Green living and conservation education programs have become increasingly popular in the last decade due to several grants and scholarships offered in green jobs. These various jobs require anything from a certification to an advanced graduate degree in specific areas of study. This guide is designed to help you navigate the types of green living programs, types of conservation programs, sustainability programs, the jobs in green living and online green living education topics. With the increased interest in global green living, issues such as the fall of the power grid in India and other environmental concerns the need for individuals with a background in green living conservation is vital.
Types of Green Living Programs
There are several types of green living educational programs available. These programs range from certifications to advanced graduate degrees in various forms of green living. Keep in mind, that many of the programs listed here may not, at first, seem as they would fit into a green living environment. However each one of these programs deals directly with an aspect of green living where educated and knowledgeable individuals are needed.
Horticulture and Botany
Horticulture and botany are degree programs that have been around for centuries. These programs are offered at community colleges, through online certifications and through graduate degree programs. The reason that horticulture and botany are listed as green living programs a stooge the fact that these two educational majors play greatly into green living and sustainable environments. Horticulture and botanists can help with urban development, farming development and can help with ongoing agriculture needs for eco-friendly and ecological co-op living. Several green living organizations will hire horticulture and botanists to help them determine how to create sustainable living environments that are free of genetically modified chemicals.
Environmental Science
Environmental science is a leading green living degree program. Enviromental scientists with graduate degrees and doctorate degrees in the field have been hired by various agriculture programs, co-op programs and by government programs who are studying ways to create a better environment or to reduce pollution within an environment. Environmental scientists will be able to help them determine water quality, air quality and ways to increase the quality of water and air in certain areas. Environmental scientists are also used throughout the globe in underdeveloped nations to help with sustainability projects and green living projects. An environmental scientist may also be used for various real estate developments such as Cob homes and co-op ecological living environments.
Renewable Energy
Degree programs in renewable energy and solar power have seen an increase in recent years due to the various grants going into these areas. This has seen a massive increase in recent years due to the fall the power grid in India in 2012. The fall the power grid was an eye opening experience for many individuals who may not have been aware that this type of issue could affect millions of people. For this reason the United States government has put more money into renewable energy programs and backup programs for power grid generation to avoid issues such as the one that happened in India. Renewable energy graduates can work on a state, local and governmental level to help with developmental programs and with programs dealing in the conversion from standard electric to renewable energy resource development.
Types of Conservation Programs
Conservation programs are increasingly popular within green living as well. Conservation programs work to educate individuals on various forms of forestry and conservation throughout the globe. It is a common misconception that conservation programs are anti-hunting and anti-building. In fact, many conservation programs work to help in areas where there is an overabundance of predator animals and also in areas where there is a need for animal conservation efforts. Conservation programs also deal with other aspects of conservation including forestry conservation, lakes and fishery conservation and other conservation techniques. The following are a few of the types of conservation educational programs available to interested individuals.
Wildlife and Forestry Conservation
Wildlife and forestry conservation is the most popular form of conservation educational program available. The wildlife and forestry conservation programs focus on topics such as wildlife law enforcement, population management, forest ecology, forest protection, parking recreational operations and field equipment and safety. These various aspects of wildlife and forestry conservation can be gained through online certifications, degree programs and advanced programs in specific areas of wildlife and forestry. An individual with a background in wildlife and forestry conservation will generally work with a government or national park or any preservation society aspect.
Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Fish and wildlife conservation is another type of conservation program that many individuals may look into. A degree or certification in Fish and wildlife conservation can begin with an online certification and can move into fish and wildlife biology degrees. A Fish and wildlife conservation biologist will work with various organizations including fish hatcheries, fisheries and state and government parks. These types of conservationists will work to sustain the fish and wildlife in the area and to maintain proper balance between fish and wildlife conservation efforts in various areas of the world.
Forest Environmental Studies
Forest environmental studies is another degree program available to those interested in conservation. Forcest environmental studies focuses directly on forest development, forest conservation and the different renewable resources found in forests across the world. This is not limited to forests within the United States. In fact various forests located in the Amazons and in rain forest environments are also listed on forest environment of studies techniques. An individual who works for the serious programs can work for government, state and national organizations to help with forest development and with the conservation of various forests. A popular job for many individuals to go into forest environmental studies is to work in the rain forests to create a balance between those individuals who are trying to harvest rain forest supplies while still maintaining an environmental balance.
Types of Sustainability Programs
Sustainability and sustainable living programs are fairly new when it comes to green living educational programs. There are various forms of programs that are considered to be part of the sustainability educational programs system. Some of these sustainability programs are found only in certifications while others are found on advanced collegiate levels. The following are few types of sustainability programs as they relate to green living and green educational programs.
Sustainable Agriculture
The most common and most popular form of sustainability educational programs is found in agriculture. Sustainable agriculture programs are becoming increasingly popular at various colleges and universities across the country. Sustainability-based agriculture programs work to create sustainable gardening on an urban level as well as on a rural level. These graduates work with the different agricultural organizations to develop, maintain and to come up with new ideas to create sustainable organic farms that will lower pollution in the air but also will offer options to avoid crop loss. Sustainable agriculture may start as a certification online or off-line and can lead to advanced degrees in environmental science or in sustainable agriculture or agricultural science.
Sustainable Design
A degree program in sustainable design is also fairly new to many colleges and universities. A sustainable design degree will allow a graduate to work with in urban development, rural development, agricultural development and in various other forms of development across the country. Sustainable design works to create not only in agricultural sustainable base but also sustainable living base for eco-from the villages and with a goal of working towards larger and global scale sustainable design for housing projects, real estate and as a community global effort.
Sustainable Management
Sustainable management degrees are the administrative side of sustainable living. Sustainable management degrees work with sustainable agriculture, design, urban development, civil engineering, various green living organizations and with state and local governments to create management options for specific areas. Sustainable management graduates will work with state or local governments and state parks to create different management techniques and to implement these techniques with various other graduates from various degree programs. Sustainable management also works primarily with forestry and wildlife to create sustainable management programs with in certain areas. The goal of most sustainable management organizations is to create a community sustainable living effort that encompasses all aspects of sustainable living and to create a global sustainable management program that will work throughout the world in various climates and areas.
Urban Sustainable Living
There has been a growing interest in urban sustainable living within the past few years. This is led to various online degrees, certifications and classes. Though these online certifications degrees in classes may or may not be accredited, the urban sustainable living degree program or educational programs can lead into several career options in green living. An individual with a certification, class background or knowledge background in urban sustainable living can help on urban projects such as urban gardening efforts, apartment gardening efforts, organic efforts and another sustainable living effort such as energy reduction and energy efficiency. Urban sustainable living degree programs in certification programs can be found online and can lead to various other degree programs or to a fast-track career program in sustainable living.
Jobs in Green Living, Conservation and Sustainable Living
Jobs in green living, conservation and sustainable living may seem like they are difficult to come by. However there are several resources that can help an individual find a job and green living or in conservation. Sustainable living jobs may also be available on not only a government state level but also on a private sector level and as a standalone work-at-home business or freelance business. The following are a few of the jobs available in green living, conservation and sustainable living that may be available to you.
Freelance Consulting
Freelance consulting is one of the most popular jobs in green living, conservation and sustainable living. Freelance consultants can be held with businesses, homes, urban development organizations and with various community and global efforts. A freelance consultant and green living, conservation or sustainable living would go into a home, business or organization and help to determine the ways that they can switch to a green living lifestyle or ways that they can use conservation and sustainable living techniques to help in the community.
One of the most popular forms of jobs in freelance consulting is green living and energy consulting for businesses. A certified consultant would go into business and help them determine how to be more energy-efficient, where they can cut costs, and how they can convert their business into a green living business. This is especially important for businesses wanting to seek out clients who are concerned with the environment and who may see a green living label or green label as a polling point towards the business where they would otherwise have not been interested in the business at all.
Civil and Urban Engineering
Green background and degree program experience would be able to work with civil in urban engineers to help develop different real estate options, living options and to develop community efforts to create a more sustainable civil and urban engineering backgrounds. One of the most popular jobs with in this genre is for individuals with an environmental science or a sustainability management background to work with civil an urban engineer to create different real estate communities that are ecological co-ops or environmental co-ops. These communities are becoming increasingly popular across the country and have seen a huge growth in the real estate market.
Renewable Energy Jobs
Jobs in renewable energy are also becoming increasingly popular. This is due in part to the many government based grants that have become available to various energy corporations last few years. This may be due to the previously mentioned grid failure in India. The grid failure opened many eyes to what could possibly happen on a government scale as well as a global scale should a massive grid failure occur. For this reason, there have been many jobs opened through the government for renewable energy.
Renewable energy jobs can be in hydropower, solar power, sustainable power, renewable sources and even the coal industry. The coal industry has come under fire in the last several years, there are renewable energy options that should be considered and are being considered by several government officials. This is open the job market for individuals with backgrounds in these tubular areas as well as those individuals who are currently majoring in these particular areas.
Online Green Living Education
Obtaining an online green living education can be a bit tricky. It all depends on where you want to go with a degree and what you want to do with the certification. The following are a few considerations that a student should take into account before entering into an online green living educational program. These considerations cover everything from finances to accreditation.
Accreditation
The accreditations factor of an online green living educational program differs greatly on the particular programming study. For example, if you are considering a certification in forestry, conservation or in some form of urban gardening that you may or may not need in accreditation as your backing. In many cases the certification itself stands alone. However, if you're looking for advanced job than the accreditation may mean more. Remember the accreditation and association are two different things. Some individuals looking accreditation to see if the college or university or if the program itself is covered under DETC or other accreditations.
However, there are other jobs that will look toward the association rather than accreditation. For example, if you are majoring in sustainable gardening future employers for professionals in the business they look for if that program is connected with various agricultural programs or if it may be associated with the FDA. This all plays into a consideration that every student should consider prior to enrolling in online green living educational course.
Hands on Experience
The hands-on experience that is gained through brick-and-mortar universities may be exactly what a student needs in order to obtain a job in a particular green living field. For example, a certification in conservation is great for a student who wants to figure out if that is the path they want to take or for a student who will be working and informational portions of conservation such as a writing, freelance writing and guide work. However, for a person who wants to work with an actual state park or in forestry or wildlife conservation, a hands-on experience may be better suited for the job. This means that the program that has online may be good to start with but may be a detriment in later career choices.
Career Options
Career options are another consideration to take into account when considering an online degree program. Various career options may be available for certain certification programs, however other career options may be closed off if the person chooses to go through an online career program. In order to ensure that an online program is the proper choice for the particular career path, a student should contact someone who is already working in the career or an organization in the career area to determine if the degree that they are considering will work for that particular career option. Another way to find out if you're online university or college program will work with a particular career option is to contact certain job boards and ad posters to determine if your degree would meet their qualifications for future jobs.
Certification, Degree or Class
The final question when it comes to green living and conservation education programs is what type of degree program you are looking for. There are several areas and levels of degree programs available. The following is a quick discussion of each one of these options.
Certification
A certification in green living or in a green living base degree program may be a perfect option for someone who's not sure if they want to move forward in the degree program, someone who wants background knowledge for a job or someone who is going to be a writer or informational list dealing with the particular area of green living. A certification can generally be found online and is an inexpensive alternative to a 4 year degree program or even to your degree program if the student is unsure if that is where they want to go.
Degree Programs
A collegiate degree program is the prime option for individuals who wants to work professionally with in the field. For example, if you would like to work in civil engineering, environmental engineering, sustainable management or other aspect of green living than a collegiate degree is almost necessary. An associate degree is a good place to start. However, many businesses and corporations would prefer to see someone with a bachelor's degree or advanced graduate degree in specific areas. This is especially true of the science pass such as environmental science or in sustainability management. For those students considering a graduate program such as fisheries management or forestry management, a consideration should be taken into account of checking with degree program to see what types of study and emphasis areas they offer and if this emphasis areas are available for the career path that you want.
Classes and Local Courses
Standalone classes and local courses are also an option for those individuals who are considering a degree in green living. For example, if the individual is considering a degree in green living or a certification green living that deals in landscaping and urban agriculture a class in landscaping may be enough. However for the more advanced jobs a class or local course may not be enough. All depends on what type of career option you are looking at and if you want to be working as a freelancer or the local community. If you do not want to be working as a freelancer within your local community and would rather work with major organizations or governmental and state organizations that a class or local course may be wonderful for continuing education but will not be what you need in order to obtain the job in the field you are looking for.