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Environmental Studies

Study the most pressing issues of our time

Take your pick of careers with a major in environmental studies 

Everyone’s talking about the environment, from our rising oceans to the growing list of endangered species. The versatile Eckerd College Environmental Studies program takes advantage of our stunning natural setting in Florida to explore the challenges of and solutions to some of the most pressing issues of our time. Led by passionate professors, you’ll look at how politics, economics, science, history, ethics and philosophy influence the relationships between human behaviors and the natural world.

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Outdoor classrooms

Report for class in the mangroves, freshwater marshes or palm hammock right on campus. Professors often make use of the many nearby keys, beaches, parks and wildlife areas to enhance student learning.

Early research

Why wait for grad school to get research experience? Here you can help faculty study seabirds, local fishing attitudes, ecovillages, climate change communication and air quality.

Careers of all types

Our Environmental Studies majors go on to varied careers in wildlife and parks management, environmental planning, urban design, environmental education, natural resource law, environmental journalism, public health, nature film and photography, environmental advocacy, environmental entrepreneurship, and public service.

Environmental Studies student on campus outside wearing a baseball hat

In Their Own Words

“My classes and mentors genuinely helped to articulate my future goals and interests after Eckerd. Knowing many of my professors first-hand and getting their feedback made me a more efficient writer and reviser. Even if I was struggling to complete something, professors and mentors would encourage me to keep trying, while also allowing me the space to give up or make mistakes because we are all human. The ability [of my professors] to look at me and see not just another student but another person has always made me a proud Eckerd alum.”
–Chloe Carter ’23

Beyond the Classroom

Work with our liberal arts professors on research topics ranging from using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to manage beach-nesting birds, surveying and interviewing fishers to learn more about the risks and benefits of urban fishing, sampling air quality to explore environmental justice issues, conducting life cycle analyses to study the sustainability of different products, or analyzing the ways people understand scientific issues to improve communication from researchers to the public.

Recent internships have included:

You can also join Eckerd’s Planet Forward chapter to publish stories on sustainability issues related to climate change, energy, food, water, and more.

Our Environmental Studies Opportunity Database aids students in their search for internship, research, and job opportunities!

Study sustainable living in Costa Rica, ecotourism in the Caribbean, or environmental history in London.

Study Abroad Pics on Flickr

Join the Pinellas County Osprey Monitoring Project or lend a hand with the campus organic garden, butterfly garden or yellow bikes program.

Service Pics on Flickr
Quick Contact
727.864.8331
admissions@eckerd.edu
Learn more about Eckerd and our environmental studies program

Popular classes

Climate Change Communication

This course enables students to effectively communicate about climate change to various audiences through the application of primary, cutting edge social science research on public opinion, understanding, acceptance, and action.

Wetland Environments

This course introduces students to the principles of wetland science, including physical attributes (hydrology, soils, and biogeochemistry), general ecology and biological adaptations of wetland flora, human and natural impacts to wetlands, and restoration.

Facilities

Open to students 24/7, our Geographic Information System (GIS) Computer Lab has 10 high-end Global Positioning System (GPS) units for students use, 28 high-speed computers with large monitors and a state-of-the-art projection system. The computers feature professional-grade GIS and Remote Sensing software.

Our Environmental Biology Lab is equipped with microscopes, water sampling equipment, field work equipment, live traps, scales and other resources for wildlife research.

The Earth Science Lab features rock samples and sediment sampling equipment.

A group of Environmental Studies students at Eckerd College encircle a small tree and pat the dirt around it

Outcomes

Find Eckerd alumni on LinkedIn

What can I do with an environmental studies degree?

  • Coastal Management
  • Eco-tourism
  • Environmental Art
  • Environmental Communication
  • Environmental Education
  • Environmental Entrepreneurship
  • Environmental Law
  • Fisheries Management
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Nature Filmmaking and Photography
  • Parks and Protected Areas Management
  • Public Health
  • Public Service (city, county, state, national government)
  • Scientific Journalism
  • Wildlife Conservation and Management
  • Urban Planning

Where our environmental studies majors go to graduate school

  • Alliant International University
  • American University
  • Arizona State University
  • Barry University
  • Boston College
  • Bridgewater State University
  • Broward College
  • Cabrillo College
  • Casper College
  • Coastal Carolina University
  • College Of Charleston
  • Colorado Christian University
  • Colorado Mountain College
  • Colorado State University
  • Columbia University
  • Concordia University-Portland
  • Devry University
  • Drexel University
  • Duke University
  • Duquesne University
  • Eastern Florida State College
  • Emory University
  • Empire State University
  • Fitchburg State University
  • Florida A&M University
  • Florida Gulf Coast University
  • Florida International University
  • Florida Southern College
  • Florida State University
  • Fordham University
  • Franklin University
  • Georgetown University
  • Georgia Highlands College
  • Georgia Perimeter College
  • Green Mountain College
  • Greenville Technical College
  • Gwinnett Technical College
  • Hamline University
  • Illinois State University
  • Jacksonville University
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Kansas State University
  • Lesley University
  • Lewis & Clark Law School
  • Louisiana State University
  • Marian University
  • Metropolitan State University Of Denver
  • Miami University
  • Montgomery College
  • North Carolina State University
  • Northern Arizona University
  • Notre Dame Of Maryland Univ
  • Oregon State University
  • Palm Beach State College
  • Parkland College
  • Relay Graduate School Of Education
  • Rio Salado College
  • Saint John’s University
  • San Francisco State University
  • Santa Fe College
  • Shasta College
  • Southeastern Louisiana University
  • Southern New Hampshire
  • St Cloud State University
  • St Mary’s College Of California
  • St Petersburg College
  • Stetson University College Of Law
  • Suffolk University – Law
  • Temple University
  • Texas A&M University
  • Texas State University
  • Tufts University School Of Medicine
  • Unity Environmental University
  • University Of Akron
  • University Of Alaska
  • University Of Bridgeport
  • University Of California-Davis
  • University Of Central Florida
  • University Of Colorado Boulder
  • University Of Colorado Denver
  • University Of Delaware
  • University Of Florida
  • University Of Georgia
  • University Of Idaho
  • University Of Louisiana Lafayette
  • University Of Massachusetts At Amherst
  • University Of Massachusetts Boston
  • University Of Massachusetts Lowell
  • University Of Miami
  • University Of Michigan
  • University Of New England
  • University Of New Mexico
  • University Of North Carolina Wilmington
  • University Of Pennsylvania
  • University Of Phoenix
  • University Of Rhode Island
  • University Of South Florida
  • University Of Southern California
  • University Of Southern Maine
  • University Of Southern Mississippi
  • University Of St Thomas
  • University Of Tennessee
  • University Of Texas At Austin
  • University Of Utah
  • University Of Virginia
  • University Of Washington
  • University Of West Florida
  • University Of Wisconsin
  • University Of Wyoming
  • Western Colorado University
  • Western Michigan University
  • Western New Mexico University
  • William & Mary
  • Wilmington University
  • Yale University

Where our environmental studies majors go to work

  • 3D Solutions, Inc.
  • American Environmental Group
  • Bartlett Tree Experts
  • CarbonX Capital
  • Chesapeake Bay Foundation
  • Chicago Public Schools
  • Clearwater Marine Aquarium
  • Conservation International
  • DataRobot
  • Deloitte
  • Department of Environmental Protection
  • Duke Energy Corporation
  • Ecoventure
  • EMSL Analytical Inc.
  • Environmental Consultants (ECI)
  • Environmental Monitoring and Technologies
  • Florida Department of Environmental Protection
  • Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
  • Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation
  • Gastineau Guiding Company
  • Georgia Aquarium
  • Harbor Animal Hospital
  • Mass Audubon
  • Moccasin Lake Nature Park
  • Montrose Environmental Group
  • National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
  • National Park Service
  • NJPIRG
  • North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
  • Pali Institute
  • Pinellas County Government
  • Raymond James
  • San Juan Safaris
  • Simprints
  • Sipes Architects
  • Sodexo
  • Southwest Florida Water Management District
  • Terracon
  • The New York Times
  • The Wilderness Society
  • U.S. Navy
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture

Eckerd College Environmental Studies news