Contact Information
(541) 346-5000
(541) 346-5954 fax
http://www.uoregon.edu/~ecostudy
Undergraduate degrees: B.A, B.S.,
Undergraduate Minor
Getting involved and making a difference
Environmental issues represent some of the important challenges facing the planet in the twenty-first century. Eugene, Oregon—a center of environmental activism—is just the place to confront those issues head-on and grow personally in the process. Students who major in environmental science have considerable latitude in designing a course of study that combines theory and practice, invites active involvement, and fits their specific interests and needs.
“I chose to major in environmental science because I wanted to do more than just regular lab work,” says senior Chris Aldassy. “I wanted to get more involved and make some kind of difference.”
By combining theory and practice about environmental systems from the physical sciences, students of environmental science learn how to investigate the relationships between humans and the environment scientifically.
“Students definitely helped to create this program,” says Michelle Wood, an associate professor of biology. Student interest in tailoring the environmental studies major to include a stronger science element was echoed by the faculty members.
“The faculty in the sciences . . . thought there was room for a more technically oriented option in environmental studies,” says Wood. “We definitely have the expertise here to do that.”
Whereas the environmental studies major emphasizes policy, social science, and the humanities, the environmental science major is heavily focused on the physical sciences. Students become grounded in at least three natural-science disciplines—biology, geology, chemistry, data analysis, or physical geography—as well as mathematics.
The environmental science major offers plenty of opportunities for independent study. “This summer I’ll be doing some research involving fieldwork on river systems and data and GIS analysis,” says Patricia McDowell, professor of geography. “There’s a good possibility that I’ll involve several environmental science students in the process. And that’s true of most
of the faculty.”
McDowell explains that the specialized training built into the program often enables students to land internships or hold summer jobs in the field—opportunities readily available in the Pacific Northwest.
Points of Interest
- Environmental science majors build skills for studying and protecting our changing environment and gain insight into the natural world from an ecological perspective.
- Students are encouraged to carry out fieldwork at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology in Charleston, the Malheur Field Station in eastern Oregon, and in other field study sites.
- This interdisciplinary major connects students with more than 80 environmentally concerned faculty members in 30 departments.
- The on-campus Environmental Studies Resource Center provides information about internships.