Undergraduate Environmental Majors

The undergraduate environmental programs are offered in the College of Arts and Sciences at Boston University, through the Department of Geography and Environment. These programs offer the student a comprehensive and integrated overview of the environmental, energy, and natural resource fields, as well as a specialization in a narrower field of study chosen by the student. Students in both majors are prepared for graduate study in a variety of fields, as well as for careers in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors at local, national, and international levels. Students are encouraged to pursue academic and practical experience outside of the traditional classroom. There are ample opportunities for field work, professional internships, and study-abroad programs that are centered on environmental education.

There are three undergraduate degree programs offered by the Department of Geography and Environment : Environmental Science, Environmental Analysis and Policy, and a BA/MA Program. The Department also offers minors in Environmental Science and Environmental Analysis and Policy.

Please click on the links below for more information within this page:

Special Undergraduate Programs in Environment
Academic Advising/Program Coordinator
Career Development
Admissions and Application

 

Special Undergraduate Programs in the Environment

Students in the undergraduate programs have several exciting and innovative opportunities to supplement the traditional classroom experience with education and practical training in Washington, D.C., Woods Hole, MA, and several international programs.

Domestic	International
B.U. Marine Program, Woods Hole, MA	School for Field Studies
SEA Semester, Woods Hole, MA	Tropical Ecology Program in Ecuador
Washington, D.C. Internship Program	International Honors Program

The Boston University Marine Program

The Boston University Marine Program (BUMP), an interdisciplinary program that encompasses the Departments of Biology, Earth Science, and Geography and Environment, offers a variety of options for both undergraduate and graduate students. Students have access to a state-of-the-art on campus marine laboratory and the resources of BUMP’s Academic Partners: the New England Aquarium, the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and the Sea Education Association (SEA).

Undergraduates pursuing the B.A. in Environmental Science can enroll in the Marine Semester. The semester consists of a sequence of four, one-month courses involving intense laboratory and research-oriented projects. The courses are taught close to a graduate level in terms of independence, initiative, ability to think critically, and understanding of the scientific process. All students give oral presentations, write experimental design plans, research proposals, and final papers. This type of practical experience is essential in the development of field and laboratory techniques. Lecturers are prominent researchers in their respective fields, and lend their expertise, advice, and supervision to students. Satisfactory completion of the semester program provides sixteen credits toward graduation and fulfills four elective course requirements for the undergraduate concentration. For more information on the Marine Semester, contact the Program Manager, Jen Ryan, Boston University Marine Program, 675 Commonwealth Avenue, Room 141A, Boston, MA 02215, or visit them at http://www.bu.edu/BUMP.

Sea Education Association

Sea Education Association (SEA) offers semester programs that provide rigorous academic and practical experience leading to an understanding of the oceans. SEA semester begins with two 3-credit courses in the six-week component in Woods Hole, MA; CAS NS 221 and CAS NS 222. The second half of the program is the six-week sea component aboard the SSV Westward or SSV Corwith Cramer (two four-credit courses: CAS NS 225 and 226). CAS NS 223 is a 3-credit course offered during the entire 12-week semester on shore and at sea. New semesters begin every two months throughout the year. Prerequisite is one semester of a college laboratory science or equivalent. For more information, write to: SEA, P.O. Box 6, Woods Hole, MA 02543; Call: 1-800-0552-3633; Email: admissions@sea.edu.

SEA Semester offers the following courses:

• CAS NS 221 Oceanography
• CAS NS 222 Maritime Studies
• CAS NS 223 Nautical Science
• CAS NS 224 Practical Oceanographic Research
• CAS NS 225 Practical Oceanography I
• CAS NS 226 Practical Oceanography II

The Washington Internship Program

An academic internship through Boston University's program in Washington D.C. allows students to explore how the world works in one of the world's most important cities.The program has operated for eighteen years, attracting students from colleges and universities nationwide. Interns from all academic disciplines enjoy the benefit of Boston University's reputation, its extensive experience in placing students in a variety of positions, and its local housing and support staff. All of the courses are taught by adjunct Boston University faculty, and the program is offered both spring and fall semesters. Unlike other programs, Boston University's internships are full time and challenge students to meet both the expectations of the everyday work environment and the rigor of class work in the evening.

Undergraduates in an environmental concentration are placed in appropriate internships and enroll in the elective course CAS GE/PO 409, Energy and Environmental Policy Formulation. Interns have worked with organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Sierra Club. Students have worked in Vice President Gore's office, other executive offices, and as aids to members of Congress who serve on committees related to a broad range of environmental issues.

Students pursuing the B.A. in Environmental Analysis and Policy earn sixteen credits toward graduation and fulfill at least two core requirements for their major. For further information and/or application materials, contact Boston University, Division of International Programs, 232 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215, telephone: (617) 353-9888, or visit: http://www.bu.edu/abroad.

Opportunities for International Environmental Education

International Programs in the Environment

The Division of International Programs at Boston University coordinates a number of study-abroad programs that offer students international environmental experience. Students apply for these international programs after consulting with their advisor. In general, courses taken through the following programs count toward concentration credit.

School for Field Studies

The School for Field Studies (SFS) offers semester and summer programs in international environmental field study. All SFS participants are registered and receive credit from Boston University, which accredits SFS programs. Locations include Australia, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Kenya, and Mexico. Semester programs include four courses; three courses focused on theory using local examples. The fourth course, Directed Research, involves instruction in research design and completion of an individual project. Issues addressed by the SFS centers include wildlife ecology and management, tropical rainforest management, sustainable development, marine resources management, coastal studies, and wetlands diversity and management. Program information and applications are available from the School for Field Studies, 10 Federal St., Suite 24, Salem, MA 01970-3876; 1-800-989-4418. http://www.fieldstudies.org

Tropical Ecology Program in Ecuador

The Division of International Programs and the Center for Ecology and Conservation Biology at Boston University operate a Program in Tropical Ecology in collaboration with the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. Designed specifically for biology and environmental science concentrators, the program provides a unique semester-long, eighteen-credit program for students to study the ecology of tropical Ecuador through intensive field-based experiences. Students will live at different field stations during the semester, including one month at the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazon rainforest, two weeks on the Pacific coast, and one week on the Galapagos Islands. Students will take a three-week Spanish and Culture course at the beginning of the semester and will live with Ecuadorian families in Quito when not in the field. The four ecology courses are taught in English. Students should contact the Division of International Programs http://www.bu.edu/abroad or the Center for Ecology and Conservation Biology http://www.bu.edu/CECB/ for more information.

The Tropical Ecology program offers the following courses:

• CAS BI/GE 438 Tropical Montane Ecology
• CAS BI/GE 439 Tropical Rainforest Ecology
• CAS BI/GE 440 Tropical Coastal Ecology
• CAS BI/GE 441 Studies in Tropical Ecology

International Honors Program

The International Honors Program, in cooperation with Bard College, offers students the opportunity to travel the world for eight months (two semesters) while pursuing academic study in the areas of ecology, biology, anthropology and sociology. The itinerary of each year's program is global, involving comparative study in several contrasting societies. For example, the 1999-2000 Global Ecology program, "Culture, Ecology and Justice," will travel to England, India, Philippines, New Zealand, Mexico and the United States. The program is rigorous in terms of both its intellectual content, and its challenge for motivation and self-discipline of its students. Students in the environmental concentrations may receive credit toward graduation and may fulfill the concentration requirements with approval of their faculty advisor. For further information, contact International Honors Program, 19 Braddock Park, Boston, MA 02216; 617-267-0026. http://world.std.com/~ihp/

Academic Advising

All environmental undergraduates are assigned to a faculty advisor. If you don't know who your advisor is, you can check the student list posted in the CEES Lounge. If you do not have an advisor, please see the Undergraduate Program Coordinator. Faculty advising hours for the current semester are also posted in the lounge. The following is a list of faculty advisors by major.

Environmental Analysis & Policy

Cutler Cleveland, Director of CEES
Bill Anderson
Robert Kaufmann
Ian Sue Wing

Environmental Science

Mark Friedl, Associate Director of Undergraduate Programs
Bruce Anderson
Adrien Finzi
Ranga Myneni
Nathan Phillips
Guido Salvucci
Curtis Woodcock

Program Coordinator

Sayaka Yamaki is the Program Coordinator for Environmental majors. Her e-mail is syamaki@bu.edu.

 

Admissions Requirements and Procedures

For an application and complete information for undergraduate admission, please call the Office of Admission at 617/353-2300, or write them at Office of Admissions, 121 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215. The e-mail address is: admissions@bu.edu. Or visit their web page http://www.bu.edu/ADMISSIONS.