ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM

The Environmental Studies Program is an interdepartmental program of study housed in the Environmental, Earth and Ocean Sciences Department, offering students at the undergraduate level a broad-based interdisciplinary curriculum focusing on the environment. The program was created to address the complexity of the environmental problems facing all of us in the coming years, and to acknowledge their cross-disciplinary nature. Environmental problems and solutions involve scientific, social, and political considerations. These problems range from local to global; they have an impact on economic growth, food production, human health, and the overall quality of life for all living things.
Solutions require practitioners trained to comprehend not only the functioning of the biosphere, but also the uses and limits of technology, the relationship between healthy environments and economic well-being, and the nature of public policy decision-making.

The program is aimed at students seeking to understand the underlying causes of environmental problems, and to make preserving and improving the environment part of their personal and professional lives.

The environmental studies curriculum provides breadth in understanding of environmental issues and depth of specialization encompassing the natural and social sciences. The program explores biosphere functions, economic and technological constraints, and the nature of public policy decision making. Students with an interest in the environment, regardless of their major, may complete the program of study in environmental studies.