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.
Con Brady '22 (he/him)
"Having the arboretum right on campus is perfect for ES because we can have class in an outside setting or do research right on campus."
Elena Lozano '22 (she/her)
"I am inspired by sustainability and small-scale actions that lead to large-scale change."
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.
Max Lyons '22 (he/him)
Garden Assistant - Marlene's Gardens
"Helping manage a community garden in a remote fishing village has given me valuable insight."
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."
