Environmental Studies Major

This information is part of the Colgate University catalog, 2026-27.

Advisers Baptiste, Cardelús, Frey, Globus-Harris, Helfant, Henke, Kawall, Levy, Loranty, McCay, Pattison, Perring, Roller, Ury

The environmental studies major provides students with interdisciplinary training in the topics, methods, and perspectives to research and critically analyze environmental studies questions and challenges. The courses below are required for the major.

Major Requirements

All of the Following

Environmental Science: Challenges and Solutions
Environmental Ethics

Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of ESEE in the course offerings.

One of the following:

Geographic Information Systems
Environmental Justice

Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of ESEJ in the course offerings.

One of the following:

Environmental Politics, Policy, Planning, or Economics

Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of ESEP in the course offerings.

One of the following:

Environmental Science

Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of ESEN in the course offerings.

One of the following:

Environmental Arts and Humanities

Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of ESAH in the course offerings.

One of the following:

Environmental Studies Electives

Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of ESEL in the course offerings.

Two courses with the following stipulations:

  • one of these courses must be an ENST offering (or cross-listed with ENST)
  • one of the courses must be taken at the 300-level or above 
    • A single course may satisfy both of these requirements, but two electives in total are required.
  • Courses may not double count for both an elective and the other major requirements listed above.
Community-based Study of Environmental Issues

Honors and High Honors

Environmental studies majors wishing to pursue honors should consult with the environmental studies program director and a research sponsor no later than the spring of their junior year. Honors may be awarded to students majoring in environmental studies who accumulate a GPA of 3.30 in courses counted toward the major, and complete a semester-long independent research project under faculty guidance through enrollment in .

Students pursuing honors will submit a proposal developed in consultation with an ENST-affiliated faculty member who will serve as research sponsor. The proposal describing the project will be submitted to the environmental studies steering committee in the fall semester of their senior year for approval. The research project should reflect the student's area of focus but must also demonstrate the understanding gained using an interdisciplinary perspective and approach. The Director of the program will normally serve as second reader to the honors project. Alternatively, the director and research sponsor may designate up to three faculty members to evaluate the merit of the work and report to the environmental studies steering committee. Students standing for honors will deliver an oral presentation to faculty and students of the program, and produce a report in a format most appropriate to the project. The environmental studies steering committee and the research sponsor must determine whether the oral presentation and report are of high quality and worthy of honors in the program. Students demonstrating exceptional commitment to research and meeting all the requirements for honors may be awarded high honors if the overall quality of their work is deemed to be outstanding by the environmental studies steering committee and research sponsor.

Environmental Studies Program

For more information about the department, including Faculty, transfer credit, awards, etc., please visit the  catalog page.