Environmental Studies
Humans are rapidly urbanizing the planet, with half the Earth’s population already living in cities. At the same time, our thirst for natural resources is stronger than ever. Managing population expansion, urbanization, and resource demand in a sustainable manner will be humankind’s primary challenge in the decades to come. The Environmental Studies (ENV) program prepare students to confront this challenge with broad understanding and creative problem-solving. The curriculum combines courses in natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities to expose students to diverse theories and methodologies.
As a flourishing global center and the most populous city in the United States, New York provides an optimal classroom to probe issues of sustainable urbanization. In ENV courses, students conduct site-based studies using approaches from both natural and social sciences. This cross-disciplinary approach gives students tools to formulate innovative responses to urban problems like waste management, water treatment, air quality, and rapid growth. At the same time, students use New York City as a case study to probe issues of global sustainability. Students also take advantage of unique internship opportunities in public policy, environmental conservation, and urban resource management. By contextualizing environmental issues in their own backyard, students exercise social responsibility and community engagement.
Program Faculty:
As interdisciplinary program, Environmental Studies include faculty from assorted departments. The following full-time faculty teach courses in the program:
Ann Aguanno
Diana Epelbaum
Alessandra Leri
Matthew Lundquist
Magdalena Maczynska
Lia Leon Margolin
Erin O’Connor
Brian Reed
Benedetta Sampoli Benitez
Kenton Worcester
Environmental Studies Programs:
Major: Environmental Studies, B.A. (1917), 42 Credits
Minor: Environmental Studies, 18 Credits