Sustainability has become a hot major at U-M

Wednesday, September 22, 2010 | Source: Concentrate

Sustainability is not only a buzz word at the University of Michigan these days, it's a way of academic life.

The university has experienced a sharp increase in green studies, whether they be majors that revolve around sustainability or environmentally friendly certificates that complement traditional degrees, such as business administration.

"We're excited because we have seen explosive growth in sustainability-related programs across the university," says Mike Shriberg, education director at the Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute at U-M.

So far undergraduate enrollment in the Program in the Environment has more than doubled from 128 students in 2005 to an estimated 291 today. Master's-level enrollment at the School of Natural Resources and Environment has jumped 83 percent to 225 students today.
The Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise enrollment doubled to 45 students.

A lot of these students see a big blue ocean of opportunity in sustainability related fields where jobs have become plentiful and seemingly ever expanding.

"There has been booming growth in the clean energy sector," Shirberg says. "That has been happening lately even when all of the other sectors are down."

Source: Mike Shirberg, education director at the Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute at the University of Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke