What is Environmental Studies?

Environmental Studies (ES) is the systematic study of the natural world and the interaction of humans with their own

environment. The environmental issues and conflicts of this century are highly complex and transcend traditional

academic disciplines. The goal of the Center for Environmental Studies at UC is to provide the interdisciplinary

training and conceptual framework required to analyze and respond to the complex and dynamic environmental

problems of the modern world. The solutions to environmental issues and conflicts will continue to require

expertise from the natural and social sciences such as biology, economics, engineering and political sciences, but

the real-world solutions will also require a more interdisciplinary perspective. They require professionals who take

a systems approach: an approach that addresses the complex interrelationships within and among components of

natural, built and social environments. The goal of our Environmental Studies curriculum is to produce professionals

with a strong foundation in the key sciences who also “speak the languages” of the multiple disciplines involved in

environmental problem solving and who have learned to interact in interdisciplinary teams. The curriculum includes

courses that examine the biological environment (e.g., Biology & Ecology), the physical environment (e.g., Chemistry,

Geology & Geography), and the social-human environment (e.g., Policy, Ethics & Economics). The curriculum also

emphasizes the acquisition of “tools of the trade,” such as field and lab skills, data analysis, the identification of plants

and animals, and computer-based approaches such as satellite remote sensing and geographic information systems.

Success Factors

The keys to success in Environmental Studies are both a curiosity about and a passion for the natural world. The complex nature of environmental issues and solutions also requires creativity in problem-solving, flexibility, imagination and a talent for both written and oral communication. Successful students have strong analytical and critical thinking skills and an interest in the sciences that form the foundation of UC’s approach to Environmental Studies.

Career Possibilities

Graduates of Environmental Studies may choose to pursue professional careers after the BS or to continue their studies in either graduate schools (Masters or PhDs in fields such as Biology, Ecology or Environmental Science/ Studies) or professional schools (e.g., Law School, Education, or Medicine). Career opportunities include positions in federal, state andlocal agencies, corporations, non-profit organizations, consulting firms and academic institutions.

Examples of potential careers include:

• Air or Water Pollution Analyst           • Aquatic Ecologist                    • Resource, Land or Lake Management
• Ecologist or Biological Researcher    • Environmental Consultant        • Environmental Agency or Non-Profit Official
• Environmental Risk Assessor            • Environmental Attorney           • Environmental Compliance Analyst
• Hydrologist/Limnologist                    • Park Naturalist or Ranger         • Environmental Mediator/Negotiator
• Hazardous Waste Manager                • Satellite Remote Sensing          • Geographic Information Systems Specialist
• Conservation Biologist                      • Natural Resource Specialist      • Environmental Protection Specialist
• Policy Analyst                                   • Zoologist/Wildlife Biologist       • Waterway Restoration Specialist

Majoring In Environmental Studies
One of the key advantages of the ES curriculum is its diversity and flexibility. Students start with a unified core of
courses but can specialize in areas of concentration by selecting upper level electives, research opportunities and
internships that reflect their interests and long-term goals. Although much of the curriculum draws on courses offered
from across the colleges of the University, it unifies students in the program through two unique sequences. Both are
team taught by ES faculty and cover the diverse areas and skills of the various disciplines that make up this uniquely
interdisciplinary field. The introductory sequence integrates lectures, case studies, videos and web exploration.
The second, the two quarter Environmental Studies Capstone sequence, is a projects-based course and provides
opportunities for seniors to apply what they have learned to real-world situations, sites and problems. As an example,
in 2005-06 our seniors worked on an EPA-funded design project that examined the sustainability of techniques to
recover nutrients from wastewater and increase the food security of developing nations. The project culminated in a
trip to EPA’s People, Prosperity and the Planet Expo, a national design competition in Washington DC.
The ES curriculum also allows students to specialize their area(s) of interest. Students work with the ES adviser to
design an elective track suited to their long-term goals. Program electives are available from ES, numerous other
A&S departments, the College of Engineering, and the College of Design, Art, and Architecture. The approved list of
electives is frequently updated and can be obtained from the ES website (www.artsci.uc.edu/environment/) or the
ES office (612 Rieveschl). Other curricular aspects of the program include seminar series, a student environmental
organization (LEAP), professional development workshops and internships. The degree program is 180 total credits.

For more information about the Environmental Studies Program, contact us at:

Environmental Studies Program
University of Cincinnati
PO Box 210006
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0006

Office: 612 Rieveschl Hall
Phone: 513.556.9707
Fax: 513.556.5299
Academic Advisor: Professor Mary Fox, 556-2489, mary.fox@uc.edu
Director: Eric Maurer, 556-9700, Eric.Maurer@uc.edu