Environmental Studies

Undergraduate degrees: B.A., B.S.
Undergraduate minor

How to Save a Planet

From high desert to old-growth forests to coastal estuaries to urban parks and gardens, Oregon is home to an awe-inspiring variety of ecosystems, and the UO is the ideal place to learn about protecting and managing them. Choose to major in environmental studies and you’ll gain a fresh perspective on the natural world along with the knowledge and skills to help preserve it for future generations.

You’ll take courses in a wide variety of departments across campus. “This is a very broad interdisciplinary field,” says Program Director Alan Dickman. “We require that all students have some breadth by taking a set of core courses in different areas, including natural science, social policy, and humanities. A student may focus his or her undergraduate studies in a wide range of possible areas, including ecology, policy, analysis, literature, philosophy, or fine arts.”

Learn creative problem solving, critical thinking, and collaboration. How can environmentalists and timber companies work together to harvest our natural resources while protecting wildlife? What happens when plans for a new freeway threaten a wetland? How does building a shopping center change water quality? Many Eugene residents are deeply concerned with these questions, and studying here will provide a close-up look at how environmental issues affect local communities.

Graduating with a degree in environmental studies or environmental science from the University of Oregon means you will have a solid understanding of the factors involved in making resource management decisions. A degree opens doors in a wide range of professions. Become a government analyst, a political activist, a park ranger, or a planning consultant.

The health of the planet matters to all of us, and enviromental devastation is a problem that will affect generations to come. Be part of the solution at a university that has pioneered environmental studies.

Points of Interest

Participate in the Environmental Leadership Program by teaming up with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and local businesses to monitor waterways and wildlife, restore habitats, and teach children at local schools about renewable energy and forest ecology
Write for Ecotone, an annual journal published by undergraduate students in the program
Through internships, students have researched pikas in Yellowstone National Park, worked as river rangers in Idaho, restored forests in Ecuador, monitored sea turtles in Hawaii, and assisted with alternative energy development in California. Interns can also become locally involved in projects such as food security, sustainable agriculture, habitat restoration, environmental law, solar design, salmon conservation, and pesticide reform
More than 100 faculty members offer courses in a wide range of subjects, including law, anthropology, architecture, biology, and political science

Sample Courses

Introduction to Environmental Studies: Natural Sciences explores the contributions of the natural sciences to the analysis of environmental problems
Ecological Footprint of Energy Generation involves a detailed study of the ecological consequences of all forms of energy generation including fossil fuels and alternative energy sources
Perspectives in Nature and Society examines the comparative exploration of social science approaches to environmental issues. The course focuses on the interaction of social institutions, culture, politics, and the economy with the physical landscape
Wetland Ecology and Management examines management, law, and policies related to wetlands in an ecological framework
Political Ecology looks at how social, economic, and cultural control of natural resources shape human interactions with the environment
Environmental Justice explores the law and history of environmental justice and its impact on current decisions. The class focuses on civil rights law, perception of risk, and the relation of sustainability and equity

Immerse Yourself

The Environmental Studies Program encourages service in the community as a way to apply what’s taught in the classroom. Students fan out across Oregon—and the world—to help on a wide variety of projects. Study abroad or work in a professor’s lab on campus. “The Practical Learning Experience requirement allows students to apply their knowledge outside of the classroom, serve the community, explore career options, and develop professional skills,” says Peg Boulay, codirector of the Environmental Leadership Program.

Through that program, students have taught local schoolchildren about the unique ecosystem of the West Eugene wetlands, used social media to promote ecotourism, created a photography-based outreach campaign to conserve the McKenzie River, used art to teach elementary students about solar energy, and monitored western pond turtle populations.

The Student Experience

Melanie Giangreco wrote us from Mexico, where she was acquiring independent study credits for research into food security issues in the port city of Sonora. “The city is a prime example of how geographic factors impact political and economic situations,” she writes, noting that most of Sonora’s water is imported, and much of it is contaminated. Her work focuses on how this factor and other issues affect the food supply. “My current independent study has been the most exciting project that I have worked on at the UO, as it has given me a chance to combine a variety of interests into one project.” She is enthusiastic about the Environmental Studies Program. “It may take a little bit of extra time and energy in planning, but if you have an idea for a project, you can make it happen.”

Ever since her father placed her in a canoe at the age of four, Christa Linz has had a fondness for nature. This passion for all things environmental prompted her to explore the interdisciplinary opportunities at the UO. She has since become involved in the Environmental Leadership Program, Climate Justice League, Sierra Student Coalition (SPROG), and peer advising. Linz admits that the only problem she faces is “choosing between too many great classes.” When she isn’t studying in the grass outside Hendricks Hall or rehearsing for extracurricular dance performances, she is active in the community. Eugene’s close relationship with the campus has allowed Linz to have a job off campus and become involved in local environmental causes.

Featured Faculty

Scott Bridgham is a professor of biology and environmental studies. Currently, he is studying the ecosystem ecology of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. His most recent research projects focus on climate change effects on ecosystem processes and plant range distributions, as well as restoration ecology and the biogeochemistry and microbial ecology of methane production. He teaches courses on soils, wetland policy and management, and terrestrial ecosystems.

Kari Norgaard is an assistant professor of sociology and environmental studies. Her interests are in the areas of environmental sociology, climate change, sociology of emotions, and the relationships among gender, race, and environment. With assistance from her students, she is excited to continue her research on the social organization of denial regarding climate change and environmental justice work with Native American Tribes on the Klamath River. She teaches courses on climate change and environmental justice.

Ted Toadvine is an associate professor of philosophy and environmental studies, teaching environmental aesthetics, environmental ethics, and an assortment of other classes. He has been involved in the making of or translation of nine books and three journals, and he supervises student research in a variety of topics, including the ethics of liquefied natural gas production and India’s role in international climate negotiations.

Career Opportunities

There are plenty of jobs available to the graduate who is dedicated to positive change. Become the communications director for a nonprofit organization. Launch a career as a field organizer working to show industry CEOs that helping the environment makes sense. Teach, write, or land a job in public policy. Become a conservation technician. Graduates have gone on to become university professors, environmental lawyers, and high-profile players in the greening of our planet.