Why Choose Environmental Studies?
The program focuses on the complex interrelationship among fields that impact environmental ideas. These include:
- science
- politics
- economics
- ethics
- aesthetics
It broadens both science and non-science majors’ environmental education in ways that can help everyone prepare for future careers in the fields of environmental policy or education. For students who are planning careers in science or engineering, the program provides crucial background for understanding the social contexts in which their work will take place.
The Approach
Environmental studies is designed for students in the School of Liberal Arts, or for science and engineering students to be taken as a second major.
As an environmental studies major, you will concentrate on solving complex environmental problems as they relate to the humanities, social sciences, biology and ecology. Course topics include:
- Animal Behavior
- Environmental Law & Politics
- Environmental Literature and Ecocriticism
- Energy and the Environment
- Science, Technology and Society
- Environmental Ethics
- Religion and Environmentalism
- Urban Planning
The Experience
You will have many opportunities to have your voice heard and make a difference on and off campus.
Our Center for Urban Resilience and Environmental Sustainability (CURES), one of the College’s most active organizations, supports research, teaching, and community outreach in the areas of urban resilience, sustainability and environmental justice.
Opportunities with CURES include:
- On-campus lectures by notable environmental activists, lawyers, scientists and engineers
- Annual events such as the Institute in Water Pollution Control
- Academic research with our expert faculty
- An urban agriculture internship developing a rooftop garden
New York City also is home to many environmental groups and agencies. Relevant internships can be found through the Center for Career Development.