Environmental Studies
major, minor
Environmental Studies students focus on the societal causes of impacts to our air, water, and land in order to find and employ actionable solutions. You’ll take an interdisciplinary approach combining topics such as ecology, sociology, political science, and even business or art to both seek a range of perspectives and to pursue your passions, all while preparing for a career in reversing the impacts of climate change and sustaining the earth and its people.
And what better location to learn about the natural world than Saint Michael’s College? Our campus abuts a 340-acre natural area and hosts an organic garden that provides farm shares and other purchasing opportunities to the community. We also have several environment-focused clubs on campus including Green Up and others that allow students to engage in the broader dimensions of our society and sustainability including Student Investment Fund and Model United Nations. And all of this is located in northern Vermont, nestled into the Lake Champlain basin and next to the Green Mountains where opportunities for exploration and hands-on learning abound.
Inside Look
Curriculum
The Environmental Studies program is a strong reflection of the mission of the college, centering on service to our community and world. Our students learn to ask difficult and important questions about humans’ relationship with the environment, and then to seek solutions.
Outside of the classroom, opportunities abound for student research and engagement. The Institute for the Environment, Career Services, and professors connect students with research projects and social projects to create a more sustainable world and apply what you’ve learned in the classroom.
Sample Courses
- Environment and Society
- Nature and Culture
- Environmental Research Methods
- Art and Ecology
- Environmental Justice
- Animal Studies
- Environmental Hazards
- The Politics of Food
Real world experience locally and abroad
From local internships to international research trips, there are many student opportunities to support your unique interests and journey.
Explore student opportunities through the Institute for the Environment
Are you interested in environmental law and policy?
Saint Michael’s has an agreement with Vermont Law School that guarantees Saint Michael’s graduates admission into law school providing they meet the entrance requirements. The Vermont Law School is ranked number one in the US for environmental law. The environmental studies program at Saint Michael’s provides an ideal foundation for law school through courses that shape critical thinking, analytic reasoning, and oral and written communication skills.
Highlight
Course
Environmental Research
Campus Resource
Outdoor Classrooms
Careers
Careers in the field of sustainability and the environment are on the rise, and this growing discipline provides a wide range of career paths.
Many students also go on to get advanced degrees in environmental science/studies, geography, urban planning, landscape architecture, natural resources, and other adjacent topics such as law or policy.
After graduation, our majors go on to careers like:
- Environmental Policy Analyst
- Urban Planner
- Governmental agency work at the federal level
- Governmental agency work at the state level
- Sustainability Coordinator/Manager
- Renewable Energy Specialist
- Park Ranger or Forest Ranger
- Environmental Educators and Communicators
- PeaceCorps and/or AmeriCorps
- Military Officer or National Guard Officer
- Environmental Stewardship
- Regenerative and/or Organic Farmer
- Landscape Designer and Caretaker
- Wildlife Biologist
Faculty
Contact
Clay Williams
Director and Associate Professor of Environmental Science
Saint Edmund's Hall 338
cwilliams8@smcvt.edu
802-654-2772
Ready to apply?
Take the next step at Michael’s College.