An educational specialty grounded in the subjects and issues related to the natural environment and the relationship of the human being to the natural environment.
Students study the built and natural environment, learn about human views and interactions with nature, and examine ways that politics, economics, the sciences, history, ethics, and philosophy influence human behavior in the natural world.
The major offers the breadth and depth of interdisciplinary inquiry, integrating knowledge across the natural sciences, behavioral sciences, and humanities. The major develops analytical tools and skills for understanding the environment, while emphasizing the role of beliefs, values, and ethics in shaping human behavior.
Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Jesse Sherry led a 2025 study abroad trip to Cuba called “Cultural and Natural Environments of the World.” Photo by Gace Groszko ’26
Launching careers
A survey of Eckerd College Environmental Studies graduates found that students use their Environmental Studies degree to launch careers in such diverse fields as environmental education, natural resource management, parks and recreation, environmental and urban planning, landscape architecture, environmental law and policy making, scientific journalism, public health, nature photography, nature filmmaking, and environmental art.