Top Environmental Studies Programs?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I'm looking for respectable liberal arts schools known for their undergraduate Environmental Studies programs (as opposed to Environmental Science -- I would prefer the more diverse approach). Also, though I would expect some positive classroom experiences, I'm hoping for a program that gives me hands-on experience in the great outdoors. (Maybe we could even travel around a bit, learn about different ecosystems?)</p>

<p>I'm from a temperate setting and would rather not live in the extreme heat or extreme cold, but I guess I would go anywhere for the best-fitting program. It's important to me that the surrounding (or nearby) city/town be interesting and full of stuff to do OR, if not, that the college at least be located in a beautiful rural setting.</p>

<p>If a school has a similar program that isn't strictly labeled "Environmental Studies" but is still appealing, please don't hold back.</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<p>Rank: 9/100
GPA: 4.78 (I'm not sure how a university would re-weight this)
SAT: 750 (Reading), 590 (Math), 690 (Writing). This was my first go-round; I hope to have it higher before I start applying.
APs: 3</p>

<p>Awards:</p>

<p>High Honor Roll every year. Several involving Mock Trial and Youth in Government. I love creative writing and I've studied it for a long time: I generally win two or three writing awards per year, with publication in several literary magazines (some more prestigious than others).</p>

<p>Other Stuff:</p>

<p>Student Council, National Honor Society, other community service organizations. Hoping to start a Sierra Club chapter next year.</p>

<p>I'm a rising senior, so crunch time is here. I've been doing internet searches for a long time, but I always feel somewhat lost...your help is GREATLY appreciated!</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY has a great Environmental Studies Program. St. Lawrence is in Princeton Review’s “Best 368” & has a good ranking in the USNWR’s rankings. (if you care about the rankings, many people do not) </p>

<p>With your kind of stats, you could probably get merit aid. It is in Northern NY, about 2 hours from Syracuse, 1 hour from Watertown, about 1.5 hours from Ottawa, ONTARIO. </p>

<p>Many SLU students & staff fly in and out of Ottawa, so a passport is a good idea. </p>

<p>You just have to overlook the weather of Northern New York! However, Canton is a small town, near the Adriondacks, SLU has a good alumni networking program, beautiful campus, study abroad opportunities, research opportunties and so on. It has always been referred to as “A Candle in the Wilderness” when it first opened over 150 years ago.</p>

3

<p>I recommend Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington
beautiful weather, sunny but not extremely hot
also it’s in a beautiful area</p>

<p>the environmental studies program is also excellent</p>

4

<p>I’d second Pierre’s recommendation to check out Whitman. I have no specific knowledge of their Environmental Studies/Science department, but it’s a good college overall and has a wonderful “outdoor program”.</p>

<p>Another school to check out is Colorado College. Winters can get cold and snowy, but are not as bad as you might think. They have a unique “block plan” that is not for everyone, but has distinct advantages for doing field work in the Life Sciences. The location and student body are known for being very outdoorsy.</p>

<p>The best “reach” choice for you might be Middlebury College. Their Environmental Studies/Science department is highly regarded. So is their creative writing program. It, too, is a good school for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. It is very selective, and unfortunately is in an area of brutally cold winters. The surrounding town is very small. The campus and the rural setting are beautiful. The facilities are excellent (including one of the nicest college libraries I’ve seen, known to some students as the “Death Star” for its massive circular form).</p>

5

<p>This has been discussed often. Here’s a fairly lengthy post from <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/other-college-majors/219252-best-schools-environmental-studies-ecology.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/other-college-majors/219252-best-schools-environmental-studies-ecology.html&lt;/a&gt;. :)</p>

<p>

</p>

6

<p>There is a new environmental studies program starting at Reed this fall:</p>

<p>[Reed</a> Magazine: News of the College](<a href=“http://web.reed.edu/reed_magazine/winter2008/columns/NoC/envirostudies.html]Reed”>http://web.reed.edu/reed_magazine/winter2008/columns/NoC/envirostudies.html)
[Reed</a> College | Sustainability | Academics and Sustainability](<a href=“http://web.reed.edu/sustainability/academic_program.html]Reed”>http://web.reed.edu/sustainability/academic_program.html)</p>

7

<p>Environmental studies/science is a popular enough and broad enough major that if you work hard, you can get a decent education almost anywhere. Here’s some thoughts:</p>

<ul>
<li> Obviously, the better programs are going to be at the top schools, But many state schools, especially land grant colleges, have great programs too. Long before “environmental studies” came around in the 1970’s, these colleges have been teaching pretty much the same programs, just disguised as conservation, natural resources, forestry…</li>
<li> The location, urban vs. rural, is especially important in environmental studies/science. It’s much more difficult for urban schools to hold classes outside, which is like a chem major not being able to be in a lab. In rural schools, you are going to be spending a lot of time outdoors—some of your classes might be almost entirely outside, or at least their labs will be. (It might be nice when it’s cool and sunny, but it’s not so comfortable when it’s 40 degrees and raining, there’s a few feet of snow on the ground, or it’s 90 degrees and there’s a swarm of black flies.) </li>
<li> Program requirements may vary a lot between schools. Some may be heavy on geology, other’s might focus on ecology and not have any geology. Schools with a strong engineering program might be better if you’re interested in renewable energy. Schools with agriculture and resource economics departments will have better environmental economics programs. Some will be more science based, and others might be more social sciences based. </li>
<li> You mention you’d rather environmental studies rather than environmental science. (You call it the “more diverse approach—what do you mean by this?) I wouldn’t recommend this. Environmental studies often appears to be, or is, very fluffy. It’s easy to fill your classes with classes like “The concept of nature.” Even if you don’t plan on going into science and are more of the policy type, you are better off taking a science heavy curriculum. You cannot get a job in environmental policy without a MS, MPA, or JD. It’s better to take the science in undergrad and save the policy/social science for grad school. </li>
<li> Better schools will have departments or schools that are devoted to environmental studies/science. Although you’re going to be taking classes in a lot of different depts./fields no matter where you go, avoid schools that create their major from a collected hodgepodge of classes from different departments. </li>
<li> How “green” a school is does not always correlate with how good their environmental studies/science programs are. Most schools with strong environmental programs will be “greener” but the reverse will not always be true. </li>
</ul>

<p>Some schools to look at: Berkeley, Bowdoin, Cornell, UC Davis, Duke, Michigan, Middlebury, Yale.</p>