General Education

The Best Degrees for Careers in Climate Change and Sustainability

The Best Degrees for Careers in Climate Change and Sustainability
If you're thinking about pursuing any level of higher education—be it an associate's degree, bachelor's degree, graduate degree, or doctorate—and you're passionate about saving the planet, consider preparing for one of the following career paths. Image from Unsplash
Merin Curotto profile
Merin Curotto August 8, 2019

Environmental science, urban planning, and solar installation are just a few of the industries predicted to grow (some, by up to 105%) through 2026—and, depending on which career path you choose, you might not even need a degree.

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In a report from the International Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), released August 8, 2019, the United Nations warns that climate change threatens the world's food supply. The report, prepared by 107 leading scientists from 52 countries across the world—over half of which are categorized as developing nations—assessed over 7,000 academic papers and received almost 29,000 comments from expert reviewers. With a predominant focus on desertification, land degradation, food security, and greenhouse gas fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems, the IPCC findings have inspired headlines imploring change to the global agricultural system, and to reduce the amount of meat we consume. Of course, that's not all we can do.

In April, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Fastest-Growing Occupations report, with a number of careers in climate change and sustainability topping the list. If you're thinking about pursuing any level of higher education—be it an associate's degree, bachelor's degree, graduate degree, or doctorate—and you're passionate about saving the planet, consider preparing for one of the following career paths.


Solar Photovoltaic Installer


Wind Turbine Technician

  • Average job growth rate: 96%
  • 2018 median annual pay: $54,370
  • Their environmental impact : Wind turbine technicians play a critical role in sustainable and renewable energy.
  • Degree type(s): Technical schools or community college; certifications in wind energy technology; Associate's degree
  • Related coursework: Rescue, safety, first aid, and CPR training; Electrical maintenance; Hydraulic maintenance; Braking systems; Mechanical systems, including blade inspection and maintenance; Computers and programmable logic control systems
  • Certifications: Certified Electrical Safety Compliance Professional (CESCP)
  • Skills required: Communication skills, detail oriented, mechanical skills, physical strength, troubleshooting
  • Best state for this career: Texas
  • Employers to consider: Vestas, Sky Climber, Siemens, GE Renewable Energy
  • Required reading:


Genetic Counselor


Cartographers and Photogrammetrists


Dietitians and Nutritionists


Urban and Regional Planners

  • Average job growth rate: 13%
  • 2018 median annual pay: $73,050
  • Their environmental impact: Urban planners help communities accommodate population growth, and may work with government agencies to support sustainable development, environmental policy, and environmental law.
  • Degree type: Bachelor's in Economics, Geography, Political Science, or Environmental Design; Master's in Urban Planning
  • Related coursework: agriculture, urban revitalization, public policy
  • Credentialing: Planning Accreditation Board (PAB)
  • Skills needed: Critical thinking, communication, outdoor skills, physical stamina, problem-solving
  • Best state for careers in urban planning: California
  • Required reading:


Geoscientists

  • Average job growth rate: 14%
  • 2018 median annual pay: $91,130
  • Their environmental impact: Geoscientists study the earth's composition, to learn about its past, present, and future—playing a role in conservation through their research and discovery of environmental issues.
  • Degree type: Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Geosciences, Environmental Science, or Engineering
  • Related coursework: Mineralogy, petrology, structural geology, physical sciences, mathematics, engineering, and computer science
  • Credentialing: National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG)
  • Skills needed: critical thinking, communication, outdoor skills, physical stamina, problem-solving
  • Employers to consider: Weston Solutions, Fugro
  • Required reading:


Atmospheric and Space Scientists

  • Average job growth rate: 12%
  • 2018 median annual pay: $90,110
  • Their environmental impact: Devoting their careers to environmental science, these professionals study the weather and climate and how conditions like air pollution affect human activity and the earth in general.
  • Degree type: Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Atmospheric Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Geology or Engineering; Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science
  • Related coursework: Computer programming, oceanography, geophysics
  • Skills needed: Analytical, critical thinking, communication
  • Employers to consider: University of Colorado Boulder, I.M. Systems Group (IMSG)
  • Required reading: Scientists are using the cold of outer space to rethink air conditioning

Environmental Scientists


Hydrologists

  • Average job growth rate: 10%
  • 2018 median annual pay: $79,370
  • Their environmental impact: Hydrologists study the worlds most precious of natural resources, solving problems related to water quality and availability.
  • Degree type: Bachelor's and Master's degree in Hydrology, Geosciences, Engineering, or Earth Science; PhD
  • Related coursework: Math, statistics, computer science, economics, environmental law, government policy
  • Skills needed: Analytical, communication, critical thinking interpersonal, physical stamina
  • Employers to consider: U.S. Department of the Interior, Workplace Alaska
  • Required reading: The Future of Groundwater in Sub-Saharan Africa

Agricultural and Food Scientists


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