Environmental Sustainability
Environmental sustainability studies how human societies can meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Achieving this goal requires balancing short- and long-term needs related to jobs and economic growth, societal well-being, and environmental health.
Students may pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in any of the following options:
- Science and Natural Resources
- Culture and Society
- Planning and Management
Want to learn more?
Recent OU Environmental Sustainability Alumni
Current Careers:
- Environmental Programs Specialist II at Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
- Air Quality Program Coordinator at Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
- Brand & Content Strategist at Opower in San Francisco
- Business Development at CleanTX in Austin
- City Planner for the City of Amarillo
- District Executive for Boys Scouts of America in Oklahoma City (OKC)
- Field Scientist at Terracon in Katy, TX
- Freshest Cargo Route Manager at Fresh Approach in San Francisco
- GIS Specialist at LandWorks, Inc. in Houston, TX
- Director of Marketing and Communications at CleanTX in Austin
- Retail Strategy Architect of Digital Innovation in Norman
- GIS Specialist for Brownsfields Program for Oil and Gas Conservation Division of OK. Corp. Commission
- Health and Safety Executive (HES) Officer. Innospec Oilfield Services in OKC
- Insurance Agent at Kemper in Georgia
- Associate Planner and Program Coordinator at the Office of Sustainability in OKC
- Quality Control Analyst at Cyanotech in Hawaii
Current Post-Graduate Education:
- Ph.D. student in Urban Planning at Arizona State University
- Master of Science in Natural Resource and Ecology Management, Fisheries and Aquatic Ecology at Oklahoma State University
- Master of Urban and Regional Planning at Portland State University
- Master of Arts in Public Administration at The University of Oklahoma
- Master of Arts in Geography at The University of Oklahoma
- Master of Science in Environmental Sustainability at The University of Oklahoma
Career Options in Environmental Sustainability
Government
- Sustainable community planner
- Green economic developer
- National Park ranger
- Municipal water conservation program manager
- Green team leader for city government
- Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
- Oklahoma Water Resources Board
- United States Environmental Protection Agency
- United States Office of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
- United Nations Sustainable Development Officer
Business
- Green energy entrepreneur
- Corporate social responsibility manager
- Environmental consultant
- Energy auditor
- Environmental journalist
- ISO certification specialist
Nonprofit
- Executive director of a local environmental nonprofit
- State-level engagement coordinator for Greenpeace
- Fundraising and grant writer for Sierra Club
- Communications manager for World Wildlife Fund
Helpful Resources
For further information about studying Environmental Sustainability, please refer to:
- General Catalog (College of A&GS section) https://ou-public.courseleaf.com/atmospheric-geographic-sciences/
- Dept. of Geography and Environmental Sustainability site http://geography.ou.edu
- Contact the Chair of the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, Dr. Scott Greene at jgreene@ou.edu or the Undergraduate Adviser, Jamie Steele at jamie@ou.edu
