Digital learning has been steadily growing over the last several years and it is a major trend for 2014. According to Trends Journal people will definitively overcome their misgivings about online education this year. Online learning will continue to expand in 2014 and nowhere is this more in evidence than in the business community. Sustainability and environmental concerns are destined to garner even more attention in 2014 and this is especially true of online learning opportunities.
There are a vast assortment of online environmental study options. Online curriculums run the gamut from short webinar style courses to programs that offer advanced degrees. These online programs are often geared towards working professionals who can increase their knowledge while studying at their own pace. Studying online affords a great deal of flexibility that accommodates a busy schedule. While many of these courses require payment, a growing number are free. Here are almost 20 examples of environmentally themed online education from the past, present and future.
MIT
One of the first and best known is the MIT’s OpenCourseWare. But there are many others that are dedicated to sustainability and a science based understanding of environmental matters.
Commonground University
For several years now Commonground University has been offering a wide number of courses with an environmental themes. This includes courses like Environmental Site Assessments and Environmental Due Diligence: Principles & Practices. For more information click here.
Green Masters Programs
There are also a number of online green masters programs that offer at least some of the course material online. This includes programs at:
Alliant International University
Anaheim University Online Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Management
Anaheim University Kisho Kurokawa Green Institute Online Diploma in Sustainable Management
Anaheim University Online MBA in Sustainable Management
Argosy University Master of Business Administration
Argosy University Online Doctor of Business Administration
Colorado Technical University Online Master of Business Administration
Green Mountain College Online MBA in Sustainable Business Practices
Green Mountain College Sustainable Business Certificate (Sustainable Business Leadership Program)
Marylhurst University Master of Business Administration in Sustainable Business
Marylhurst University Online MBA in Sustainable Business – Renewable Energy
New Jersey Institute of Technology Graduate Certificate – Environmental Sustainability
San Francisco Institute of Architecture MBA in Sustainability Distance Learning Program
South University Master of Business Administration – Sustainability
Walden University Online MBA Concentration in Sustainable Futures
Walden University Online MS in Leadership with a Specialization in Sustainable Futures
For more information click here.
Green Education Online
One of the oldest providers of online curriculums is Green Education Online provides a number of options to pursue sustainable learning for the adult learner. They use an online training module format that students across the world have been using for years. The Green Education Online library was the first of its kind to offer affordable training from a plethora of available methods including: text, You Tube videos, PDF’s, and links from DOE and EPA and others.
For more information click here.
UNESCO’s Young Master Programme
In 2011 UNESCO inaugurated a global online education programme for 16–18 year-old students to learn about sustainability issues and solutions. The Young Masters Programme (YMP) is a free global web-based education and learning network about sustainable development. The programme is open for secondary students and their teachers from all over the world. Extensive on-line teaching material gives the students a thorough understanding of sustainability issues and preventive environmental strategies. The students can also put their knowledge into practical use by starting sustainability projects in their local community.
For more information click here.
Ecotech: Introduction to Sustainability
In 2013, Ecotech Institute began offering its first free online course titled “Introduction to Sustainability.” This ten-week course offers education on a wide variety of sustainable topics. This is Ecotech’s first “massive online open course” (MOOC) through the Canvas Network.
For more information click here.
Global Warming: The Science of Climate Change
Last fall the Coursera offered a free 8 week online science based class on global warming. This class described the science of global warming and the forecast for humans’ impact on Earth’s climate. It brings together insights and perspectives from physics, chemistry, biology, earth and atmospheric sciences, and even some economics. The simple mathematics underlying these differing approaches is the only background one needs. It is an accessible, multidisciplinary tour of climate science for a general audience. This class is an updated version of Open Climate 101, which ran a few years ago. Open Climate 101 was a massive open online class (MOOC) and was disseminated from a computer at the University of Chicago.
For more information click here.
Permaculture Design Course
The free Permaculture Design Course is a complete online self-paced program where participants can learn from world-class instructors. The complete 72+ hour Permaculture Design Certificate Course covered a wide range of issues from the business of permaculture to waste recycling and treatment
For more information or to register click here.
Marylhurst University Online MBA
One of the first to explore the new frontier of digital pedagogy, Marylhurst University offers online green MBA degree programs.
For more information click here.
Duke Environmental Leadership’s Master of Environmental Management (MEM) Degree
The Duke Environmental Leadership’s Master of Environmental Management (MEM) degree empowers environmental professionals to be leaders within their organization and tackle complex environmental issues.
MEM Students choose one specialized concentration for study including Coastal Environmental Management (CEM), Ecotoxicology and Environmental Health (EEH), Energy and Environment (EE), Environmental Economics and Policy (EEP), Global Environmental Change (GEC) and
Water Resources Management (WRM).
To learn more click here
Intro to Sustainability
This course took place in the summer of 2013. It is a MOOC from the Canvas Network
For more information click here.
The Age of Sustainable Development
A free, online 14 week course on Sustainable On behalf of Dr Edmund Winters: Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University. Connecting People. Fostering Innovation. usdn.org The Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) is a peer-to-peer network of local government professionals from cities across the United States and Canada dedicated to creating a healthier environment and economic prosperity.
Click here for more information.
Global Warming: The Science of Climate Change
This free 8 week online science based class on global warming is an updated version of Open Climate 101, which ran a few years ago. Open Climate 101 was a massive open online class (MOOC) and was disseminated from a computer at the University of Chicago. The new class is called Global Warming: The Science of Climate Change and has been entirely redone using the Coursera platform which offers a suite of on-line interactive models.
University of Chicago, starts on March 31, 2014.
For more information click here.
Climate Change in Four Dimensions
University of California, San Diego, Starts January 06, 2014
Click here for more information
Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4°C Warmer World Must be Avoided
The World Bank Starts on January 27, 2014
Click here for more information.
Energy the environment and our future
The Pennsylvania State University Starts January 06, 2014
Click here for more information
How Green Is That Product? An Introduction to Life Cycle Environmental Assessment
Northwestern University, Starts January 25, 2014.
Click here for more information.
Creating an Ethical Corporate Culture
The knowledge and tools needed by business executives, managers, and supervisors to create and sustain an ethical culture in their company, department, or work group. Learn the four basic strategies you can use to create a culture of ethics and the ten tools you’ll need to shape and strengthen that culture.
Click here for more information.
Water and Sanitation Policy in Developing Countries
Another accredited Coursera study program has been announced that will provide free online access to important information about water sanitation policy. This spring the University of Manchester will offer a new Massive Online Open-Access Course (MOOC) on water and sanitation policy in developing countries. The course is free and open to everyone. The Global Water Partnership has endorsed this MOOC.
For more information click here.
© 2014, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.
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