Environmental studies is a multidisciplinary academic field which systematically studies human interaction with the environment. Environmental studies connects principles from the physical sciences, commerce/economics, the humanities, and social sciences to address complex contemporary environmental issues. It is a broad field of study that includes the natural environment, the built environment, and the relationship between them. The field encompasses study in basic principles of ecology and environmental science, as well as associated subjects such as ethics, geography, anthropology, policy, politics, urban planning, law, economics, philosophy, sociology and social justice, planning, pollution control and natural resource management. There are many Environmental Studies degree programs including a Master's degree and a Bachelor's degree. Environmental Studies degree programs provide a wide range of skills and analytical tools needed to face the environmental issues of our world head on. Students in Environmental Studies gain the intellectual and methodological tools to understand and address the crucial environmental issues of our time and the impact of individuals, society, and the planet.
Worldwide, programs in environmental studies may be offered through colleges of liberal arts, life science, social science or agriculture. Students of environmental studies use what they learn the sciences, social sciences, and humanities to better understand environmental problems and potentially offer solutions to them. Students look at how we interact with the natural world and come up with ideas to prevent its destruction.
Top Universities Worldwide for Environmental Studies
Skills Acquired In Environmental Studies
As mentioned, through interdisciplinary coursework that confers strong social science skills with technical training, students are trained to analyze multi-faceted problems with a range of analytical tools and skills. These of skills include the following, which can be found on Temple University's College of Liberal Arts section, but are offered/included at most Universities.
A global approach
Spatial thinking
An interdisciplinary perspective
Understanding of the complexity of interactions between humans and the environment
Social science research methods, policy analysis, and technical skills
There are a plethora of career options that exists within the environmental studies field. Some of the listed career choices may require additional education or preparation in the form of graduate studies. This list provides an idea of the options available but are not limited to these options.
