Online Institute Offers Business Administration Degree in Energy Sustainability
Originally published by: Retrofit Magazine — January 29, 2015
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Ecotech Institute, a school in the U.S. solely focused on renewable energy and sustainability, announced that it will offer its Business Administration – Sustainability degree program and several other college courses in sustainability online. This marks a first for students seeking an online degree in sustainability and a first for the Aurora, Colo.-based school. Online degrees focused on environmental sustainability are uncommon at the associate’s degree level.
“Ecotech Institute has always been an innovator when it comes to the education of renewable energy practices and sustainability,” says Chris Gorrie, president of Ecotech Institute. “Our content is unique, advanced and highly technical. The way we teach our students should also be cutting edge and conducive to how they want to learn. We are excited to offer online courses, which will also open up Ecotech Institute for those students who want to pursue a degree at Ecotech, but were hesitant because they didn’t want to relocate.”
Ecotech Institute’s Business Administration – Sustainability degree program is designed to provide a traditional business degree with the added benefit of a concentration in environmental sustainability. Consumer expectations, economic realities and government regulations will eventually make sustainable business operations, “business as usual,” and Ecotech Institute’s graduates will be prepared to help guide organizations toward these goals.
The choice to offer online courses at Ecotech Institute comes as demand continues to rise nationally for the convenience and flexibility of online education. In fact, according to eCampus News:
- 68 percent of students said availability of online classes would be important to their educational experience;
- 77 percent of students have taken at least one online course throughout their educational careers;
- 42 percent of students said they completed online courses with better grades than in-person courses.
At this time, residents of the following sixteen states may enroll in Ecotech Institute’s online courses, while additional states will join the list once given state approval:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Vermont
- Wyoming
In addition to Business Administration – Sustainability, Ecotech Institute also offers the first two quarters online for the following associate’s degree programs:
- Residential Energy Management
- Solar Energy Technology
- Wind Energy Technology
- Renewable Energy Technology
- Electrical Engineering Technology
- Power Utility Technician
- Facility Management Technology