Envioronmental Studies - The Program
Program Highlights
Brandeis 's environmental studies major, new in 2007-2008, includes some special dimensions:
- Hands-on experience. To equip students for real-world problem solving, environmental studies offers extensive hands-on learning through a number of field-based courses. In some courses, students work with community partners to address current issues facing local communities. Our students also are placed in individually tailored internships where they work alongside environmental professionals in the field.
- Mastering skills. Environmental studies students also begin to master research, report writing, oral communication, mapping, web site development, and problem-solving skills that equip them for their later work and studies-whether or not they pursue a career in an environmental field.
- Integrated learning. In order to help students integrate their studies, we strongly recommend that students either undertake an environmental field study program abroad or participate in the new Brandeis Environmental Field Semester. The Environmental Field Semester gives students intensive experience in the conservation and stewardship of land, using local communities as our living laboratory. In the process students will gain an in-depth understanding of the history, ecology, laws, and politics behind how land is used.
Curriculum Overview
Students pursuing the environmental studies major take thirteen courses offering breadth, depth, and integration of their learning along with practical skills. There are three required courses:
- the interdisciplinary foundation course Environmental Issues,
- Geographic Information Systems (mapping),
- and an environmental internship or senior essay.
Students also take core courses in each of four areas:
- environmental economics and law,
- environmental history,
- ecological sciences, and
- physical sciences.
This allows for breadth across disciplines. Students can delve deeper into areas of interest to them with six electives from a wide range of courses across the natural and social sciences and humanities.
The environmental studies minor consists of six courses, including Environmental Issues.
Requirements for Environmental Studies Major and Minor at a Glance
Career and Educational Options
Students who have created their own majors in environmental studies in past years have gone on to pursue a wide range of careers in environmental management, law, the sciences, education, medicine, and other fields and are working with environmental agencies, schools, conservation and ecology organizations, consulting and law firms, and many others. A number of students have gone on to earn graduate degrees in conservation biology, ecology, law, environmental management, and forestry;others have studied architecture, economics, history, medicine, pharmacy, public health, and vetterinary medicine, often with an environmental bent.
Faculty
Following is a list of Faculty members and their areas of specialization:
- Dan Perlman, chair
Conservation biology, ecology
- Laura Goldin, advising head
Environmental law and social justice,
sustainability, environmental internships
- Linda Bui
Environmental economics
- Brian Donahue
Environmental history, forestry, agriculture
- Caren Irr
Nature Writing
- James Morris
Evolution, environmental health
- Eric Olson
Conservation biology, ecology
- Timothy Rose
Environmental chemistry
- Sara Shostak
Environment, health, and society
- Carmen Sirianni
Civic environmentalism
- Eva Thorne
Sustaining Development
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