Undergraduate
Environmental Science & Policy
Why choose Environmental Science & Policy (ESP) as a course of study?
Our ESP major focuses on the connections between society and the environment. Our ESP program covers both environmental science, the study of the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the Earth and their interactions with humans and other organisms, and environmental policy, the study of how human impacts to the environment are regulated and managed. Our ESP program provides students with the foundational knowledge of environmental science and policy, an understanding of the connections between science and policy, and practical lab, field, and computational skills for careers in the environmental field. All majors and minors prepare students for both graduate school and immediate entry into the workforce. Our three major concentrations allow students to specialize in laboratory science, field skills, or policy and management, while our minor in Environmental Policy allows students to add an environmental background to compliment another major.
Environmental Science and Policy B.S., with Environmental Science Concentration
The Environmental Science concentration is designed for students interested in a greater focus on science. In addition to completing Calculus II and Organic Chemistry I, students choose elective courses in further areas of interest, such as wetlands and hydrology, climate and meteorology, coasts and hazards, and physical geography and geology. The Environmental Science concentration is ideal for students interested in pursuing graduate school or careers that require a stronger background in laboratory skills, chemistry, and math.
Environmental Science and Policy B.S., with Environmental Analysis Concentration
The Environmental Analysis concentration is designed for students interested in field work and geographic information systems (GIS). In addition to taking courses in environmental field work and introductory GIS, students select upper-level electives with field work (wetlands, wildlife, karst, hydrology, soils, coastal geology), GIS (remote sensing, GIS applications, forestry), or management components (water resources, hazards, planning). The Environmental Analysis concentration is ideal for students interested in pursuing graduate school or careers that require field work, GIS, and analytical skills.
Environmental Science and Policy B.S., with Environmental Policy and Sustainability Concentration
The Environmental Policy and Sustainability concentration is designed for students interested in human-environment interactions, nature and society, sustainability, and environmental policy and regulation. Students take coursework that focuses on the intersection between science and policy, laws and regulations, and sustainability. Students choose from a wide array of electives environmental science, policy, and sustainability. The Environmental Policy and Sustainability concentration is ideal for students interested in graduate school or careers that focus on environmental policy and sustainability.
Environmental Science and Policy Minor
The ESP minor emphasizes the understanding of interrelationships between social phenomena and the natural environment. It is intended to: (1) increase student awareness of these interconnections in their everyday lives; (2) introduce students to a variety of social science perspectives (including politics and policies) along with hard environmental science perspectives, that help students make sense of these connections; (3) identify the contributions of each of these perspectives to our understanding of environmental problems; (4) discuss how natural resource management and environmental policy reflect these perspectives; and (5) produce graduates who promote sustainability in all facets of human enterprise.