Major in Environmental Sciences and Sustainability
When you pursue your bachelor of science in environmental sciences and sustainability (ESS), you will explore the impact that human activity has on the natural systems of the planet, and you’ll learn to rethink, redesign and re-create the way humans use natural resources.
What You’ll Learn
- You’ll examine how scientific, cultural, economic and political ideas shape our behavior toward the natural environment.
- You’ll investigate how the natural environment affects society and how natural systems function.
- You’ll explore human connections to the natural world, ethics and values, and technological and economic relationships to sustainability,
- You’ll develop strategies to motivate environmentally sustainable behavior and integrate them into society.Â
Hands-On Learning
The ESS curriculum encourages experiential learning, where you learn by doing and connect your coursework to the larger world. In fact, 100% of students concentrating in ESS participate in at least one internship, co-op, fieldwork or practicum.
Junior Year
Community internship opportunities are available your junior year and take place in a wide array of public and private organizations focused on environmental policy, business, research, regulation, enforcement, ethics and education.Â
Senior Year
During your senior year, you will also complete a two-semester capstone sustainability project while working with a team of students, faculty and community partners.
There are also opportunities for independent research, service and international study.
Recent ESS Internships
Activism
Environmental Consulting
ConservationÂ
Career Options
Majoring in environmental studies and sustainability can lead to widespread career opportunities in environmental justice, climate studies, conservation, environmental policy, environmental law, landscape architecture, environmental health, land use and planning, and environmental communications. Positions in this field may include environmental inspector, biological monitor, watershed coordinator, water quality technician, natural scientist and green design professional.
Some of our recent graduates have been hired at the following institutions:
- Woodard & Curran (An environmental consulting firm)
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- American Tower
- Town of Brookline, MA
Our graduates have matriculated to a number of graduate programs, including:Â
- University of Wisconsin, Madison (M.S., Environmental Conservation)
- Northeastern University (M.S., Environmental Science and Policy)
- Syracuse University (Ph.D., Biology)
Sample Curriculum Guide
Courses You'll Take
Environmental Sciences and Sustainability Major Curriculum
Environmental Sciences and Sustainability Major Curriculum Major Requirements
General Education Requirements
In addition to the major requirements below, you will also need to complete Merrimack’s general education requirements. To see more details about the major, please visit catalog.merrimack.edu.More Information
For more information about majors and minors at Merrimack, consult the online course catalog.
