Get a green degree from the University of South Florida

With the latest development of the United Nation with respect to sustainable development goals (SDGs), these will build upon development goals and converge with the agenda post 2015. In an era where global concerns cannot be highlighted enough, experts are united in their opinion to have the next generation employees who have a solid background in sustainable development.

"With the increasing difficulties our society faces in managing scarcer and less reliable resources, it is crucial for our future workforce to be educated and trained in global sustainability practices, especially those concerning the water and renewable energy sectors," says Kala Vairavamoorthy, dean, Patel College of Global Sustainability, University of South Florida (USF).

According to him, education in global sustainability, will help the society to cope with various problems and also improve the sustainability, livability and health.

Patel College of Global Sustainability, University of South Florida (USF) offers one-year MA in global sustainability. These programmes is meant to equip students with these abilities by providing a multidisciplinary perspective of the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability.

The programme is available online, in-class as well as hybrid mode. The programme also allows students to concentrate their on water, entrepreneurship, sustainable tourism, or sustainable energy.

It is divided into 3 components that students have to complete:

• core requirements (18 credits five courses),
• at least one concentration (six credits two courses) and
• two courses from the electives (six credits)

The modules in core courses include the concepts and principles of sustainability, economics and finance for sustainability, systems thinking: the key to sustainability, and communicating the value of sustainability. Additionally, students are required to undertake a four to six-week global sustainability internship in the last semester of the programme. They can choose from product development, advanced topics in entrepreneurship, green engineering for sustainability, urban growth management and environmental ethics.

Says Vairavamoorthy, "The programme opens job opportunities in the private as well as public sector. In the private sector, graduates can work in green industries (manufacturing, architecture, and engineering) as consultants, sustainability analysts, as well as sustainability managers."

For more information visit, www.psgs.usf.edu.