The Environmental Studies program is rooted in the understanding that complex environmental problems cannot be grasped through a single discipline. As a student in the program, you investigate the relationship between humans and their environment through
social, ecological, and political dimensions. We emphasize three main areas:
- A firm grounding in the natural sciences, particularly urban ecology and resilience
- A sustained engagement with environmental policy and politics, particularly around aspects of inequality, race, and justice
- Studio-based work on design and sustainability
Environmental Studies students take classes at Lang, as well as at Parsons School of Design and the Schools of Public Engagement. In an interdisciplinary curriculum that blends liberal arts with science, policy, and design, you take seminar and studio-based
courses and engage in fieldwork and internships to gain practical, hands-on experience that is grounded in a rigorous theoretical framework. This prepares you to identify the critical environmental issues that face contemporary cities - and to devise
creative and scientifically sound responses that draw on multiple academic disciplines.
Major requirements
Minor requirements
Connecting to New York City
While it offers the atmosphere and intimacy of a small college, Eugene Lang College is part of The New School, a major progressive university in New York City. As an Environmental Studies student your learning laboratory is the city itself and its diverse,
surprising forms of nature. By studying environmental justice issues in NYC, you explore sustainability and climate change as they relate to inequalities along axes of race, class, and community. Finally, senior capstone projects and optional internships
with nearby businesses, government agencies, and community groups take you into the professional world of environmental policy, science, business, and design.
Career Paths
The Environmental Studies program prepares you for careers in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors and for graduate study in a wide range of fields. Graduates are able to hold meaningful conversations with experts in related fields and even manage
teams of experts in complex projects. Career options include sustainability consulting, public policy, working with corporations in environmental analysis, working with nonprofit environmental organizations, urban design, and urban planning.
Consult our 4-Year Lang Career Pathways Map (PDF) for helpful steps and resources to link your academic journey to your future plans. If you are planning to pursue graduate studies, consider applying to the Bachelor's-Master's program, which enables you to earn graduate credits that will apply to both your Lang degree and a master's degree in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management at the university's Schools of Public Engagement.
Outcomes at Lang
Note: This program is STEM-designated. After graduating, eligible F-1 students in this program can apply for an additional 24 months of Optional Practical Training at the end of their
Post-Completion OPT.