Top 10 Environmental Degree Programs in the Southwest

The Top 30 Cities for Jobs in the US are best cities for a number of reasons, but the reason that is vital in the 2000s is the fact that these cities are home to universities, colleges, and vocational/technical schools that have proactively forged partnerships with business and government in order to create new jobs in the Sustainability Industry.

The Southwestern United States, especially the metropolitan areas surrounding the cities in the Southwest that are found on the Top 30 List, are highly focused on Sustainability and Alternative Energy, reclaiming and revitalizing lands and buildings, and creating new jobs. Their system of higher education is becoming increasingly key to this process for economic growth and high quality life style.

In a report released early in 2009, higher education as a whole was examined for sustainability at all levels and in all aspects of college activities throughout American campuses, including degree programs offered in North America. This work was accomplished by a foundation located in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts and sponsored beginning in 2005 by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. An interested, dedicated, and credible 12-member board directs and oversees the project and includes these well known professionals that are directors, founders, and exeuctives within their companies.

1. Doug Bauer, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
2. Benjamin Bolger, Assistant Professor at College of William & Mary
3. John Chandler, Williams College
4. Aimée Christensen, Christensen Global Strategies
5. Walter Corey, Bangor Center for Corporate Ethics
6. Neva Goodwin, Global Development & Environment Institute at Tufts University
7. Peter Kinder, KLD Research & Analytics
8. Robert Monks, Institutional Shareholder Services
9. Ian Simmons Executive Director of Foundation for Civic Leadership
10. Charles Valdes, Board Member and Investment Committee of Calpers retirement system.
11. Stephen Viederman, Foundation Partnership for Corporate Responsibility
12. Gordon Winston, Director of Williams Project on the Economics of Higher Education

On can see from the following data that the fact that American postsecondary schools were evaluated for Sustainability Education previously spurred them to improve their offerings and related performance. Of the total 300 schools with the largest endownments that were evaluated, 67% improved from 2008 to 2009. The number of North American schools assessed that employ full-time Sustainability staff increased from only 37% to 67% in 2009, nearly double.

The following ten institutions scored highest in the Southwest for offering Environmental Sciences degrees. They strive to ensure cutting edge applicative results toward creating new, vital jobs and Sustainability in the 21st century. Arizona State University stands clearly above the rest in its degree and certificate programs in Sustainability and Environmentally and the Top 5 overall outdistance the others significantly,

1. Arizona State University, Tempe – improved over last year to earn a B+, the highest grade achieved by any of the 300 institutions in the overall examination, although that grade is shared by some others. An all-around Campus Sustainability Leader among a short list extracted from the 300.This school offers an MA, MS, and PhD in Sustainability. Undergraduate degrees include the BA of Business Sustainability, BS in Environment Chemistry, BSE in Environmental Engineering, BSE in Mechanical Engineering for Energy and Environment, and the BA and BS in Sustainability. Several other degree programs offered may be applied to Sustainability applications as well. Additional minors and certificate courses are provided related to these emerging technologies as well. ASU partners with the US Army in electronics technology and plans Sustainability partnerships in the Middle East. Read about additional research and growth in Sustainability and the Environment at ASU at his link.
2. University of Arizona, Tucson –rated better than in 2008. This schools offers a number of programs in Chemical and Environmental Engineering as well as Soil, Water and Environmental Science, with as additional Graduate Degree in Environmental Engineering. See U of A.
3. University of New Mexico, Albuquerque – improved over last year. See link in next section under New Mexico.
4. Rice University - Houston, Texas. See Rice Enviro-Web.
5. University of Oklahoma - Norman. See Environmental Sciences and Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy
6. Southern Methodist University - Dallas, Texas – improved over last year
7. Texas A&M University - College Station – improved over last year
8. Baylor University - Waco, Texas
9. University of Houston - TEXAS – improved over last year
10. New Mexico State University - Las Cruces

The next seven schools also scored high and round out the total number of institutions of higher education in the Southwestern US to actively impact Sustainability with degree programs: 17.

• 11. Southwestern University - Georgetown, Texas – improved over last year
• 12. Texas Christian University - Ft. Worth
• 13. University of Texas–Dallas
• 14. Trinity University San Antonio, Texas – improved over last year
• 15. Abilene Christian University - TEXAS. This is the first year of ratings for this school, which offers many Environmental programs. Investment Priorities were rated A, while rating low in sustainability in on-campus facilities.
• 16. Oklahoma State University - Stillwater
• 17. University of Tulsa - Oklahoma

TEXAS - 10 Schools

• Abilene Christian University
• Baylor University
• Rice University
• Southern Methodist University
• Southwestern University
• Texas A&M University
• Texas Christian University
• Trinity Universty
• University of Houston
• University of Texas

Review Related Texas Cities, Jobs,  and Major Employers:

• Review of Jobs in Austin, Texas
• Top 10 Hot Jobs in Bryan-College Station, Texas
• Top Jobs in Corpus Christi TX
• Top 10 Jobs in Dallas
• Review of Houston, Texas
• City Review: Jobs in Midland Texas
• Top 10 Hot Jobs in Waco TX

OKLAHOMA - 3 Schools

• Oklahoma State University, University of Oklahoma, University of Tulsa

ARIZONA - 2 Schools

• University of Arizona, Arizona State University

NEW MEXICO - 2 Schools

• University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University - The universities and colleges in New Mexico are performiing cutting edge research and development of algae based humn and animal foods and biofuels, including green oil. Ths is true in Las Cruces, Alburquerque, and Santa Fe-Los Alamos. In Santa Fe, EcoVersity is a non-profit learning center for K-12 and community programs in permaculture and other aspects of Sustainability.