NATURAL RESOURCES SUSTAINABILITY - Bachelor of Science

What is natural resources sustainability?

Our world is changing - and tomorrow's leaders must find new, more sustainable ways of adapting to those changes. We need more ecologically sensitive ways to produce food; alternative fuels to heat our homes and power our vehicles; and smarter ways of developing our communities. Your bachelor's degree in natural resources sustainability from Paul Smith's College will give you the tools to compete for jobs in fields like these, some of the fastest-growing industries in the United States and around the world. As part of the interdisciplinary, hands-on education offered by the NRS program, students take classes in sustainable agriculture, alternative energy and energy efficiency, and green construction. You'll gain the skills, knowledge, and experience to make a real difference in the world we live in.

What careers will the natural resources sustainability degree prepare me for?

Graduates can consider a range of careers or educational paths, including grass-roots organizing, business, and engineering.

Opportunities include:

• Managing sustainability-related nonprofits and grass-roots movements; businesses; educational institutions; and governmental and non-governmental organizations.
• Green building
• Recycling and waste reduction
• Water management
• Alternative energy and energy efficiency
• Economic development and appropriate planning
• Forestry and agriculture

Why study natural resources sustainability at Paul Smith's College?

Visit our campus and you'll see: We're an ideal place in which to live and learn about sustainability. Paul Smith's is located in New York State's Adirondack Park, a 6-million-acre expanse that has demonstrated for more than a century how humans can live side-by-side with nature; we are the largest contiguous protected area in the continental United States outside of Alaska. Adirondack communities are at the forefront of sustainability initiatives, with efforts underway to make the entire park carbon-neutral in 20 years. Furthermore, northern New York has some of the highest proportions of so-called green collar jobs anywhere in the country. Students will learn from faculty who not only are experts in their fields, but also live what they teach: Professors here manage working farms, develop sustainability plans for the region, and conduct research into sustainable combinations of forestry and agriculture.

At Paul Smith's, all of us - faculty and students - are devoted to sustainability. Each year, a campus fund devotes at least $20,000 to implementing student-designed projects that focus on promoting sustainability on campus. Every spring and summer, students tend a sustainable garden. And the college has also signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), cementing our goal of promoting sustainability initiatives on campus and in the wider community.

For information, please contact Dr. David Patrick, dpatrick@paulsmiths.edu