Environmental Studies
Environmental studies is a major at the interface of the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities which has been designed to address the societal causes and effects of, and policy solutions to, environmental problems such as climate change and prepare students for rewarding environmental careers in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.
The major offers a rigorous academic degree in environmental studies with specialized Concentration Career Tracks, involving electives, professional internships, study abroad, thesis research, and our Alumni Career Advisory Board. Areas of study include:
- Environmental Law
- Conservation Biology
- Environmental Economics and Sustainable Business
- Environmental Politics and Government
- Green Architecture and Urban Planning
- Environmental Journalism
- Environmental Education K-12
- Public Health and the Environment
- Organic Agriculture and Food Security
- Parks and Recreation
- Environmental Organizations
- Environmental Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
- Environmental History and American Studies
- Environmental Art and Literature
Alumni have been accepted to prestigious graduate programs at Yale, Columbia, and London School of Economics, and environmental law programs at Pace, Fordham, and Vermont. They have successfully found employment in the government, private and nonprofit sectors. The program typically has 80-90 majors enrolled and graduates 20 students per year.
Located in York City—one of the most vibrant centers of environmental education and urban ecology in the world—our program allows students to gain professional internship experience and academic credits in environmental organizations such as Bronx River Alliance (New York City Dept. of Parks), Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo), New York Botanical Garden, American Museum of Natural History, and Environmental Consortium of Hudson River Colleges and Universities, as well as in study abroad and summer programs, from the Caribbean to Africa.
Our program reflects Fordham University’s mission of “men and women for others” and “respect for the environment” in that students have the opportunity to serve the greater good in the areas of environmental literacy, stewardship, sustainable development, and environmental justice, effecting positive change as citizens in a world characterized by complex scientific, economic, political and ethical interactions, and processes.
We invite you to join our program and find your educational and career path.
Students should officially declare the major in the freshman year and contact the program director for advising about required freshman and sophomore courses. The major can also be declared in the sophomore or junior year.
Program Activities
The following curricular and extracurricular activities are enjoyed by students.
- Lecture series
- Alumni Career Advisory Board providing professional advice to current students
- Undergraduate Research program
- Sponsorship of the club Students for Environmental Justice and Awareness
- Sponsorship of St. Rose’s Garden, an organic vegetable garden on the Rose Hill Campus
- Membership in the Fordham University Sustainability Program
- Membership in the Environmental Consortium of Hudson Valley Colleges and Universities
- Cooperative internship program with the Bronx River Alliance (New York City Department of Parks), NYC Botanical Garden, and Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo)
- Summer internship program in the United States and abroad
- Study Abroad program in Central America, Africa, Australia, Europe, and Southeast Asia
- Scholarship program
Note: This major changed its name from Environmental Policy to Environmental Studies in Fall 2013.
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.
Attribute: INST.
ENST 1500. GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS. (1 Credit)
An introduction to Geographical Information Systems used in environmental, social science, business and other disciplines to generate multi-layered digital mapping of environmental and social data. Students use online GIS and GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) resources to complete a mapping project..
ENST 2999. TUTORIAL. (2 Credits)
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 3900. THESIS RESEARCH TOPICS AND METHODS. (2 Credits)
Study of environmental research topics and methods. Students can pursue their research project in preparation for the environmental studies senior thesis, as well as pursue a related internship to be used as a case study in the thesis..
ENST 3999. TUTORIAL. (3 Credits)
ENST 4000. SENIOR THESIS. (4 Credits)
"Environmental Studies and Policy majors only. This capstone course is required for all Environmental Studies and Policy majors in the 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. Environmental Studies & Policy Majors Only.
ENST 4800. ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT. (4 Credits)
A research or design project on a specific environmental topic under the supervision of a consenting faculty member and with the director's permission. 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 4900. ENVIRONMENTAL INTERNSHIP. (4 Credits)
Placement in an environmental community service project, organization, government agency, business, or other work project under the supervision of a consenting faculty member and with the director's permission. A 15-20 page paper consisting of a short bibliography, a report on the intership work, and reflections integrating the internship with previous course work is 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.
ENST 4999. ENVIRONMENTAL 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 3371 | PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENT | 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 1002 | ECOLOGY: A HUMAN APPROACH | 3 |
| BISC 2561 | ECOLOGY | 3 |
| BISC 5511 | CONSERVATION LAW AND POLICY | 3 |
| CHEM 1109 | CHEMISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT | 3 |
| COMC 4222 | MEDIA AND THE ENVIRONMENT | 4 |
| ECON 1200 | BASIC MICROECONOMICS | 3 |
| ECON 3385 | ECONOMICS OF ENERGY | 4 |
| 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 3632 | POSTMODERN FICTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE | 4 |
| ENGL 3633 | THE ENLIGHTENED EARTH: AMERICAN LIT & CULTURE AFTER 1945 | 4 |
| ENGL 3916 | ANIMALS IN LITERATURE | 4 |
| ENGL 4147 | FOOD AND GLOBALIZATION | 4 |
| ENGL 5104 | NATURAL HISTORY AND ECOLOGY | 3 |
| ENVS 3000 | ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE | 3 |
| HIST 3538 | THE GOOD EARTH? | 4 |
| HIST 3772 | HUDSON RIVER | 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 | HISTORY OF CLIMATE CHANGE | 4 |
| HIST 3998 | PEOPLE AND OTHER ANIMALS IN HISTORY | 4 |
| HIST 5730 | HISTORY OF CAPITALISM | 4 |
| HUST 2001 | INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL HEALTH | 4 |
| INST 3100 | THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT | 4 |
| MGBU 3430 | SPECIAL TOPIC: SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS | 3 |
| NSCI 1020 | PHYSICAL SCIENCE: TODAY'S WORLD | 3 |
| NSCI 1040 | PEOPLE AND THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT | 3 |
| NSCI 2010 | GLOBAL ECOLOGY LECTURE | 3 |
| NSCI 2060 | ENVIRONMENT: SCIENCE, LAW, AND POLICY | 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 & ETHICS | 4 |
| PHIL 4409 | ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS | 4 |
| PHYS 1203 | ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSICS | 3 |
| POSC 3131 | POLITICS, URBAN HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENT | 4 |
| POSC 3307 | ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS | 4 |
| PSYC 3340 | URBAN PSYCHOLOGY | 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 2085 | SUSTAINABLE NEW YORK | 3 |
| VART 3055 | ECOLOGY FOR DESIGNERS | 4 |
| VART 3056 | URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN | 4 |