U.S. colleges and universities are adding new degree and certificate programs in green studies faster than you can say solar power, USA Today reports.
U.S. schools created more than 100 majors, minors and certificate programs in 2009 alone, up from three in 2005, mostly focused on energy and sustainability, according to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
Students want the programs--seeing the growth of green industries and the opportunity to do well by doing good--and are filling the courses as quickly as they can be created and adding their names to waiting lists.
Meanwhile, employers are demanding more workers trained in sustainability, renewable energy and green technologies. The Obama administration estimates that energy and environmental jobs will grow 52 percent from 2000 through 2016, compared to 14 percent for other occupations.
Comments
Sorry but “green” employers have not been demanding anything but subsidies. I got out of school 2 years ago and noone is hiring in the field. Maybe in a few years but who can waite that long.
EdgeOh, what was your qualifications in exactly? I looked all over the US to study for something green but with some hard science in it. All I found was a very very expensive program (Stanford), a bunch of green policy-type programs and some entreprenurial type stuff (Berkeley). So now I’m finishing an MSc in green building design out of the UK. I’m kinda hoping that this will have a bit more traction.
what do you think?
Maybe this site will give you guys some ideas: http://www.evergreeninstitute.org/index.cfm?action=DisplayMain&Category=0&CFID=12280395&CFTOKEN=85625481
I think the numbers don’t really bode too well for “green jobs.” Studies from Spain showed that for every new green job created, 2.5 traditional jobs were lost. If we turn big time to wind power, how many layed off waitresses or assembly line workers will be willing to work up on a 150 ft tower? PV installations need almost no maintenance after set-up. How many mechanics, pipe fitters & elec engineers now working at coal-fire plants will lose their jobs?
Green building makes sense, but it wont provide “extra” jobs- only replace traditional trades skills with new skills.