As industries from agricultural to manufacturing work to confront climate change issues, a new job market is emerging for professionals who can accurately quantify and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of businesses. To help train professionals for these careers, Colorado State University has launched a new Masters of Greenhouse Gas Management and Accounting degree that combines environmental knowledge with quantitative and technical skills.
Reducing emissions
“Nearly every nation in the world has agreed that we must reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, but assembling the knowledge and skills to achieve that goal has been a challenge,” said Rich Conant, professor of ecosystem science and sustainability at CSU and a leader of the MGMA program. “CSU has created a program that delivers that knowledge and trains graduates to be able to lead sustainable business management plans that can calculate greenhouse gases and effectively reduce them.”
Top university for sustainability
CSU is ranked as the top university in the nation for sustainability, and is home to leading researchers and programs dedicated to issues of environmental sustainability, climate change, and greenhouse gas issues. Most recently, CSU professors helped co-author the National Climate Assessment Report and the USDA report Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in Agriculture and Forestry: Methods for Entity-Scale Inventory. They are also leading the U.S. hub of Future Earth, a 10-year international research initiative to address and respond to global environmental changes.
The MGMA program is offered by CSU’s Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, and showcases CSU’s diverse greenhouse gas expertise by combining curriculum from the University’s Warner College of Natural Resources and College of Business.
Interdisciplinary degree
The interdisciplinary degree enables students from a wide variety of academic and professional backgrounds, such as environmental studies, business, engineering and agriculture to develop the skills needed for professions in greenhouse gas management and accounting. The degree requires 37 credit hours to complete, provides internship experience, and is typically completed in three semesters.
The MGMA program will start its first cohort of students in fall 2015, and is accepting applications through February 2015.
