The United Nations has committed to reducing carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050. The world is now halfway to that 2030 deadline. Although a lot of countries, including the US and Canada, have made some progress in achieving this ambitious goal, the world still suffers from climate change, environmental pollution, poor waste management, sustainable energy challenges, and more, indicating that we still have a long way to go.
This is why universities around the world are racing to combat these issues by producing leaders and policymakers who will make our planet a better place to live. Future environmental specialists will learn to conduct research, analyse data, and develop solutions to address various issues using the broad knowledge and practical skills gained from their classes.
Here are four universities that train you to do so through degree programmes ranging from bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.
York University
Amazing things happen when a diverse group of forward-thinking students and faculty come together to solve significant global challenges. At York University in Toronto, Canada, students and staff work towards building an innovative and sustainable future. Their work is making waves –– in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, York University jumped five spots to 35th in world for championing the United Nations’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 10, 11, and 17.
Changemakers for a just and sustainable future will find a home at the university’s Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change (EUC). Programmes here prepare you to address the world’s environmental and urban challenges and expose you to research in areas such as biophysical sciences, social sciences, and the arts. You’ll explore various approaches like field-based science, policy analysis, critical social theory, planning skills, geomatics, and cultural and arts-based methods.
Take the Bachelor in Environmental Studies (BES) Sustainable Environmental Management programme, for example. In three to four years of study, you’ll investigate how the environment and natural resources are managed and learn how we can transition to more just and sustainable systems. You’ll have the chance to take part in work placements and participate in the Las Nubes EcoCampus in Costa Rica too. As a graduate, you’re prepared to effectively engage in environmental issues in government, the private sector, and not-for-profit sectors in Canada and abroad, and make positive contributions toward a sustainable future.
For further study, the Master’s in Environmental Studies is a great choice. The interdisciplinary programme challenges you to look at natural, socio-cultural and built environments in interconnected ways. Centred on an individual Plan of Study, you can complete your MES research work as a thesis, major paper, project or portfolio, redefining the boundaries of environmental research along the way. Apply to York University’s Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change now.
With over 600,000 alumni, Purdue offers academic advising, tutoring, job placement services and more that guide students towards their goals. Source: Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University has a history of empowering students to make their mark on the world. Founded over 150 years ago, the university has earned its reputation as the fourth most trusted public university and the seventh best value school in the US.
Purdue’s colleges and schools are dedicated to preparing students for a competitive job market through a diverse range of academic offerings. The College of Agriculture offers a Natural Resources and Environmental Science major, while the College of Science provides programmes in Environmental Geoscience, as well as Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology.
The College of Engineering offers a major in Environmental and Ecological Engineering. Meanwhile, the Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering major in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) Department has multiple entry paths, ensuring students have the flexibility to pursue their passions.
These programmes are informed by the research taking place at Purdue University’s over 400 research labs that drive global change and improve lives across industries. The university’s pursuit of innovation has earned it a place among the world’s top-ranked research universities and recognition as one of the top 10 most innovative schools in the US for six consecutive years.
University of Regina prioritises developing your practical skills. Source: University of Regina/Facebook
University of Regina
There is no better teacher than experience. The University of Regina believes this and pioneered the first cooperative education programme in Western Canada. Hands-on learning is what the university prioritises, hence the plentiful opportunities to gain practical skills, knowledge, and experience through workshops, programming, and various campus events. This method is applied to all levels and faculties across the university, including the Faculty of Science.
At the faculty, you immerse yourself in various hands-on learning opportunities that range from joining summer courses to taking part in a co-op work-study term. This method of study prepares you for engaging careers in different sectors of the economy, in addition to making impactful scientific discoveries and leading the way in environmental stewardship that would benefit the way we live.
The faculty offers many degree programmes, but if you are on a mission to solve global environmental challenges such as climate change, depletion of natural resources, water availability, migration, and war, the Geography and Environmental Studies bachelor’s programme is for you. In this programme, you will learn how humans connect and interact with the environment, covering three areas which include human geography, physical geography, and environmental studies.
The University of Tampa welcomes 1,200 students from 130 countries. Source: The University of Tampa/Facebook
University of Tampa
The University of Tampa is among the nation’s best 389 institutions for undergraduate education (only 15% of colleges in the US can share this honour). Home to over 11,000 students, the university prepares graduates to be successful, contributing members of the global community through world-class academic programmes, personalised attention and hands-on experience.
One of the university’s standout colleges is the College of Natural and Health Sciences. It offers a quality curriculum that embodies its motto: Connect – Transform – Succeed. Students of its Department of Environmental Studies, for instance, can major in a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies or a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies. These programmes incorporate natural and social sciences, as well as arts and humanities, teaching students to become future informed stewards of our planet.
The university’s commitment to experiential learning is evident in its various academic programmes, including those offered by the College of Natural and Health Sciences. Students are encouraged to apply what they’ve learnt in the classroom to solve real-world issues. Coupled with the university’s comprehensive career services and supportive community, it’s no surprise that the university’s alumni are able to earn an average salary of US$51,000 salary within a year of graduation.
*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International
