Sustainble Design In Action
Sustainable Design Careers
Curricular bridges allow students to prepare for the future in a sustainable world where ideas from many disciplines will be necessary to solve complex problems. Graduates of programs focused on sustainability, energy efficiency, and designing for climate change will enter jobs in design firms, planning agencies, industry, government, the nonprofit sector, and public policy institutes or continue preparation in a variety of graduate or professional programs. Companies will continue to align sustainability with their missions over the next several years, and job openings for sustainability specialists and other green economy occupations are expected to grow rapidly. A useful general resource on green careers is the U.S. Green Building Council. A 2014 survey by McKinsey Global reports that the number of companies aligning sustainability with their mission has more than doubled since 2010, with 43 percent of all companies emphasizing the role of sustainability. View a recorded presentation on internships and careers with program faculty and staff.
Your degree will help you build common career skills including:
- Creativity
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Computer skills
- Oral, written, and graphic communication
- Research
- Teamwork
Job Outlook & Resources
- Alta
- American Planning Association Illinois Chapter Job Board
- American Society of Landscape Architects’ JobLink
- ClimateBase
- Cyburbia’s job board
- GISjobs.com
- GovernmentJobs
- GreenBiz
- Green Dream Jobs
- A Guide to Green Careers
- Handshake @ Illinois
- Impact Opportunity—social impact jobs
- Land8 Jobs
- MCJ Collective
- National Association of City Transportation Officials
- Planetizen’s job listings
- Planners Network e-newsletter
- Planning Jobs—an employment listing developed by planners in the United Kingdom
- Shelterforce
- Teach Abroad
- Teach for America
- The Climate Designers
- USAJobs
- UX Jobs Board
- Work On Climate
Common career titles in the field include:
- Sustainability coordinator
- Urban planner
- Sustainable design specialist
- Industrial designer
- Product designer
- Green business marketer
- Architect
- Landscape architect
- Graphic designer
- Green buildings consultant
- Climate designer
The Occupational Information Network gives sustainability specialists a bright outlook because of continued expansion of job openings.
Search Handshake @ Illinois for organizations and companies seeking to hire Illinois grads. Many recent job listings like these have featured green skills:
Sustainability Coordinator
- Conservation Crew Member—WisCorps, Inc.
- Conservation Recreation Facilities Supervisor—New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- Environmental Outreach Canvasser—Greenpeace
- Environmental Specialist—Triumvirate Environmental
- Environmental Steward—Green Iowa AmeriCorps
- Forest Invasive Plant Coordinator—Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry
- Management Trainee—Inspur Systems
- Program Coordinator for Land Conservation—Mile High Youth Corps
- Program Designer and Developer—Youth Volunteer Corps
- Safety, Health, and Sustainability Coordinator—Olam
- Sustainability Manager—Alachua County Board of County Commissioners
- Sustainability Planner—Oregon Department of Transportation
- Zero Waste Captain—Live Nation Entertainment
Sustainable Design Specialist
- Environmental Specialist—GESS International U.S.
- Field Crops Extension Educator—Michigan State University Extension Human Resources
- Multiple positions—Ecolibrium3 Vista Corps
- Project Development Service Position—Habitat for Humanity International
- Stormwater Financial Specialist—Washington State Department of Ecology
- Sustainability Analyst—San Francisco International Airport
- Technical/Grant Writer for Resource Development—Sabin Vaccine Institute
Green Business Marketer
- Communications Manager—Ceres Sustainability Organization
- Company Network Associate—Ceres Sustainability Organization
- Community Outreach Coordinator—Youth Volunteer Corps
- Marketing and CSR—Harris Woolf Almonds
Green Buildings Consultant
- Graduate Sustainability Consultant—Arup
- Regulatory Certification Program Manager—Zensa
Industrial Designer
- Industrial Section Environmental Specialist—Washington State Department of Ecology
- Reducing Toxic Threats Unit Supervisor—Washington State Department of Ecology
Each year most of these organizations offer internships or summer employment focused on sustainability. Be sure to check deadlines, requirements, and opportunities for college credit before applying.
- American Wind Energy Association
- Anchor QEA
- Arup
- Cushing Terrell
- Greentarget Global Group
- Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment
- Inter-American Foundation
- International Association for Impact Assessment Work Experience Program
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Research Park
- Siebel Center for Design
- Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill
- Smart Energy Design Assistance Center
- Sustainable Student Farm
- TerraCycle
- Tesla
- Tetra Tech
- United Nations Environment Program
- United Nations Office for Sustainable Development
- Viasat
- West Michigan Action Council
- and many more options on Handshake and in the sustainable design internship log
Graduate School
Some careers may require further training or education beyond an undergraduate degree.
Accelerated Graduate Programs
Students in the B.S. in Sustainable Design can pursue any of three accelerated graduate pathways toward a Master of Urban Planning, a Master of Landscape Architecture or a Master of Fine Art in Design for Responsible Innovation. Learn more about the programs: