Top Five Green Master Degree Programs

In 2010, Master Degree Online.com published their list of the five of the best sustainable schools. (This list has been updated by The Green Market for 2011).

1. Antioch University of New England Antioch University’s Green MBA provides the skills for working in the new green economy. The skills help you navigate the changes in business, the economy, the environment, and the global marketplace. Whether you work in nonprofits, small to large corporations, NGOs, government, education or health care, the Antioch University New England MBA will prepare you for the emerging field of sustainability.

Profit is only one measure of an organization’s success. The Green MBA recognizes that a company’s success is measured by a triple bottom line—people, planet, and profit. The Antioch MBA emphasizes balancing a company’s financial health as well as environmental sustainability, quality of work life, ethical practices, and corporate social responsibility. Students become business leaders and managers guided by meaningful purpose and clear values.

AUNE’s Green MBA is a forward-thinking business curriculum that integrates sustainability throughout the program. AUNE’s MBA features an interdisciplinary approach that better equips students to guide a business to a triple bottom line. Sustainability is woven throughout the curriculum focusing on environmental science, leadership, finance, economics, team development, and marketing. Working together with a cohort group, students develop the knowledge and skills needed to lead and manage in complex and changing environments.

2. University of Maryland University College offers the Master of Science in Environmental Management. This degree is designed to provide the skills, knowledge, and competencies that students need to function effectively in multiple environmental management settings. The courses are interrelated and provide a solid conceptual and applied foundation in environmental management.

This program provides the student with the skills to manage multi-disciplinary programs and projects dealing with the management of waste materials, pollution prevention activities associated with water, air, and soil, and the developing and implementation of effective environmental management systems. In addition, the specialization focuses on identifying options for effectively managing land and water resources for the benefit of all society.

3. Walden University’s Masters in Management has the option of a specialization in Sustainable Management which emphasizes the development of management skills that can be applied to business strategies relating to environmental and community awareness. This online program is a thirty six credit hour commitment that can be completed in eighteen months to two years. Two of the interesting course additions to this curriculum that are not always found in environmental management degree programs are in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, and in Initiating and Managing Change. Also included as an elective is Social and Environmental Responsibility in Entrepreneurship.

In Walden University’s M.S. in Management program with a specialization in Sustainable Management, students have the opportunity to receive a broad management education with a focus on the social and environmental responsibility of organizations. Program coursework covers business obligations relating to the community and environment, global awareness, and starting a business that addresses economic and social issues. Students also have the opportunity to develop skills in the areas of leadership, critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and team building.

4. Ashford University offers an MBA with a specialization in Environmental Management. This degree integrates sustainable business strategies into your education. Environmental Management specialization students learn to meet the challenges of energy, economics, and the environment.

The Environmental Management specialization gives you the strategic planning tools to respond to the next-generation economy. You will study economic forces, business risk, and alternative sources of energy.

This is an online degree that calls for the usual curriculum found in most business schools, supplemented with courses on alternative sources of energy and the economic impact of sustainability. Students are expected to emerge having learned how to use the tools necessary to compete in the next-generation economy.

5. Kaplan University Masters in International Environmental Policy. This Masters of Arts degree provides the next generation of environmental policy professionals with the skills to solve the world’s most pressing environmental problems. Their curriculum is informed by top leaders in the environmental field from government, business, and non-governmental organizations. They focus exclusively on master’s-level education that produces the best international environmental policy professionals in the world.

Their curriculum is solution oriented. They train students to be the solution – to craft effective, efficient, and just strategies to tackle the world’s toughest environmental challenges. Their courses blend theoretical and practical applications to prepare students for the job market.

The fast-paced policy world demands an evolving curriculum. They regularly create new courses to give students skills and knowledge relevant to today’s pressing environmental policy challenges. For example, in the spring of 2010 they were the first campus in the US to offer a full semester course on carbon markets.

In contrast to other U.S. programs, which still largely focus upon U.S.-policy issues, their curriculum is international in scope. Special programs such as the International Professional Service Semester program and the Development Project Management Institute Plus provide opportunities for immersive professional experiences that often lead directly to job offers.

Faculty from disciplines including economics, business, political science, conservation biology, and energy and resources teach and develop courses together. Their students can choose from a large number of electives in the Graduate School of International Policy and Management in fields as diverse as conflict resolution, development, trade policy, public administration, non-profit management and business. In addition, speaker series, symposia, conferences, and extended one-on-one time with faculty contribute to a rich learning experience outside the classroom.

They offer three tracks at the cutting edge of new career opportunities: Business, Sustainability, & Development, Energy & Climate Change, Marine & Land Conservation. They also offer the option of completing a dual-degree Masters in International Environmental Policy (MAIEP) and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in three years.