The face of American education is rapidly changing. Traditional four year colleges are becoming increasingly unaffordable for the middle classes, while the ranks and diversity of online degrees are swelling. Many of us who work from home, or even those will employment outsides the home may want to consider online degree programs in a variety of subjects. One, that I believe to be a gateway to the future economy, is a degree in sustainability. Five years ago, many would have asked what a degree in sustainability would entail and where it would get you. Now, however, with climate change increasingly dominating our consciousness, it may be a more fair question to ask what can't you do with a degree program in sustainability. Here are five career paths that may be open to you!1. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERINGGranted, the applicant will need a background in science or engineering to take full advantage of this option, but an environmental engineering degree will open doors for sure. Environmental engineering is the application of scientific and engineering principles to projects that aim to improve our natural environment and offer an alternative to infrastructure that has, in the past, been destructive. According to indeed.com, environmental engineering salary averages about 84k, well above the national average for salaries on all job postings nationwide. The position is also very competitive in some of the largest US urban areas.2. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITYAds By Google Corporations large and small are moving beyond the mantra that "greed is good," and moving towards a position that "good is good for business." Whether they are sincere or not, it can't be argued that corporations large and small haven't been moving towards social responsibility as part of any varied business plan. Go ahead, look it up. Corporations make a very visible appeal to their customers, investors and potential affiliates that their business model is both sustainable and responsible, they are beginning to employ an increasing number of human and financial resources to that goal. With an online degree in sustainability, it is likely that these avenues will be open to you.3. GREEN CONSTRUCTION (SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, GREEN ROOF DESIGN)Green construction is another hot industry, and with more environmental regulation likely to come (we hope!), green construction is poised to compete with its non-green counterparts. In particular, online degrees will include renewable energy courses designed to introduce the student to sustainable development and energy efficiency. Green roofs are particularly in vogue, and I mean this broadly; green roofs mean anything from roof-top gardens to energy efficient insulation to the integration of solar energy and wind power into the electricity grid. Contractors large and small pay good money to people with expertise in the area, and are poised to make good money as well. Which brings me to my next gig:4. SOLAR ENERGY COMPANIESHome Solar Installation is also poised to skyrocket. If Dude, Sustainable! had its way, every roof-top west of the Mississippi would go solar, ultimately providing as much as two-thirds of the nation's energy needs. This is unlikely, but it is a business set to thrive. One Blog Off The Grid (1BOG), for example, is a wonderful service that connects you with leading solar installation specialists and offers you cost-free quote comparisons between major companies. Startups like Solar City or Sungevity are leading the way, and there are doubtless others to come as PV production becomes more efficient and less expensive. An online degree in sustainability is a ticket to work for one of these fast-growing companies as a specialist, a salesperson or account manager.* Visit 1BOG For a Free Solar Quote! If You Go Solar, You'll Be Supporting Dude, Sustainable!5. START YOUR OWN SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE BUSINESSYou have all the tools, now maybe it's time to get into the business world yourself! With the knowledge gained from an online degree in sustainability, perhaps it's time you go out and fill a desperately-empty niche. What can you do to save the environment? No doubt, if it's a promising idea, there's a market for it, and you'll be positioned to take advantage of it!Robert Nelson is blogger-in-chief at Dude, Sustainable!. Find us on Google+ or on Facebook.
