover fundamental concepts impacting sustainability issues, including environmental and urban sustainability.
Academic institutions can offer sustainability degrees in areas that span both liberal and scientific education. A liberal education usually focuses on sociological and economic systems related to sustainability issues in communities. Sustainability degree programs in science education often examine ecological and biological systems. Students can complete degree programs in sustainability for undergraduate, graduate and certificate studies. In any of these situations, courses can consider how the liberal and scientific aspects of sustainability converge or diverge to cause environmental and urban problems.
There are several types of educational levels for environmental and urban sustainability programs. Degree programs provide an academic foundation in the field of sustainability study. Graduate programs expand on the knowledge gained during an undergraduate degree and can cover more complex issues. Certificate programs are generally for students who prefer not to pursue postgraduate studies for a sustainability education.
With the foundation that an undergraduate degree provides in sustainability issues, students learn what factors can cause problems. For example, students could study the role that technological and cultural constraints play in creating sustainability issues. By understanding these factors, students can learn innovative approaches to solving these problems.
Enrolling in a graduate program can increase students’ ability to understand the impact of sustainability issues. Within these degree programs, students can learn to connect theories with human behavior and the relationship of that behavior to sustainability issues. A graduate program can also train students to play leadership roles that affect change in disadvantaged communities.
Generally, a certificate is an abbreviated program that requires less time commitment than the graduate program. Although students spend less time in a certificate program, they still have a strong curriculum on sustainability issues. Many programs offer students an applied learning approach to opportunities to practice theories in real-world environments.
Actual curriculum and other program details may vary between universities, colleges and institutions that have degree programs in sustainability. Most courses cover the fundamental concepts that impact sustainability issues, whether environmental, cultural or global. For comprehensive sustainability education, courses can also cover the impact that land and water use has on communities.
The environmental track of degree sustainability programs examines changes in organisms within natural habitats. These types of programs can study the importance of exploring sustainability mechanisms that can affect human communities and natural environments. Furthermore, these programs could teach the social responsibility aspects of community citizens – residents or businesses – and how to better manage resources.
Similar to the environmental track, degree programs in urban sustainability can also study the environment and society in disadvantaged communities. Essentially, areas of study for degree programs in urbanism include planning, policy, advocacy, education, practice, and research. The purpose of these study areas is to balance sustainability and quality of life issues that affect urban communities.
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