More than ever before, the world needs leaders who will advocate for sustainability in every situation. If you are passionate about climate change, food systems, biodiversity, water access, environmental justice, or any other aspect of sustainability, you could be one of those leaders. While you’re at U-M, consider taking your interest to the next level. This menu of options is designed to help you leverage the opportunities available so that your sustainability interest can flourish.
Graduate Degrees
- Behavior, Education and Communication
- Business Administration – ESG Concentration
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Climate Change Solutions (Certificate)
- Climate Impacts and Solutions
- Climate Justice, Health, and Sustainability (Certificate)
- Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering
- Ecosystem Science and Management – Conservation Ecology
- Energy Systems Engineering
- Environmental and Energy Law
- Environmental Health Sciences
- Environmental Justice (Master’s or Certificate)
- Environmental Policy and Planning
- Geological Sciences
- Geospatial Data Sciences – Environmental Informatics
- Industrial Ecology (Certificate)
- Landscape Architecture
- Occupational & Environmental Epidemiology
- Public Policy and Affairs
- Spatial Analysis (Certificate)
- Sustainability (Certificate)
- Sustainability and Development
- Sustainable Systems
- Urban and Regional Planning
Graduate Co-Curriculars
- There are a variety of Dual Degree programs offered through Rackham for graduate students to combine interests across colleges at U-M. Investigate specific college pages on Dual Degree opportunities to learn more.
- The Catalyst Leadership Circle Fellowship is a competitive summer research experience, where graduate students help Michigan communities advance sustainable, equitable practices to reach their climate and energy goals. Participating students will be ready to enter the workforce in sustainability careers after gaining hands-on, applied knowledge.
- The Environmental Law and Sustainability Clinic provides opportunities for law students to litigate and develop policies to protect natural resources and the environment.
- The Dow Sustainability Fellows Program supports graduate students who are committed to finding interdisciplinary, actionable, and meaningful sustainability solutions on local-to-global scales. The competitive program prepares future sustainability leaders to make a positive difference in organizations worldwide.
- There are many options for graduate student employment opportunities across U-M sustainability. The Office of Campus Sustainability and Innovation, Student Life Sustainability, Michigan Dining, the Graham Sustainability Institute, and the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum post both work-study and non-work-study positions on the Michigan Student Employment website regularly.
Courses
Sustainability courses are offered across a broad range of disciplines and departments. Look for courses using the Sustainability Special Offering filter in the LSA Course Guide.
PBA Training
The Planet Blue Ambassador program is the entry point to sustainability at the University of Michigan for students, staff, and faculty. The training covers campus sustainability goals, progress to date, and how each of us can help contribute.
Resources
- The Maize and Blue Cupboard provides free food and personal care products to anyone with an M-Card.
- U-M labs can reduce waste and save money by reusing chemicals, lab equipment, and materials with the help of the Lab Reuse Program. Labs can donate excess supplies and pick up new materials for free.
Funding
- The Planet Blue Student Innovation Fund (PBSIF) provides up to $30,000 for ambitious, student-initiated projects that reduce the university’s environmental footprint and promote a culture of sustainability on campus.
- The Social and Environmental Sustainability Grant (SES) provides up to $2,500 per project for students and/or student organizations that are leading small-scale projects, events, or initiatives that address campus environmental and social sustainability.
- The Student Food Empowerment Fund provides up to $400 for culturally relevant foods for student events and up to $1,200 for student-led events about food, food justice, or food sovereignty. The grant also provides up to $3,000 to support students and their long-term food sovereignty projects. This grant is open to any registered student organization at U-M Ann Arbor.
Honors Cord
The Excellence in Sustainability Honors Cord program is designed to recognize students who go above and beyond to advance their knowledge, skills, and practice of sustainability ethics while studying at U-M. Students may apply to the program their senior year to receive a Sustainability Honors Cord.
Contact
For more information about these programs or sustainability at U-M, contact [email protected].