Environmental Studies

Transform the environmental landscape by turning passion into action.

With a focus on the social sciences and humanities, Environmental Studies introduces the Earth’s living and nonliving systems and how humans interact with and affect those systems. This program will equip you to use influential resources, such as policy, science, communication, and individual and societal behavior change, to solve environmental and sustainability problems.

CLASSES YOU MIGHT TAKE

Introduction to Global Environmental Change

This is a survey of the Earth as a planet, with emphasis on the processes that control global changes. We pay special attention to present-day issues, such as global climate change, natural hazards, air pollution, resource depletion, human population growth, habitat destruction, and loss of biodiversity.

Environmental Policymaking and Policy Analysis

Welcome to a broad introduction to U.S. environmental policymaking and policy analysis. You’ll examine the political and legal framework, become familiar with precedent-setting statutes such as NEPA, RCRA, and the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, and study models for environmental policy analysis.

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Geospatial Analysis

The course introduces the principles and practices of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and related tools of Geospatial Analysis. You’ll get hands-on experience working with GIS software.