Environmental Sciences / Sustainability Studies, B.S.

This dual major program in Environmental Sciences and Sustainability Studies is ideal for socially curious and engaged environmental sciences students, or for sustainability-oriented students who crave a deeper technical and scientific understanding of the social phenomena they are already passionate about. A nuanced, interdisciplinary understanding of sustainability and the environment is necessary for leaders in areas like energy, urban planning and development, economics, climate change, transportation and many others. The approaches of this dual curriculum will make its graduates highly desirable on the job market by filling in significant gaps among a workforce often divided along traditional disciplinary lines as “technical” and “non-technical”. 

This dual major is fulfilled by undertaking the curricular requirements of both the Environmental Sciences major and the Sustainability Studies major. It consists of core classes in Environmental Sciences and a “track” in Sustainability Studies. An additional 12 credits (3 courses) of the HASS core are further dedicated to classes on Sustainability and social understandings of nature, the environment, and society. The student’s Science core are fulfilled by the curriculum of the Environmental Sciences, and students have flexibility in their curriculum with three free electives for deepening their learning in areas of their own choosing. Students furthermore fulfill capstone courses for both Environmental Sciences and write a research thesis in Sustainability Studies as culminating experiences.