Environmental Studies
Who speaks for Earth and addresses the world’s big environmental challenges? With a degree in environmental studies at Fordham, you can.
You’ll tackle the most pressing issues of our times: Climate change. Habitat loss. Mass species extinction. Natural capital degradation. Environmental health. Environmental justice. Building sustainable societies.
Study both science and the humanities with a focus on policy solutions
You’ll complete interdisciplinary coursework in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to gain insight into the physical and societal causes and effects of environmental problems, integrating these disciplines in economic, political, and societal policy solutions.
Choose your major concentration and career track
Major concentrations and tracks, such as conservation biology, pre-health, environmental law, sustainable business, sustainable architecture and urban planning, environmental journalism, and sustainable agriculture, are developed through course electives, internships, study abroad, senior thesis research, and our Alumni Career Advisory Board, allowing you to graduate with a clear academic profile and strong professional resume.
Access world-class Fordham and NYC resources facilities
Resources and facilities include the following:
- Fordham's Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station
- St. Rose’s Garden (campus urban agriculture garden)
- The Campus Sustainability Program
- University partnerships with the New York Botanical Garden, the Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo, and the Bronx River Alliance (Department of Parks)
- Read more about resources and facilities here.
Study around the globe
Study abroad courses and fieldwork can take you to Denmark, South Vietnam, Australia, Africa, and elsewhere, giving you invaluable international experience. They can also count toward the environmental studies major or minor (up to four courses).
Practice in professional internships what you're studying in courses
You’ll start practicing what you’re studying now by taking advantage of internship opportunities in New York City, abroad, and in our special Bronx River Stewardship and Internship Program, incorporating professional experience into your coursework, employment resume, and graduate-school application.
Pursue your own original research
Your research in courses, study abroad, and internships culminates in the senior research thesis. You’ll spend a semester or entire year on an original research project under the guidance of faculty members, and publish your research in an online journal.
Participate in a close-knit community of learners
Environmental clubs at Rose Hill and Lincoln Center sponsored by our program allow you to participate in a close-knit community of learners beyond the classroom and pursue activities such as campus ecology projects, invited speakers, career fairs, and field trips.
Environmental citizenship and mission
You’ll serve the mission of Fordham and our program: to respect the environment, serve the greater good, and be an exemplary environmental citizen and leader.
For more information
Our Courses
ENST 1000. Introduction to Environmental Studies. (3 Credits)
This course is designed primarily to meet the requirements of environmental studies and environmental science majors. It provides an interdisciplinary overview of environmental problems from the perspective of their societal causes and effects, introducing students to environmental policy methods in the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and applied arts and sciences. Requirements include a 40 page essay blog, three class presentations, and a hands-on learning practicum outside of class (minimum 1 hr per week). Fulfills Environmental Studies and Policy Major Requirments.
Attributes: ENMI, INST, ISIN, SOIN.
ENST 3000. Environmental Research Methods. (4 Credits)
Study of interdisciplinary and statistical research methods in environmental studies. Students complete a research project. Students have the option of coordinating their research project with an internship, GIS training, funding and publication submissions, and/or preparation for the senior research thesis course (ENST 4000) required for the environmental studies major. This course fulfills the environmental major requirement in Research and Statistical Methods and the environmental studies minor requirement in Electives. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
ENST 3070. Green Architecture. (4 Credits)
A studio course in sustainable design practices for public spaces, landscapes, furnishings, or buildings. A major design project is prefaced with environmental research, technical strategies and standards, and in-depth case studies. Portfolio layouts. Field trips, workshops, lab fee, and office hours visits are required. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: URST.
ENST 3307. Environmental Politics. (4 Credits)
The course introduces students to the history and evolution of environmentalism and environmental policy in the United States and abroad. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: AMST, APPI, ASHS, ASSC, ENST, ENVS, ESEL, ESPL, INST, IPE, ISIN, PJEN, PJST, POAP.
ENST 4000. Senior Thesis. (4 Credits)
This capstone course is required for all environmental studies majors in their senior year, i.e., in one of the student’s last two semesters. Using methods in the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and applied arts and sciences, students write an interdisciplinary research thesis on an environmental problem. An internship can be used as a case study in the thesis.
ENST 4999. Environmental Studies Tutorial. (1 to 4 Credits)
Individualized reading and research under the supervision of a consenting faculty member and with the director's permission.
Courses in Other Areas
The following courses offered in other departments have the ENST attribute and count toward the Environmental Studies major and minor:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFAM 4147 | Food and Globalization | 4 |
| ANTH 2700 | You Are What You Eat: The Anthropology of Food | 4 |
| ANTH 3380 | Hazards, Disasters, and Human Experience | 4 |
| ANTH 4373 | Environment and Human Survival | 4 |
| ANTH 4722 | Primate Ecology and Conservation | 4 |
| ARHI 4555 | Art and Ecology | 4 |
| BISC 1000 | Life on the Planet Earth | 3 |
| BISC 1002 | Ecology: A Human Approach | 3 |
| BISC 1401 | Introduction to Biology I | 4 |
| BISC 1402 | Introduction to Biology II | 4 |
| BISC 1403 | Introductory Biology I | 3 |
| BISC 1404 | Introductory Biology II | 3 |
| BISC 2561 | Ecology | 3 |
| CHEM 1109 | Chemistry of the Environment | 3 |
| CHEM 1321 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| COMC 4115 | Communication and the Food System | 4 |
| COMC 4222 | Media and the Environment | 4 |
| ECON 1200 | Basic Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 3430 | ST: Sustainable Business | 4 |
| ECON 3840 | Environmental-Economic Policy | 4 |
| ECON 3850 | Environmental Economics | 4 |
| ENGL 3424 | Romantics and Their World | 4 |
| ENGL 3633 | The Enlightened Earth: American Lit and Culture After 1945 | 4 |
| ENGL 3916 | Animals in Literature | 4 |
| ENGL 4107 | Seminar: Ecology on the Edge: Climate Change and Literature | 4 |
| ENGL 4147 | Food and Globalization | 4 |
| ENGL 4216 | Animal Welfare in Literature and Culture | 4 |
| ENST 3307 | Environmental Politics | 4 |
| ENVS 3000 | Environmental Science | 3 |
| HIST 3538 | The Good Earth? | 4 |
| HIST 3564 | Environmental History of New York City: A Research Seminar | 4 |
| HIST 3990 | North American Environmental History | 4 |
| HIST 3991 | The American Indian | 4 |
| HIST 3992 | Capitalism | 4 |
| HIST 3993 | Environmental History: New York City | 4 |
| HIST 3994 | Climate and Society | 4 |
| HIST 3998 | People and Other Animals in History | 4 |
| HIST 5563 | Readings in Environmental History | 4 |
| HPLC 1603 | Honors: Natural Science I | 4 |
| HPLC 1604 | Honors: Natural Science II | 4 |
| HPRH 1101 | Interdisciplinary STEM I | 3 |
| HPRH 1201 | Interdisciplinary STEM II | 3 |
| HUST 4501 | Humanitarianism and Global Health: Unequal Access for the Displaced and Marginalized | 4 |
| INST 3100 | The Global Environment | 4 |
| LPBU 3430 | ST: Sustainable Business | 3 |
| NSCI 1020 | Physical Science: Today's World | 3 |
| NSCI 1040 | People and the Living Environment | 3 |
| NSCI 1321 | General Chemistry Lecture I | 4 |
| NSCI 1403 | General Biology Lecture I | 3 |
| NSCI 1404 | General Biology Lecture II | 3 |
| NSCI 1423 | Concepts in Biology Lecture I | 3 |
| NSCI 1424 | Concepts in Biology Lecture II | 3 |
| NSCI 1501 | General Physics Lecture I | 3 |
| NSCI 2010 | Global Ecology Lecture | 3 |
| NSCI 2060 | Environment: Science, Law, and Policy | 3 |
| NSCI 2142 | Paleoecology Lecture | 3 |
| PHIL 3109 | Environmental Ethics | 4 |
| PHIL 3712 | Global Environment and Justice | 4 |
| PHIL 3722 | Native American Philosophy | 4 |
| PHIL 3990 | Environmental Worldviews and Ethics | 4 |
| PHIL 4302 | Environmental Policy and Ethics | 4 |
| PHIL 4409 | Environmental Ethics | 4 |
| PHYS 1203 | Environmental Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 1501 | General Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 1601 | Introduction to Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 1701 | Physics I | 3 |
| PJST 3200 | Environmental Justice | 4 |
| POSC 3131 | Politics, Urban Health, and Environment | 4 |
| POSC 3307 | Environmental Politics | 4 |
| PSYC 3340 | Urban Psychology | 4 |
| SOCI 3142 | Environmental Sociology | 4 |
| SOCI 3145 | Environment Technology Society | 4 |
| THEO 4008 | Religion and Ecology | 4 |
| THEO 4520 | Animals, Angels, and Aliens: Beyond the Human in Christian Thought | 3 |
| URST 5066 | Urban Health and Environment | 3 |
| URST 5070 | Environmental History of the American City | 3 |
| VART 2050 | Designing the City | 4 |
| VART 2055 | Environmental Design | 4 |
| VART 2070 | Architectural Design I | 4 |
| VART 3055 | Ecology for Designers | 4 |