Interdisciplinary Studies
Environmental Science and Sustainability Major
As an Environmental Science and Sustainability student, you'll explore the natural world and the humans who call it home. You'll gain insights and abilities to make the world more environmentally sound, equitable, just, and sustainable. You won’t just study the environment — you'll improve it.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY AT A GLANCE
Top 5
ESS program in the nation
100
Of all majors complete at least three real-world projects that appear on their resumes; 50% of all majors participate in a related internship; environmental study abroad opportunities are available on every continent.
Your Four-Year Journey
Students often combine Environmental Science & Sustainability with a major or minor, in Art, Science, and Innovation, Biology, Education Studies, Global Health Studies, Spanish, or Studio Art.
Understanding
In your first year you will take Introduction to Environmental Science and discover that, at the college level, ESS is far more interdisciplinary than AP Environmental Science. The class covers agriculture, conservation, energy, and climate change but also teaches you to use art, psychology, ethics, politics, and economics to complement what you know about science. Life Cycle Analysis and patterns of consumption take center stage. Assignments include providing solutions to environmental challenges on campus and in the community.
New Approaches
This is the year that ESS classes enhance your ability to think, read, speak, and write critically (ENVSC 270) and engage methods used by ESS professionals to solve environmental problems (ENVSC 210). You will begin to explore classes and internships to complement your ESS classes. Approximately one-half of classes for the ESS major are electives students choose after consulting with their faculty advisors.
Delving Deeper
Year three is when you become an ESS professional. The Junior Seminar in Sustainable Development (ES 585) comes together with study abroad, internships, research opportunities, and classes from around the College and around the world as you develop into a global thinker and actor.
The Comp
Time to select the project you care most about to spend a year on it with your faculty advisor. Almost every student reports back that their ESS Senior Comp was the most satisfying thing they did at Allegheny College. You can even show your Comp to prospective employers!
BE PREPARED FOR CAREERS AND GRADUATE EDUCATION.
Successfully prepare environmental solutions with regional stakeholders.
Solve real-world problems to prepare to craft an outstanding Senior Comp.
Design, conduct, and present research consistent with the highest standards.
Alumni Careers — A Sampling
Brianna O’Neil-Hankle, Alumna
Class of 2020, Environmental Science Major, Mathematics Minor
“ The professors have an amazing breadth of knowledge about environmental topics. Each professor has a different area of expertise, but it is great how they can combine their knowledge to give their students a very well-rounded education. ”
