Why environmental courses are the new trend
There is an increasing trend towards tacking green topics onto traditional degrees, such as English or history. How do students who want to understand more about green issues navigate their way through the options?
James Burnett
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As environmental concerns such as climate change, biodiversity loss and resource depletion continue to escalate, a growing number of students are turning to sustainability-focused university degrees.
This shift is driven by increasing awareness of the profound impact that human activity is having on the planet. Climate change, in particular, is at the forefront of global discussions, with extreme weather events, rising sea levels and shifting ecosystems underscoring the urgent need for sustainable solutions. Students are looking for courses that will equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to tackle these pressing issues.
Universities are responding to this demand by offering a wide range of green courses, from environmental science and renewable energy engineering to sustainable business practices and policy studies, with the UN Sustainable Development Goals an important cross-curricular theme.
Green on the outside: degrees with a touch of sustainability
Alongside degree courses that directly address environmental issues, many courses (architecture, for example) have traditionally included modules on sustainability. However, there is now a trend towards tacking green topics onto degrees that on the face of it might not seem natural bedfellows: a unit on writing ecologies as part of an English literature degree at the University of Glasgow or a course on environmental history at the University of Pittsburgh, for example.
So how do students who want to understand more about green issues navigate their way through the multitude of options?
Turning green into gold: how sustainability knowledge leads to career success
Globally, sustainability specialists are among the fastest-growing job categories. According to the World Economic Forum’s The Future of Jobs Report 2023, sustainability specialists are second in the list of fastest-growing jobs. This trend underscores the increasing demand for professionals equipped with knowledge in environmental sustainability.
Many students are now pursuing careers that not only offer them professional opportunities but enable them to contribute meaningfully to global sustainability efforts. This surge in interest reflects a broader cultural shift toward sustainability, with the younger generation recognising the importance of taking responsibility for the future of the planet. By choosing green courses, students are not just preparing for their careers – they are positioning themselves as active participants in the creation of a more sustainable world.
A number of degree courses are more targeted than a broad degree in environmental science. Examples include: environmental geoscience at the University of Bristol; RMIT’s bachelor of environment and society; science for sustainable societies at the University of Leiden; Bachelor of Science in sustainable hospitality and tourism management at California State University, Monterey Bay; and architectural environment engineering at the University of Nottingham.
Creative and design courses also offer green opportunities: the Bachelor of Fashion and Textiles (sustainable innovation) at RMIT and BA in Sustainable Design at Arts University Bournemouth are examples.
A sprinkling of green: how degrees are dressing up with sustainability modules
Increasingly, universities are adding green modules or minors to more traditional degrees. Whether this is a response to the changing demands of employers or a way of attracting more students through marketing is a moot point; what matters is that they provide further opportunities for our students.
Examples include an elective in environmental law in the LLB course at the National University of Singapore, a minor in sustainability at HKUST and a BA in English studies and climate change at Aberystwyth University.
The green revolution: how students are shaping universities
Greater awareness of environmental and social sustainability issues is leading to growing expectations on universities to act. According to a QS International Student Survey, more than half the students interested in studying in the UK actively research university sustainability strategies as part of their decision-making.
Times Higher Education published the first global university rankings based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in 2019. In the latest ranking (which is led by Western Sydney University), Canada and Australia had five universities in the top 20, Asia had four universities, the UK three, the US two and Europe one.
UC San Diego has introduced a groundbreaking graduation requirement for students: a course in climate change. Le Cordon Bleu Dusit in Thailand has initiated a “Let’s Zero” project, which includes a zero-waste circular economy programme, and zero-plastic and zero-carbon emission targets.
Through the green maze: choosing the right path
Students who want to make a positive impact on the environment face a bewildering array of choices when considering their future pathways. Should they study something that will lead directly to a job in an environmental field, or add specialist knowledge to supplement a more traditional degree? Should they choose a university based on its green credentials or look for the best-fit institutions and aim to contribute to the environment by undertaking voluntary work alongside their degree or as part of a gap year?
How can we, as counsellors, help our students choose the best paths for them as individuals? There is no one-size-fits-all solution. What we can do is to get to know our students as well as possible, and enlist external support from university representatives, local businesses and voluntary organisations by, for example, running a workshop on green careers.
Useful resources
The Future of Jobs Report 2023