What is Environmental Studies?
Environmental Studies takes an interdisciplinary and holistic approach to understanding human-environment systems and environmental challenges.
Do you want to use your knowledge and skills to promote positive change in the environment? Do you want to understand the interactions and interdependencies between human and natural systems? Do you want an interdisciplinary education that reflects the complexity of society’s environmental challenges? Do you want to learn to communicate and integrate knowledge across areas of environmental expertise? Then Environmental Studies is the major for you.
Environmental Studies Degree(s)
Economics / Environmental Studies, BA
Students who choose this degree will learn how to use economic principles to help understand the economic causes of environmental problems and how to identify potential remedies through law and policy. The degree awarded is a B.A. in Economics.
Contact
Kathryn Patrick, College of the Environment Professional Advisor
Kathryn.Patrick@wwu.edu | 360-650-3520
Diane Brearley, Economic Major Information: Academic Department Manager
Diane.Brearley@wwu.edu | 360-650-3910
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Environmental Studies, BA
Do you want to use your knowledge and skills to promote positive change in the environment? Do you want to understand the interactions and interdependencies between human and natural systems? Environmental Studies takes an interdisciplinary and holistic approach to understanding human-environment systems and environmental challenges.
Contact
Kathryn Patrick, College of the Environment Professional Advisor
Kathryn.Patrick@wwu.edu | 360-650-3520
View in Catalog
Concentrations
Environmental Studies (Extension), BA
College of the Environment - Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo is distance-based education for students located in these regions. The Environmental Studies major includes core classes in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to prepare our students to integrate knowledge from multiple fields of study.
Contact
Dr. Jenise M. Bauman, Program Director
cenvssr@wwu.edu | (360) 394-2756
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Environmental Studies — Elementary, BAE
Are you excited about teaching children about the environment? Do you want to teach people to make environmental choices in their lives? Perhaps an Environmental Studies-Elementary major is for you!
Contact
Teacher Education Admission, Woodring College of Education
TeacherEd.Admission@wwu.edu | 360-650-4887
Kathryn Patrick, College of the Environment Professional Advisor
Kathryn.Patrick@wwu.edu | 360-650-3520
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Environmental Studies/Journalism, BA
Environmental Journalism offers the opportunity to explore the intersection between the natural world and politics, science, economics and culture. It combines rigorous research with creative storytelling.
Contact
Brian Bowe, Journalism Department Chair
Brian.Bowe@wwu.edu | 360-650-7304
Kathryn Patrick, College of the Environment Professional Advisor
Kathryn.Patrick@wwu.edu | 360-650-3520
View in Catalog
The Environmental Studies major includes core classes in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to prepare our students to integrate knowledge from multiple fields of study. Our students learn to analyze and interpret complex environmental data and communicate environmental information for diverse stakeholders. The Environmental Studies major equips students to succeed as environmental professionals through experiential learning and advanced coursework in each student’s choice of an emphasis.
College of the Environment on the Peninsulas
College of the Environment on the Peninsulas is a distance based, interactive network that allows curriculum designed by faculty in Bellingham’s residential campus to be delivered to students located in Poulsbo, Port Angeles, and Everett, Washington. As a direct transfer pathway program, freshman and sophomore students in regional community colleges have guidance into four-year, direct transfer degree programs.
Designed for working students, classes are scheduled from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. and are initiated by in-person faculty with the use of interactive conferencing.
Related Majors
Related Minors
There are so many different things you can do with an Environmental Studies degree. It really depends on which concentration you decide on.
Education & Eco-Social Justice Concentration
Graduates with this concentration have assumed positions as curriculum consultants, interpreters with resource management agencies, youth coordinators, facilitators for disability services, and a diversity of educator roles with non-profits, schools, government, and businesses.
Geography Concentration
As an environmental geographer, you can make a difference working in the fields of geospatial analysis, teaching, planning, natural resource management, conservation and restoration, and more. Graduates with this concentration have assumed positions in State and National Parks, the Forest Service, college and universities, non-profit organizations, and the private sector.
Justice & Community Resilience Concentration
With a Justice and Community Resilience Concentration, you can make a difference working at non-profits, as a consultant, or in the government. Graduates with this concentration often go on to work in emergency management or as environmental justice advocates. Other graduates bring the skills and knowledge gained in this concentration to other environmental positions. Some go on to graduate studies in social science, disaster studies, public administration, or international development.
Policy Concentration
With an Environmental Policy Concentration, you can make a difference working at non-profits, as a consultant, or in the government. Graduates with this concentration often go on to work in environmental agencies at the federal, tribal, state, and local levels, working in consulting and non-profit sectors, or go on to graduate studies in public administration, law, or related fields.
Careers
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