Sustainable Planning and Leadership
Lead the Efforts in Creating an Environmentally Sustainable, Responsible World
The Sustainable Planning and Leadership concentration prepares graduates in the Environment and Sustainability major to immediately enter the workforce managing corporate sustainability programs, conducting research and environmental audits, becoming an independent consultant in the green economy, or they may go on to pursue an advanced degree such as a green MBA.
As a Catawba student majoring in Environment and Sustainability with the Sustainable Planning and Leadership concentration, you’ll continue to strive to become a sustainability leader in your workplace, community, and the world. By pairing this concentration with a minor (or major) in another discipline, you’ll gain a truly interdisciplinary education and skillset, leading to increased employability following graduation.
In the meantime, students majoring in the Sustainable Planning and Leadership concentration, and other Environment and Sustainability degree concentrations, have a complete set of resources at their disposal: scholarships, internships, stewardships, practicums, study abroad, and undergraduate research.
Environment & Sustainability Programs at Catawba
Learn about Environment and Sustainability degree programs at Catawba College.
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Outdoor Laboratory
Use our campus as your first outdoor laboratory as you conduct field studies and roam our 189-acre ecological preserve located in Catawba’s back yard.
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Environment Catawba Outreach
Develop leadership skills as part of Environment Catawba Outreach (ECO), the college’s campus club dedicated to raising environmental awareness on campus.
Program Details
A Leading Sustainability College in the Southeast
We look at sustainability holistically and our roles in the environment. We provide our students with the skills and knowledge to change the world. Sustainability is not just an academic program at Catawba College, but a way of life.
Next-Generation Resources
The Graham Genomics Lab allows students to engage in vital research, gaining broad and deep knowledge in a particular field, enabling them to put that knowledge to work for the common good. It features next-generation sequencing platforms from leading technology providers, including Illumina® and Pacific Biosystems. Catawba students acquire hands-on skills as they conduct research projects and work with innovative sequencing equipment, participating in multi-disciplinary, multi-platform research from concept through to data delivery and interpretation.
Outcomes
Outcomes
Careers - Environment and Sustainability majors from Catawba College are making a difference in the following positions:
- North Carolina Wildlife Officer
- Compliance Analyst
- GIS Specialist
- Environmental Analyst
- Aquarium Outreach Assistant
- Regional Director, Defenders of Wildlife
- Director, NextGen Air Transportation Consortium at NC State University
- Founder of Resiliency Lands
- Park Ranger
- Peace Corps Volunteers
Graduate Schools - Catawba College Environment and Sustainability alumni have gone on to earn graduate degrees at the following schools:
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- College of Charleston
- Duke University
- The College of William & Mary
Net Price Calculator
Net Price Calculator
Estimate your share of college costs and how much financial aid you may be eligible to receive
Our calculator is designed to give you an early indication of what type of financial aid you may qualify for if you were attending Catawba College as a first-year, transfer, online, or graduate student.
Catawba College’s Center for the Environment will host a presentation on “The Challenges of 21st Century Lion Conservation: Facing the Future” on Wednesday, November 13th, at 6:30 pm in Room 302. Packer’s presentation is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. To register, go to catawba.edu/craigpacker or call 704.637.4791.
After participating in the National Environmental Summit this past July, seven high school students from North Carolina took their learning to the next level by venturing into the wilderness as part of Catawba College’s REACH (Recreation and Educational Adventures Challenging Highschoolers) Program. These young adventurers engaged in a six-night backpacking trek through Panthertown Valley in Western North Carolina, where they camped under the stars and explored the region's rich biodiversity, including its unique plants, animals, and breathtaking waterfalls.
Catawba College is proud to announce its inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges. This recognition highlights the College’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and fostering a green-conscious campus community.
