<p>What should I major in to get a "green collar job"? I'm currently enrolled as a geology major and planning to pursue a masters degree eventually. Am I on the right track?</p>
<p>The U of Wyoming has a new department dedicated to this type of program. Look at the course requirements at the bottom of this link.</p>
<p>[University</a> of Wyoming General Bulletin: School of Energy Resources](<a href=“http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/REGISTRAR/bulletin/7miscser.html]University”>http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/REGISTRAR/bulletin/7miscser.html)</p>
<p>I would also assume some bio classes would be of benefit for all the bio fuels that are being explored. Google things like Biofuel conference, <a href=“http://www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com/[/url]”>http://www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com/</a> renewable energy conference, <a href=“DISTRIBUTECH International® 2023: The leading T&D Event”>DISTRIBUTECH International® 2023: The leading T&D Event; etc and look at the speakers or the companies attending the conferences. This could give you a good idea of up and coming topics.</p>
<p>Thanks kajon I’m already attending utexas but those are some good links about renewable energy world conference.</p>
<p>I don’t like biofuels however</p>
<p>“Green Jobs” covers a very wide spectrum.</p>
<p>If you want to stay on the technical side, you will also need a strong background in both organic and physical chemistry. Some mechanical engineering would also come in handy.</p>
<p>I remember coming across an interesting energy technology program, so I’ll have to see if I can remember where it was at.</p>
<p>What don’t you like about having algae in the ocean create oil for us to use to power our airplanes?</p>
<p>“Green collar jobs” cover a wide spectrum, depending on your point of view. They could include working on:
- High tech alternative energy, like solar, wind, tidal, etc.
- Biofuels, which could be anything from food crop based ethanol (I’m not a big fan) to cellulosic ethanol to algae
- Carbon capture and sequestration of emissions from fossil fuel power plants?
- Energy efficiency investments, from better motors to stuffing insulation in attics
- Trading CO2 emission permits on futures exchanges
- Finding natural gas to replace more carbon intensive coal or oil?
- Nuclear power?</p>
<p>I think it is too early to pick winners and losers from this, or any similar list. Geology would be a great background for finding natural gas , geothermal and perhaps for carbon capture and sequestration. Not so much for photovoltaic electricity or algae to jet fuel. </p>
<p>It is always possible to get a graduate degree that is only tangentially related to your undergraduate degree. If possible, I recommend finding a field of study that you are both good at and provides you the monetary and non-monetary compensation you would like. If you have one but not the other, you are likely to be unhappy in the end. Good luck!</p>
<p>@bigtrees
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<p>I meant I don’t like corn-based ethanol fuels and the like because of the massive amounts of land, fertilizer, and other wastes that are required to obtain usable energy from these sources. Algae on the other hand sounds very promising. I haven’t made up my mind if I believe in human-caused global warming, but clean-burning fuels should still be a huge consideration IMHO. With peak oil apparently looming in the relatively near future, I wish to help in the effort to become energy independent.</p>
<p>So what major would put me in the best position to contribute? I’m not the strongest math student, but I would call my self above average…</p>
<p>Yeah, I knew what you were talking about (corn based biofuel) but wanted to encourage you to think about other kinds of biofuels before writing them off all together.</p>
<p>Many fields can lead to renewable power. There are some good examples in dadx3’s post.</p>
<p>What I would not recommend is some kind of new, special “green” major that tries to cover everything at once. A good geologist, engineer, statistician, economist, etc. could be useful as long as they are good at what they do.</p>
<p>thanks everyone!</p>