Best Environmental Science Colleges?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am a HS senior looking for a college that offers an environmental science major that is: 1) highly regarded by environmental industry experts; and 2) focuses on scientific solutions to environmental problems through the use of science. In reviewing many colleges, its seems that many environmental science or environmental studies programs are more a grouping of multi-disciplined courses, e.g., social sciences, philosophy, policy, etc. without a focus on application of science. Can you recommend some non-Ivy League colleges, particularly those in the Midwest, that fit my criteria?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Northland College in Wisconsin
University of Dubuque in Iowa</p>

3

<p>Iowa State has exactly what you are looking for. Scientific, not policy based, with required classes in biology, chemistry, and physics in addition to a core that integrates the discipline.</p>

<p>[Environmental</a> Science: Iowa State University](<a href=“http://www.ensci.iastate.edu/]Environmental”>http://www.ensci.iastate.edu/)</p>

4

<p>Can someone suggest the same for the Northeast? SUNY ESF and U. of Vermont pop up on searches … any others that are not obvious for environmental science?</p>

5

<p>In the Midwest: U Minnesota: [Environmental</a> Science : Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management (ESPM) : College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences : University of Minnesota](<a href=“http://www.espm.umn.edu/PlanESPMmajor/EStrack/index.htm]Environmental”>http://www.espm.umn.edu/PlanESPMmajor/EStrack/index.htm)</p>

<p>In the Northeast: Rutgers: [Department</a> of Environmental Sciences Web Page](<a href=“http://envsci.rutgers.edu/programs/envsci_ug_req.shtml]Department”>http://envsci.rutgers.edu/programs/envsci_ug_req.shtml)
Delaware: [Environmental</a> Science B.S. - UD Department of Geography](<a href=“http://www.udel.edu/Environmentsci/]Environmental”>http://www.udel.edu/Environmentsci/)
a little farther south: Maryland: [Undergraduate</a> Program - Environmental Science and Technology (ENST)](<a href=“http://www.enst.umd.edu/Undergraduate%20Program/index.cfm]Undergraduate”>http://www.enst.umd.edu/Undergraduate%20Program/index.cfm)</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the links, zap.</p>

7

<p>[Excitement</a> builds as environmental studies major opens to students (Sept. 26, 2011)](<a href=“http://www.news.wisc.edu/19807]Excitement”>Excitement builds as environmental studies major opens to students)</p>

8

<p>Most environmental science majors need to get graduate degrees in their fields before they are employable, and where you go to graduate school matters much more than where you go as an undergrad. That said, there are lots of schools with strong ungrad environmental science (as opposed to policy) programs. For example, Grinnell, a rural LAC in Iowa, has outstanding sciences and a prairie studies center. Bowdoin, for the person asking about the NE, has a marine studies center and an arctic studies center. </p>

<p>Pull up the course catalogs for the schools you are considering and check the breadth and depth of the coursework and the resources available.</p>

9

<p>Bowdoin has a great environmental science program.</p>

<p>Sent from my iPhone using CC</p>

10

<p>You should take a look at Carleton. The Environmental Studies major is very popular and very strong. The supporting cast of characters includes one of the most respected groupings of undergrad science departments in the country. In geology, they churn out more PhDs in the field than any college or university in the nation. There are similar stats for the rest of the physical sciences which are rigorous and top-notch. </p>

<p>Outside the classroom, there’s a 900 acre arboretum surrounding you that serves as a gorgeous year-round lab (and a great place to run and ski). Sustainability, environmentalism are huge on campus. Just today the school announced the installation of their second wind turbine. [Carleton</a> College: Carleton News: News: Carleton Begins Installation of Second Wind Turbine](<a href=“http://apps.carleton.edu/news/news/?story_id=774671]Carleton”>http://apps.carleton.edu/news/news/?story_id=774671). The first went up in 2004, the first of its kind on any college campus.</p>

11

<p>My D was looking for this last year but wanted small and in the NE. She found Middlebury, Bowdoin, Colby, University of Vermont to be the best options for Environmental Science since these were established departments with lots of opportunities for research and field work.</p>

12

<p>The University of Southern California, though not in the Midwest or NE, has an awesome Environmental Studies (ENST) program. You can choose a concentration that requires more science classes, though I’ve had a nice mix of hard-core, pre-med science classes and etc. classes (polisci, international relations, French).</p>

<p>[Curriculum</a> > Environmental Studies > USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences](<a href=“http://dornsife.usc.edu/environmental-studies/curriculum/]Curriculum”>http://dornsife.usc.edu/environmental-studies/curriculum/)</p>

<p>You can stay at USC’s Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies on Catalina Island, CA. A core ENST class, 320a Water and Soil Sustainability, will be taught there this summer. I did a directed research project on island flora, invasive mustard and fennel, and the spread of plants around a hill.</p>

<p>[Field</a> Work > Environmental Studies > USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences](<a href=“http://dornsife.usc.edu/environmental-studies/fieldwork/]Field”>http://dornsife.usc.edu/environmental-studies/fieldwork/)</p>

<p>The ENST department also runs summer trips to Belize and to Guam and Palau, where you can perform underwater, SCUBA research diving.</p>

<p>[Home</a> > Environmental Studies > USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences](<a href=“http://dornsife.usc.edu/environmental-studies/]Home”>http://dornsife.usc.edu/environmental-studies/)</p>

<p>Kind of a lot, sorry! I’m am a huge fan of USC ENST and I don’t want you to miss out!</p>

13

<p>OMG look into the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources. Can’t be beat! And you can attend the Biological Station in Pellston, MI for summer courses that are phenomenal. Everything from Lake studies to botany to pollution control to writing about it all. Good luck! <a href=“http://www.snre.umich.edu/[/url]”>http://www.snre.umich.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

14

<p>Juniata College in Pa has an amazing ES program. They have a field station where you can be in residence for a semester. [Juniata</a> College - Environmental Science and Studies Department](<a href=“http://www.juniata.edu/departments/environmental/]Juniata”>http://www.juniata.edu/departments/environmental/)</p>

15

<p>(Biased) I’m in the ES (it’s called “Environmental Science, Policy, and Management”) program here at Cal and have never been unimpressed. We have a cool “class” offered on the polynesian island of Moorea for 13 units over fall semester. I’m from the west coast, but the other two contenders I was looking at (and may consider for grad school) are U of Washington and U British Columbia. Also if you’re science based be sure to understand the difference between “studies” and “science” - BA vs BS in some cases. I looked at Reed college but if you want a degree in Env Studies you have to do a 2 year co-term at Duke.</p>

16

<p>There are lots of good programs. Check out SUNY’s environmental science school located on the campus of Syracuse University. Also, check out University of Rochester in addition to those mentioned above.</p>

17

<p>Middlebury College</p>

18

<p>I’ve heard a lot of good things about ES at the University of Michigan.</p>

<p>As for the northeast, I second Colby, Middlebury, Bowdoin, Bates as wonderful communities with strong foci on environmental issues-- both in the sciences and policy.</p>

<p>(I studied Environmental Bio and Chem at Colby, and absolutely loved it.)</p>

19

<p>I second the University of Maryland. With their program, you pick an area of concentration and determine whether you want to be more science oriented, agricultural/natural resources oriented, etc. (I think there are several options to choose). D2 is an Environmental Policies major (lots of sociology classes). UMD has been rated high on the “green” ratings of several schools, there is an environmental-related program in the Scholars program, their Office of Sustainability has been doing great things, and they just won the Solar Decathalon…
[At</a> the Solar Decathlon, the University of Maryland cleans up with “WaterShed” | Green & Clean](<a href=“http://news.thomasnet.com/green_clean/2011/10/12/at-the-solar-decathlon-the-university-of-maryland-cleans-up-with-watershed/]At”>http://news.thomasnet.com/green_clean/2011/10/12/at-the-solar-decathlon-the-university-of-maryland-cleans-up-with-watershed/)</p>

<p>The location close to D.C. is outstanding as far as policy issues, EPA, etc, the Smithsonian has some great programs, etc. (D was one of the tour guides for the Solar Decathalon when the Dept of Energy Secretary toured…how cool is that?). They have also had several guest speakers from different US agencies come to the campus to speak. The proximity to the Capitol makes it easy.</p>

20

<p>I’m interested in the question too - but what about those with a highly mathematical/computational bent? I’m looking at Caltech and Stanford as particular examples, but any others?</p>