Unity Environmental University Announces Launch of Six New Academic Programs

Unity Environmental University announces the expansion of our Sustainable Food Systems and Sustainable Hospitality and Tourism programming suites. The expansion includes six new programs designed to prepare students for future careers in the rapidly growing green economy. These new offerings are part of the university’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Innovative Programs in Food System Sciences

In addition to our recently released B.S. in Agroforestry and Sustainable Horticulture, our B.S. programs in Regenerative Agriculture, Food Equity and Health, and Food Business and Culinary Entrepreneurship, alongside the M.P.S. in Sustainable Food Systems, establish Unity Environmental University as a leader in food system sustainability education. These programs, which are intricately designed to meet the challenges of our time, will prepare graduates to drive change in food production, distribution, and policy, contributing to a more sustainable and equitable global food system.

They address a critical need in today’s economy, where the United States spends over $1 trillion annually on food and farming. Despite this investment, representing about 5% of the GDP, the negative impact on health and the environment from poor nutrition and harmful production systems has resulted in an estimated additional cost of $2.2 trillion. That means for every $1 spent on food, the U.S. generates $2 of unintended consequences.

“At Unity, we’ve designed our food system programs with the intention of reversing that trend,” says Director of Sustainable Food Systems and Food Science Programs Dr. Sebastian Kretschmer. “Food system science is multi-disciplinary, so we have created a landscape of programs, including agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and others with each program offering a portfolio of key concepts and strategic frameworks while imparting the qualifying skills that are needed to lead this transformation.”

The New Programs:

B.S. in Regenerative Agriculture: Focuses on sustainable agriculture practices and climate change mitigation, preparing students for careers in agribusiness and environmental sustainability.

B.S. in Food Equity and Health: An interdisciplinary program combining geography, nutrition, public health, and sociology, aimed at addressing inequalities in nutrition and health.

B.S. in Food Business and Culinary Entrepreneurship: Merges culinary arts with sustainability, preparing students for careers in sustainable food service and management.

MPS in Sustainable Food Systems: Offers an in-depth understanding of global food system challenges with a focus on sustainability and social equity.

Expanding Master’s Programs in Hospitality and Tourism

Further strengthening Unity Environmental University’s offerings, two new Sustainable Master of Business Administration programs are being introduced, adding to our suite of hospitality and tourism programs launched over the winter. These programs aim to reshape the tourism and hospitality industry towards more sustainable practices.

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council’s 2022 report, the Travel & Tourism sector contributed 7.6% to global GDP, marking a 22% increase from 2021 and nearing pre-pandemic levels. This significant growth emphasizes the importance of Unity Environmental University’s expansion into hospitality and tourism, aligning with an industry that is vital for global economic health and ripe for sustainable innovation.

The New Programs:

SMBA in Parks and Outdoor Recreation: Combines business principles with sustainability, preparing students for leadership in sustainable outdoor recreation management.

SMBA in Sustainable Tourism & Hospitality: Aims to reshape the tourism and hospitality industry towards sustainability, focusing on environmental stewardship and sustainable business practices.

Vision for the Future

Unity Environmental University remains at the forefront of pioneering AI technology in higher education.  Our new programming aims to take advantage of AI by employing learning didactics and opportunities that transcend the mere use of AI-Bots to generate assignments by stimulating creative and collaborative problem-solving. We look to foster not only innovation but also collaboration and sustainable practices.

“We at Unity Environmental University are not just leveraging the power of AI; we are redefining its role in education. As we expand our programming suites, our goal is to contribute to a more sustainable world,” said Unity Dr. President & CEO Melik Peter Khoury. “These programs are not just about education; they are about equipping the next generation with the tools they need to make a significant, positive impact on our planet. In the coming months, Unity Environmental University plans to unveil the launch of several more majors in high-demand environmental fields.”

We invite students, educators, and industry professionals to explore these new programs and join us in shaping a more sustainable future. Enrollment is now open.