Environmental Studies Department
"It's important to study environmental studies because environmental studies can unlock the keys to the world."
Conservation. Business. Activism.
Government. Education. Consulting.
Justice & Equity. Outdoor Recreation.
Engineering. Renewable Energy.
And So Much More.
Meet Our Students Meet Our Faculty Meet Our Graduates Environmental & Racial Justice Job & Internship Postings
In the Classroom
research the challenges we're facing as individuals and as a species
- Undergraduate research and experiential learning are key pillars of the major, including summer research assistantships, internships, field experiences, and a capstone thesis project completed during the senior year.
think critically from many perspectives
- Majors choose from a range of environmentally oriented courses anchored in different disciplines - art, communication, ecology, economics, ethics, literature, history, sociology, and other fields.
create & communicate system-wide solutions
- The major is grounded in a core set of interdisciplinary courses that approach environmental questions in a variety of contexts: food, energy, gender, ecology, policy, and more.
Jack Grabinski '23 (he/him/his)
"I enjoyed Intro to Geographic Informations Systems. In this class, I learned about cartography, working with geographic data sets, and making maps on the GIS software. I'm kind of a nerd for maps and working with data sets, so this class was a perfect fit for me."
Miriam Nelson '23 (she/her/hers)
"When you think you need it (and sometimes even if you don't), ask for help. Your professors can be your most important resource on campus, and if you ask, they may be able to assist you with whatever your questions or concerns may be."
build meaningful relationships with mentors
- Six department faculty in all different fields, plus environmental course taught by contributing faculty across campus.
- Environmental studies major Jack Pieper '21 and George Maurer '88 connect as artists and as Johnnies. [video]
In the Community
build solutions to the climate crisis, the biggest crisis of our time
- CSB/SJU student delegates attend the United Nations climate negotations each year as part of our Global Climate Policy class. The students conduct original research at the COP. Learn more.
CSB/SJU environmental studies hosted the Minnesota power dialog on climate change and justice. Events were held in all 50 states on April 7, 2020 - check out the videos!
learn through internships, service, recreation, and employment
- All majors complete a 1-credit internship, typically after the spring of junior year.
Thomas Hobday '24 (he/him)
Summer Camp Instructor - Montana Natural History Center
"I helped foster in kids a sense of wonder and appreciation for the environment by taking them to different natural locations around Missoula, Montana and giving them lessons on the natural world around them."
Mariko Hermerding '23 (she/her)
Summer Programs Support Intern - Happy Dancing Turtle
"Thanks to my time at Happy Dancing Turtle, I understand how non-profits operate and with this experience I feel more confident going into the future."
Madeleine Partch '21 (she/her)
Saint John's Abbey Arboretum - Student Land Manager
"Seeing the results and understanding the benefits of the work I was doing made going to work really exciting."
