Environmental studies encompasses climate, geology, policy and economics.
For most of history, humans have been at the mercy of the environment. While events such as floods, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions and weather patterns are still out of our control, in the past century, human activities have influenced the Earth, as well. Topics such as global climate change, resource depletion, sustainable agriculture and population increase are more pressing than ever. Environmental studies programs train the next generation of scientists, businesspeople and other professionals to help solve these significant issues.
Arizona State University
Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, offers a Bachelor of Arts in Earth and Environmental Sciences. The program requires 120 credits and prepares students for careers in fields such as education, environmental consulting, resource management and public planning. Required courses include geology, oceanography, calculus and biology, chemistry or physics.
University of Oregon
The University of Oregon's Environmental Studies Program offers an interdisciplinary focus, with more than 100 faculty members from 30 programs within the university. Located in Eugene, Oregon, the department offers bachelor's and master's degrees in Environmental Science and Environmental Studies, and a doctorate program in Environmental Studies, Sciences and Policy. Undergraduate degrees prepare students to work in fields such as environmental planning, green investment and wildlife biology. Graduate degrees can lead to careers in government, research, management or instruction. The school's Environmental Leadership Program offers hands-on experience for students as volunteers or interns in nonprofit organizations, government agencies or businesses.
University of California Santa Cruz
The University of California Santa Cruz's Environmental Studies department offers undergraduate and doctoral degrees in four topic areas: agroecology, conservation biology, environmental policy and political economy. Students participate in internships that prepare them for work in fields such as sustainable agriculture, habitat restoration, policy advocacy or biodiversity research. Required graduate courses include public policy and conservation, social theories of nature and property rights and the environment.
Brown University
Brown University's Center for Environmental Studies, located in Providence, Rhode Island, offers an A.B. in Environmental Studies, a Sc.B. in Environmental Science, and a M.A. in Environmental Studies. Students must choose a concentration from options such as environmental justice, environmental health and policy, international environmental policy, environmental stewardship or religion gone wild. Students must complete an original thesis project.
Dartmouth
Dartmouth's Environmental Studies Program, located in Hanover, New Hampshire, was founded in 1970 and is one of the oldest such programs in the U.S. Undergraduate degrees require courses in economics, the physical sciences and calculus, as well as electives in topics such as environmental problem analysis, environmental law, and population, consumption and sustainability. Dartmouth also offers a Ph.D. in Earth, Ecosystem and Ecological Sciences, an interdisciplinary program that incorporates work in biology and the earth sciences. The department also offers a foreign study program in South Africa with a focus on population and health, ecotourism, land and water use, resource management and wildlife management.
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