Concentration Information

ESPP is designed to provide a multi-disciplinary introduction to current problems of the environment. It is founded on the premise that the ability to form rational judgements concerning many of the complex environmental challenges which confront society today requires both an understanding of the underlying scientific and technical issues and an appreciation for the relevant economic, political, legal, historical and ethical dimensions. It offers students an opportunity to specialize in a specific area of either natural or social science relating to the environment.

Students applying for the concentration are required to submit a short essay indicating why this concentration suits their interests and career plans. Concentrators are required to formulate plans of study designed to comply with the concentration requirements, to indicate when the courses will be taken without time conflicts and to identify elective courses that will provide in-depth understanding of a particular area of environmental science and/or policy.  All students have to satisfy a core of requirements in biology, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, economics, government and mathematics. First year students interested in concentrating in ESPP should consider taking courses that will meet ESPP requirements in two or three areas if scheduling permits. Due to the sequencing of more advanced courses, many of which have prerequisites, progress with required courses in Chemistry and Mathematics will allow for more flexible course schedules in sophomore, junior, and senior years.

Course Requirements

For detailed information on course offerings, visit our Courses page.

Basic Requirements: 13 courses

1. Introductory Course: The introductory course is designed to provide a multi-disciplinary examination of a particular current environmental challenge.   1 course chosen from:
   ESE 6. Intro to Environmental Science and Engineering  
   EPS 50. The Fluid Earth: Oceans, Atmosphere, Climate, and Environment
   GenEd 1085. Energy Resources and the Environment
   GenEd 1094. Confronting Climate Change: A Foundation in Science, Technology and Policy
   GenEd 1137. The Challenge of Human Induced Climate Change: Transitioning to a Post Fossil Fuel Future
   GenEd 1158. Water and the Environment
2. Physical Sciences 11. — 1 course
3. Mathematics and/or Statistics — 2 courses
   (Minimum: Math 1a & 1b. Students who have placed higher than Math 1a/and or 1b must still take two math/statistics courses. )
4. OEB 10 or OEB 55 or OEB 65 — 1 course
5. ESPP 77 or 78 — 1 course
6. Economics 1661 — 1 course*
7. Advanced-level Courses — 4 courses in the student's field of specialization. At least one course must be from the social sciences/policy and at least one course must be chosen from the natural sciences or engineering. 
   
   During their Sophomore year, students should begin developing a field of specialization in consultation with their academic advisor.  The field of specialization should be a focused area of study within ESPP (e.g., climate change and food security, terrestrial conservation ecology, watershed management, or the economics of the clean energy transition).  Coursework conducted as part of the field of specialization is also intended to expose students to knowledge, perspectives and/or methodological approaches that will help shape their Senior capstone or thesis projects.
    
   Students should formally identify their field of specialization during the Fall of their Junior year by submitting the Field of Specialization Form to the ESPP Office.  On this form, students should identify the four advanced courses they plan to take and explain how each course will contribute to their field of specialization.
    
8. ESPP 90. Junior Seminar (consistent with field of specialization) — 1 course
9. ESPP 91r. Capstone Project — In the capstone project, students conduct an in-depth examination of a particular environmental issue consistent with their field of specialization. Non-Honors: ESPP 91r. Supervised Reading and Research (the typical requirement is a term-paper or equivalent). 1 course

Honors Requirements: 14 courses

Requirements: 1-8 above, plus ESPP 99r (Senior Thesis) — 2 courses

Other Information:

All courses for concentration credit must be letter-graded.

Course Substitutions. Students interested in substituting a course in place of the above requirements should consult their concentration adviser and submit a petition to the Head Tutor.

*Depending on a student's background, an additional course in Microeconomics may be required in order to take Economics 1661.