The University of Missouri, Kansas City Creates New Sustainability Minor. The 18-hour minor integrates a wide range of fields, including geosciences, engineering, ethics, urban planning and design, economics, history, philosophy, political science and public administration. Through in-class lectures and a local environmental sustainability internship, the minor will teach students about the planning and policies involved in creating sustainable changes in an urban setting. To complete the minor, a student must complete an applied project or internship and take one three-hour course in each of the following areas: Earth Systems and Resources, Sustainable Thinking, Sustainable Planning and Policy, Sustainable Design and Analytical Tools.
Northeastern Junior College Launches Wind Energy Training Program. A wind energy technician training program will begin this August at NJC. It is the first program of its kind to open in Colorado. The program’s curriculum has been approved at the state level. Funding has been secured. Facilities have been identified. A teacher has been hired. Students are being recruited. the new program is going to be a two-year degree program, not just an accelerated training situation. The school is looking into developing a we could possibly run an accelerated training program for veterans that would enable them move into wind tower technician jobs within a few months. The training program will operate from the college’s north campus facility. The program will take 20 students initially. Area companies, who have farms located here have offered to provide training tools, field locations for students to get hands-on skills, guest presenters and internships.
Eastern Mennonite University Announces Two Sustainability Majors. Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia is introducing two new majors: Peacebuilding and Development and Environmental Sustainability. The Environmental Sustainability major is focused on forward-thinking sustainability practices. Students who major in environmental sustainability will choose between two tracks of study: the traditional environmental science track with courses from the disciplines of ecology, chemistry and physiology; and the new environmental and social sustainability focus, which combines traditional environmental science coursework with revised applied sociology courses emphasizing international and community development and conservation. “Traditional” environmental science courses have been revised and augmented over recent years with hard looks at local and global sustainability and hands-on research projects.The Peacebuilding and Development major is a combination of the “justice, peace and conflict studies” major and the “applied sociology” program, with its international development and environmental sustainability emphasis. Peacebuilding and development studies are geared toward intentional social change around issues of conflict, poverty, inequality, sustainability and social justice. The new major offers students the chance to combine the theory of justice and conflict studies with the practice of peacebuilding and sustainable development in communities far and wide.
Chatham University Adds New Environmental Track to Graduate Biology Program. Chatham University will add a track in Environmental Biology to its Master of Science in Biology program this fall, according to the Office of Academic Affairs. The new Environmental Biology track includes classroom, laboratory, and field work experiences designed for students who want to pursue careers in environmental services, research, education, or advocacy. The Environmental Biology track will offer courses on topics such as Plant Development, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Soil Science, Field Ecology, Wetlands Ecology, and Biostatistics. Students will also participate in internships and field seminars.
