Undergraduate Programs

The Environmental Studies Program at Tufts University offers undergraduates excellent academic opportunities with several areas of focus to meet our students' many interests. Once you declare Environmental Studies as a major, please send an email to environmentalstudies@tufts.edu so we can promptly add you to our email list.

Environmental Studies is offered both as a stand-alone major and as a dual major in conjunction with any stand-alone major in the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering. We also offer a minor in Food System and Nutrition and a minor in Environmental Science and Policy (for Engineering students only).

BA/BS in Applied Environmental Studies

The BA in Applied Environmental Studies provides theoretical grounding of environmental principles while also providing robust training in quantitative methods, spatial analysis and communication skills required for success in the field.

BA/BS in Environmental Studies (co-major)

The Co-Major in Environmental Studies allows students to master basic scientific principles of environmental processes to examine interactions between technology and the environment, and to explore the societal context for implementing environmental policy.

Minor in Food Systems and Nutrition

The Minor in Food Systems and Nutrition encompasses a wide array of topics addressing sustainable food production, policy, access and nutrition. The aim is to provide a solid foundation to understand food systems from a holistic interdisciplinary point of view.

Minor in Environmental Science and Policy

The minor is only available to Engineering majors. It is designed to give engineering majors greater exposure to natural and social sciences, and thereby deepening student's understanding of the causes and solutions to problems related to environmental sustainability. 

Compare Requirements for Stand-alone Major vs. Co-Major

Legend:
F= Fall
S=Spring
* May be substituted by AP Env. Sci. score 5. Biology Majors may take Bio 142 or Bio 144 instead.
** Economics majors and minors may use EC 130 Topics in Environmental Economics to fulfill this requirement.

ENVS Stand-alone Major

Gateway Course:
ENV 1
Intro to Env. Studies (F)

Natural Science/Tech:
(Choose two)
BIO 7 Global Change Biology * (S)
ES 25 Env. and Technology (F)
EOS 2 Environmental Geology (S)
CHEM 8 Env. Chemistry (F even years)

Environmental Policy:
(Choose one)
ENV 135 Env. Policy: U.S. Challenges and Solutions (F)
ENV 135 Env. Policy: Linking US and Global Politics (S)

Environmental Economics: **
(Choose one)
EC 8 Prin. of Economics with Env. Applications (F, S)
EC 30 Env. Economics (pre-req EC 5) (F, S)

Environmental Internship:
ENV 99
Environmental Internship

Thematic Tracks:
Choose one track and complete:
Four courses from the Electives list
NOTE: Introductory and Research/Methods courses are not required for the Stand-alone major

Skill-based Courses:
ENV 120
Intro to Env. Fieldwork (F, S) 
ENV 170 Env. Data Analysis and Vis. (F)
One Env. Communication course
One Intro Stats course
One Intro to GIS course

Senior Project:
(Choose one)
ENV 191 Environmental Capstone (F)
ENV 198 Directed Research
ENV 199 Senior Thesis (F+S)

ENVS Co-Major

Gateway Course:
ENV 1
Intro to Env. Studies (F)

Natural Science/Tech:
(Choose two)
BIO 7 Global Change Biology * (S)
ES 25 Env. and Technology (F)
EOS 2 Environmental Geology (S)
CHEM 8 Env. Chemistry (F even years)

Environmental Policy:
(Choose one)
ENV 135 Env. Policy: U.S. Challenges and Solutions (F)
ENV 135 Env. Policy: Linking US and Global Politics (S)

Environmental Economics: **
(Choose one)
EC 8 Prin. of Economics with Env. Applications (F, S)
EC 30 Env. Economics (pre-req EC 5) (F, S)

Environmental Internship:
ENV 99
Environmental Internship

Thematic Tracks:
Choose one track and complete:
One Introductory course
One Research/Methods course
Three Electives courses

Skill-based Courses:
Skill-based Courses are not required for the Co-major

Senior Project:
(Choose one)
Senior Project is not required for Co-major

Admissions

Please visit our admissions website for comprehensive information on our admissions processes and requirements, deadlines, financial aid options, forms and instructions.

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Program Directors