People have been working on ways to manage the interaction between humans and the environment for centuries, but specialized degrees in sustainability and environmental management are relatively new. The growing field of sustainability and environmental management generally focuses on the creation of products and services in a manner which is compatible with macroscale environmental cycles and systems and does not lead to permanent depletion or disruption of those cycles and systems. Within the State of Minnesota, there are a few schools which offer specialized degrees in this field. Earning a bachelor's degree in sustainability and environmental management can open up new career doors. Within the general field of sustainability and environmental management, some graduates focus on conservation -- including wildlife preservation, protection of cultural treasures, and restoration of impaired land. Others become environmental consultants who help businesses to understand and navigate environmental laws. Environmental managers within organizations help to prevent and resolve environmental problems. Federal organizations related to environmental issues include the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Forest Service, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), and Office of Environmental Management. Private sector organizations in this field include the Environmental Defense Fund, Greenpeace, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), The Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society, and the World Wildlife Fund.

St. Mary's University (of Minnesota) is a private nonprofit university with campuses in the Twin Cities and Winona. St. Mary's offers a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in the field of Sustainable Resource Management. Hamline University is a private nonprofit university located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Hamline University's programs through its School of Business include a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in the field of Sustainable Enterprise.