Prepare for careers dedicated to solving environmental challenges and building a sustainable, just, and climate-resilient future.
After nearly two decades of offering an Environmental Studies minor, the College of Liberal Arts now offers the interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies. Students evaluate vital environmental issues of today and learn how to become part of the range of innovative responses to current and future environmental challenges.
Through coursework in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, students build a comprehensive understanding of the scientific, social, and cultural dimensions of humanity's relationship to the environment. They gain knowledge of:
Beyond the classroom, our students gain hands-on experience through internships and may also earn credits through fieldwork and study abroad.
B.A. in Environmental Studies
120
Major
Minor
Here are some of the classes you may take while earning your Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies. See all Environmental Studies courses.
UG
3 credits
Internship with a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government agency that includes a significant environmental component. Written analysis of internship experience and related academic paper required. May be repeated once for credit. A maximum of 6 hours may be used toward the environmental studies minor.
UG
3 credits
This interdisciplinary humanities course is designed to introduce students to thinking about the influence of the environment on human history and culture. Course content may include key concepts in environmental history, classics of environmental literature, theories of environmental philosophy and ethics, and ideas about the environment embedded in culture, religion, and the arts. Personal reflection as well as analysis of environmental questions will be encouraged. Students who have already taken Envs 301 may not enroll in Envs 101.
UG
4 credits
In this integrated lecture and laboratory course, students will explorethe scientific process and its application to the study of the environment,including principles of evolution, the origin and diversity of life, ecologicalrelationships in the natural world, and the impact of humans on theenvironment. Throughout the semester, students will experience biology byengaging with peers in a technology-enhanced active learning classroom. Thework of the course provides students the opportunity to developcritical-thinking skills they can apply to real-world problemsrelated to the environment. This course is intended for non-sciencemajors and applies to the science requirement of the core curriculum.The course will not count for credit if BISC 1040 and 1050 or BISC 1620 and1630 are counted.
UG
3 credits
This course focuses on the complex relationships between people and the environment from a social science perspective. It provides an introduction to the ways in which humans interact with, depend on, and shape their environments by looking at current environmental issues, such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, and energy transitions.
According to national surveys, employers are more likely to hire students who have:
These experiences are the core of the liberal arts skills of thinking, communicating, interpersonal skills, and understanding the world around us. Showcase and enhance these skills in an internship opportunity for that first step into the professional world.
Environmental Studies students combine coursework with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities. Environmental studies students have had internship experiences with a broad range of organizations, including UM Office of Sustainability, Gulf Restoration Network, The Nature Conservancy, Citizens Climate Lobby, The Black Earth Institute, Energy and Natural Resources Division of the MS Development Authority, Delta Wind Birds, Homeplace Pastures Farm, Farmstead Florals, NIHT, Inc. (carbon credit sales), Mississippi Farm to School Network, and Oxford Community Market.
The Internship in Environmental Studies (ENVS 385) provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable pre-professional training through hands-on experience in environment-related work outside of the traditional classroom.
ENVS 385 is a Z-graded, three-credit-hour course that may be repeated with approval. Envs majors are required to complete at least one internship during their studies. Envs minors are encouraged but not required to complete an internship for elective credit (however internship credit will not count toward a specific requirement in the humanities, natural sciences, or social sciences).
The purpose of ENVS 385 is to integrate academic learning with the practical experience that students gain during an internship. The internship itself constitutes the practical component of the course; reflection upon the experience and the synthesis of theory and practice take place during the academic phase, in ENVS 385. Academic credit is granted for completing a series of academic assignments that are based on the internship experience.
You and the outfit you’re interning for will fill out the internship agreement form below and submit it to Envs for approval prior to the start of the internship. All internships must be pre-approved by Envs before the start of the internship; any arrangement not pre-approved will not be eligible for credit.
Your supervisor at the interning site must complete the Final Intern Evaluation Form below. A “unsatisfactory” assessment constitutes grounds to deny eligibility for enrollment in or credit for ENVS 385.
There’s never been a better time to get involved as a student on campus with sustainability initiatives. Whether you are a freshman, a senior, or graduate student, there are opportunities for you.
The Environmental Studies program at UM prepares students to confidently address current and future challenges and opportunities posed by biodiversity loss, climate change, environmental injustice, and sustainability issues. Students learn from a multidisciplinary group of world-renown scholars offering a general introduction to environmental studies, while also encouraging further exploration of topics ranging from conservation biology and ecological restoration to the political, economic, and psychological dimensions of the environment and sustainability, to nature-inspired literature and the ethics of climate change and human-nature relationships. This instruction, combined with real world experiences associated with an Environmental Studies internship, provide the tools necessary for students to find innovative solutions to environmental problems and create resilient communities in Mississippi and beyond.
Program Director and Program Manager of the Environmental Studies Program
