Want to create a sustainable society? There’s a variety of degrees you can earn to fit your passions and skills – right around the corner.

In a world faced by issues like climate change, pollution, and natural resource depletion, degrees and certificates focusing on redefining our relationship with the natural world are vital.

Whether you study environmental engineering to build more efficient waste systems or a more general ecological studies degree to keep your options open, you’re setting yourself and our planet on a greener path.

Whether you’re in high school or considering going back to school for a degree, here are options available around Philadelphia.

For those interested in working with construction and architecture:

Certificate: Energy Conservation at the Community College of Philadelphia, Sustainability and Green Construction at Drexel

Masters: Sustainable Design at Jefferson

For those with engineering in mind:

Certificate: Sustainable Engineering at Villanova

Bachelors: BS in Environmental Engineering at Drexel or Temple

Masters: MS in Sustainable Engineering at Villanova, MS in Environmental Engineering at Temple or Drexel

PhD: Sustainable Engineering at Villanova, Environmental Engineering at Temple or Drexel

For those interested in shattering typical corporate standards from the inside:

Certificate: Corporate Responsibility Proficiency Certificate at Community College of Philadelphia

For those unsure of exactly what they want to do in sustainability:

Certificate: Sustainable Leadership at Jefferson, Sustainability at Temple

Bachelors: BS in Environmental Science at Villanova, Temple, or Drexel; BA in Environmental Studies at Villanova, Temple, and Drexel

Masters: MS in Environmental Science at Villanova, MS in Environmental Science or Environmental Policy at Drexel

PhD: Environmental Science at Drexel

For those with an affinity for water:

Certificate: Urban Water Resources Design at Villanova

Masters: MS in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering at Villanova

PhD: Water Resources and Environmental Engineering at Villanova

For those interested in agriculture and food:

Bachelors: BS in Horticulture at Temple, Minor in Sustainable Food Systems at Temple

It’s important to remember that you don’t necessarily need to major in (or even study sustainability!) in order to work in the environmental field.

Almost any area of study, from English and Mathematics to Graphic Design and Business, can help you find work in a sustainable organization and contribute to the cause. Use these programs as a starting point for thinking about how your skills, experiences, and preferences can best be used to meet your own needs to create a sustainable society.

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Madeleine Jones, who goes by her last name, is the Editorial Intern at Green Philly. She is new to Philadelphia and recently graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, with a bachelor's in Environmental Studies and International Studies. Jones spends her free time with her nose buried in books, sampling Philly's vegan restaurants, fawning over her pet mouse, and filling out job applications. View all posts by Jones