Sustainability, Environment and Society

Major

What is the sustainability, environment and society major?

The sustainability, environment and society major teaches you how to solve real-world environmental problems by connecting the science of environment and sustainability with key aspects of environment and society.

You’ll explore the basic science behind how nature works and see firsthand how human actions, including pollution and climate change, threaten our planet. You’ll also learn how to create change. You'll explore policies and laws that help protect the environment, like rules about clean air, water and wildlife, understanding how they shape environment and society. On top of that, you’ll build leadership skills working with teams and managing projects that make an impact on your community.

With plenty of practice in using data and technology to collect and analyze information, you’ll develop solutions you can share with others. This program is designed to help you understand the big picture, connecting the science, the policies and the people needed for positive change in both environment and society.

Why choose to study environment and sustainability at CMU?

Gain hands-on experience through fieldwork and research opportunities where you focus on real issues facing environment and society. You’ll work on actual projects—like tracking energy use and campus recycling—through Central Sustainability, CMU's student-run sustainability office.

You’ll also get a chance to do internships with experts at state agencies, seeing how environment and sustainability are managed in the real world. These experiences often lead to job offers and show you how your studies apply outside the classroom. Michigan’s forests, rural areas, lakes and cities provide diverse settings for fieldwork on environment and society topics.

When you graduate, you’ll be set for jobs that focus on environment and sustainability. You could help companies go green, work for government agencies or start your own business making a positive impact on environment and society. You’ll work with many people from different backgrounds to collect and use data, and find smart solutions to real problems. CMU’s program in environment and sustainability gives you the skills you need for a rewarding career that helps make the world better.

Highlights of sustainability and society

• Combine science and policy: Get ready to solve big problems from different angles as you learn to see how environment and society shape each other.
• Gain hands-on experience: Do real fieldwork. Work on capstone projects. Tackle problems in your own community or in the wild.
• Develop valuable skills: Grow your confidence in research, data analysis and team collaboration.
• Learn from experts: Work with top faculty and staff. Get real advice from leaders in environment and sustainability. Use CMU’s labs and field sites for hands-on learning.
• Study local and global issues: Explore Great Lakes habitats. Face big global problems. Be ready to help anywhere.