Explore the Environmental Studies Major
Founded in 1996 through the generous assistance of the Heinz Endowments, the Environmental Studies (ES) program houses the ES major, which is one of the most successful interdisciplinary majors at the University of Pittsburgh. Students may take classes in six different schools and a myriad of departments within the University. A full-time program coordinator helps ES students choose classes and plan for internships, field experiences, as well as career and post-baccalaureate goals.
Graduates have been awarded both local and national awards—including prestigious Udall and Truman scholarships—and have gone on to careers in government, industry, advocacy, enforcement, education, law, and international policy. The University of Pittsburgh is a member of the Association of American Universities, a prestigious organization of the 60 most respected research universities in North America.
Apply to the Environmental Studies Program.
Opportunities
Students are drawn to environmental studies for a variety of reasons—some for its breadth and diversity, while others choose ES simply because they love the outdoors. But inevitably, the question arises: what can I do with this degree? The answer relies on your interests and ambitions, and the kinds of electives you take. For instance, students can focus on:
Practical/technical: Students involved in geographic information systems (GIS) can collect and use data to create computerized, visual representations of the physical world—in present form as well as using models to depict how changes might affect the environment over time. Other students learn laboratory techniques and monitoring systems, and even gain hazardous-waste (HAZWOPER) training.
Policy-driven: Internships with local governmental, research, and advocacy groups give students a chance to interact with policymakers and regulators; other students work with companies and environmental consulting firms in assessments and monitoring. Courses in nonprofit management and environmental law focus on the issues faced by environmental groups, corporations, governmental agencies, and the public, as well as ethical/political issues, such as environmental justice.
Natural world: In addition to core courses in biology, chemistry, geology, and geochemistry, environmental studies students can take electives in ecology, sedimentology, paleoclimatology, and limnology (study of lakes and other bodies of fresh water). More importantly, students can choose field courses to match their interests, or combine their field work in geology and ecology with seminars in public policy. And because Pitt is a research university, students also have the chance to work with professors in a laboratory setting or in the field.
Advising
Explore the links at right to learn what you need to know to pick your major and plan out your undergraduate career, the degree Major Sheet is particularly helpful! It is important to do this before you meet your advisor because you are really the best person to chart your future. You do NOT have to declare your major before coming to meet with our environmental studies faculty advisor:
Faculty Advisor
Our faculty advisor can provide an overview of the major, compare our three majors, and give you advising on careers, internships, field programs, and graduate school.
Mark Collins
202 SRCC (attached to Thaw Hall at 4107 O'Hara Street)
MJC@pitt.edu
Need help finding us? View a map and photo of our location.
Staff Advisors
We have two wonderful staff advisors who will be the ones who, once you declare your major, will lift your advising holds and make sure that your schedules make sense and will get you to graduate on time:
Corbin Curtis
255 Thackeray Hall / 200E SRCC (in Dept office)
cac535@pitt.edu
412-648-7384
Virginia Robson
201 Thackeray Hall / 200E SRCC (in Dept office)
robson@pitt.edu
412-648-7431