Sustainability is a big deal in Missouri because we’ve got a lot of valuable environmental resources to take care of here.
Timber, cropland, and mineral resources mean a lot to Missouri industries as they form the backbone of healthy timber, agriculture, and mining operations that are the heart and soul of the state economy. At the same time, all those natural resources are integral to our thriving tourist industry, which brings some 16 million visitors to the state annually.
To keep those industries thriving, we need to protect, preserve, and manage those resources in an environmentally sustainable way. And that’s where an education in sustainability becomes key not just to your personal career success, but to the state as a whole.
Sustainability Jobs Available in Missouri With the Right Degree
Missouri is blessed with an expansive array of industries, ranging from high-tech aerospace and defense work to automotive manufacturing to food processing and agriculture.
Each of these industries is increasingly in need of highly educated sustainability professionals, and the hiring happening across the state today reflects that reality. Jacobs, a multinational engineering consultancy, employs sustainability engineers out of their St. Louis office to work on projects locally and nationally. The caliber of those recruits has landed the firm on lists of Top Green Building Designers, so nothing but the best will do.
The Climate Corporation, working in agricultural sustainability, is another important environmental employer in the state. And not only do firms need to act on important ecological sustainability issues, but they also need to be able to talk about it—so companies like Fleishman-Hillard, a communications firm, offer even more options in niche roles for sustainability graduates.
Master’s in Sustainability Available Through Schools in Missouri
Sustainable Development
Even as a private institution, Saint Louis University is sort of the hub of sustainability studies in Missouri. The school’s respected Center for Sustainability offers a general and accelerated MS in Sustainability, and MS degrees in Urban Planning and Development and Geographic Information Science that all focus on environmental, social, and economic issues of sustainability.
With a full-fledged campus in Madrid, Spain, that offers international exposure, SLU delivers a truly global perspective on sustainability from many different angles that can prepare you for careers in almost any environmental field.
Business
Webster College in St. Louis is another private school that is ahead of the curve in sustainability studies. With an environmental management emphasis in the school’s prestigious Master of Business Administration program, you can prepare yourself to take on leadership roles in either an environmentally-focused organization, or prepare a more conventional company for the challenges of re-tooling operations and supply chains to the more sustainable models that the future will demand.
Even better, the school offers a direct Master of Science in Environmental Management for even more specialization in the field, giving you options to emphasize either the science or the business aspects of the field.
Technology and Energy
Missouri S&T offers a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering that takes full advantage of the on-campus Energy Research Center. With active research efforts into physical, chemical, and biological aspects of wastewater treatment and soil remediation, you can take part in cutting-edge investigations even as you absorb the current state-of-the-art in environmental engineering technology.
And although it’s not traditionally thought of as belonging in sustainability studies, the Rolla school also offers one of the best master’s programs in Nuclear Engineering in the country. It’s a field that may be a centerpiece of future sustainable energy efforts, and you can get a leg up with a degree in it today.
Sustainability Bachelor Degree Programs in Missouri
A master’s degree will take you to the pinnacle of academic achievement in sustainability studies, but you aren’t going to get there without a solid grounding in the subject from a four-year degree first. Getting the right kind of bachelor degree to build your career or advanced education on top of is key.
The University of Missouri, in Columbia, can get you started off right in the field of sustainable agriculture with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a Sustainable Agriculture focus. Whether you plan to work on a career in the business or consumer side of the field, and whether you intend to go on for a master’s or jump immediately into the workforce, this program will provide you with the knowledge and skills to integrate economic viability with environmental stewardship to guide the food and farming system toward long-term sustainability.
Online Sustainability Degrees Offered Through Schools in Missouri
Online options are increasingly becoming a major factor when it comes to selecting a degree in sustainability. The ability to take courses at any time of day, from any location, offers a flexibility that is valuable not only to established professionals seeking to improve their education, but also to undergraduates who want to take control of their career plans at an early stage.
Although there aren’t any schools offering an online major in a sustainability degree in Missouri, you can pick up a Minor in Global Sustainability at Park University in Parkville through either on campus or online classes. A valuable addition to any other type of degree, this minor can expand your knowledge and training in fields related to environmental protection, corporate sustainability, or consulting, all delivered by a top-notch private research university with a rich history of academic excellence.
