Top 5 Colleges For Eco Friendly Majors

With the recent Gulf Coast oil spills, evidence of the polar ice caps melting, increased interest in organic farming and global climate changes, people are more concerned with conservation and preservation of the planet than ever. There are universities and colleges that have made changes as well, offering courses and degrees that focus on literally helping to make the world a better place.

1) Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin

Not only has the school itself made eco-friendly changes, it includes environmental studies in its curriculum and the classes and majors they offer makes Northland one of the top “green” schools in the country. Majors include Environmental Chemistry and Geosciences along with the Nature and Culture Department which focuses on fishery and wildlife ecology and ecological restoration.

2) Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University

For a university so well known for it’s medical programs, Duke now offers undergraduate, graduate and doctorate degrees that focus on environmental law and studies, earth science and ocean science. With a large variety of research areas to select from and a hands on marine lab a few hours away, Duke University is quickly becoming a top choice for eco-friendly studies.

3) School of Sustainability at Arizona State University

Permitting their students to help “develop solutions to some of the most pressing environmental, economic and social challenges of sustainability” Arizona State now offers undergraduate and grad degrees with plans of more professional development programs later.

4) College of the Atlantic

Human Ecology is the primary major at College of the Atlantic. Students then narrow their classes according to their interests and unlike other schools that offer dozens of majors, College of the Atlantic encourages their students to take a creative approach to an eco-friendly course selection.

5) Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems, Montana State University

With a new program in sustainable food and bioenergy systems in their bachelor of science degree, Montana State offers agroecology, sustainable crop production and food systems in three separate departments including courses in the Colleges of Agriculture and Education, Health and Human Development.

Submitted by guest blogger Alexis Bonari  a freelance writer and blog junkie. She often can be found blogging about general education issues as well as information on college scholarships. In her spare time, she enjoys square- foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.