Undergraduate Environmental Studies
Princeton’s undergraduate Program in Environmental Studies (ENV) welcomes students from all disciplines who share an interest in the environment.
The ENV Program emphasizes experiential learning through courses and related fieldwork, offers a robust program of summer internships, and provides support for field research related to junior and senior independent work. The Program is part of the Princeton Environmental Institute, the University’s center for interdisciplinary environmental research, education, and outreach.
Explore an Emerging and Exciting Field
The ENV Program offers courses ranging from laboratory-based exploration to seminars, lectures, and task force styled classes with innovative fieldwork on campus, in the surrounding community, and abroad. Students are invited to take survey courses that explore population, land use, biodiversity, energy, climate, pollution, and water. Students may also take upper level courses that focus on environmental history, regulation, policy, communication and education, sustainability, biogeochemical cycles, and global change.
Princeton’s environmental curriculum is constantly innovating and strives to meet student interest in this emerging and exciting field of scholarly exploration. Recent courses include Literature and Environment, Communicating Climate Change, and Seminar in Sustainable Development.
Engage with a Community of Experts
PEI’s associated and visiting faculty represent a community of expert researchers and dedicated educators who encourage and mentor students to pursue rigorous and practical environmental research. Certain upper level courses include opportunities for students to conduct fieldwork abroad at research stations including field sites in Kenya, Bermuda, and Panama.
As part of the core curriculum, PEI offers three introductory laboratory courses, which combine field study with laboratory exercises to provide novel, hands-on experiences in the study of environmental issues. The ENV labs fulfill the University’s science and technology with lab distribution requirement (STL).
Earn an Environmental Certificate
Students may earn a Certificate in Environmental Studies by pursuing a prescribed combination of core and upper level courses as well as preparing a senior thesis that includes an environmental dimension. Funding is available through PEI to support independent research on campus or in the field for junior or senior independent work. PEI sponsors several prizes and awards for outstanding undergraduate academic work and in recognition of students demonstrating exceptional environmental leadership.
Address Global Environmental Issues
The Internship Program offers opportunities for summer engagement that address global issues in energy and climate; infectious disease and global health; and sustainable development in impoverished and resource-scarce communities around the world. Environmentally focused research fellowships are available with Princeton faculty. Additionally, funding is available to support environmentally focused internships with local, domestic and international organizations, NGO’s, government agencies, environmental research, and advocacy enterprises.
Become an Environmental Leader
PEI is committed to advancing knowledge, creating awareness, and developing the next generation of environmental leaders, whether in academia, government, non-profits, corporations, or other private sectors. By participating in the Program in Environmental Studies, students join a dynamic community of faculty, senior researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate and undergraduate students to engage in solving the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
