Boston University
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Students in the Environmental Analysis & Policy major are trained broadly in the social sciences with a clearly defined specialization in the environmental field. Students receive an extensive introduction to the principal energy, resource, and environmental issues that confront society as well as the analytical tools that are used to understand them. Such tools include cost-benefit analysis, basic computer modeling skills, policy formulation and analysis, technology assessment, and statistics. Students learn about the social and institutional framework in which environmental and natural resource planning, management, and policy making take place. Students take classes in the natural and physical sciences to ensure they understand the biophysical basis of environmental issues. Students are encouraged to take environmental courses in special programs such as the Washington Internship Program and the School for Field Studies. A number of students double major in related disciplines such as mathematics, economics, political science, international relations, and geography.

The major in Earth & Environmental Sciences engages students in the study of the Earth and its habitable environments with a focus on the key natural and physical processes that shape our planet; from the geologic past to the present, and into the future. Students gain a broad foundational understanding of concepts and research techniques in the physical, life, and interdisciplinary natural sciences that inform society about the physical world and environment in which we live. Each student, in consultation with his or her advisor, chooses a focus for in-depth coursework in one of the three areas: Ecosystems, Earth & Climate, or Earth Observations. All levels of the curriculum emphasize analysis of data for critical evaluation of scientific arguments related to the study of Earth and environmental systems. The BA in Earth & Environmental Sciences prepares students for graduate study in the field or for entry-level employment in a variety of professions including environmental consulting, ecosystem management, private sector industry, governmental and private scientific agencies, science journalism, and environmental law.

The BA/MS program in Energy & Environment offered through the Department of Earth & Environment combines advanced undergraduate and graduate coursework to provide students with foundational knowledge and advanced analytical skills to prepare them for professional opportunities in energy and environmental fields at a variety of organizations including government agencies, consulting firms, and nonprofits. The program provides qualified juniors and seniors an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in one coherent program. The program is open to students pursuing the major in either Environmental Analysis & Policy (EAP) or Earth & Environmental Sciences (EES). The MS is awarded in Energy & Environment by the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS).

The Environment and Development Track within the International Relations program offers a wide variety of courses covering a broad range of related topics. These courses inform students about key debates, policy, and management issues surrounding efforts to integrate environmental protection measures with the promotion of economic and social development to achieve sustainable development. Some courses focus on the activities of major international organizations and industrialized and developing countries while other courses emphasize more regional and/or issue-specific perspectives and concerns.

The Minor in Sustainable Energy, open to all undergraduates, teaches students the interdisciplinary nature of energy studies. The curriculum includes the essential elements of energy from the business, economics, policy and engineering perspectives, as taught by faculty in those areas. The program is a collaborative effort among faculty in the Department of Earth and Environment in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Questrom School of Business, and the College of Engineering.

The Energy Technologies and Sustainability concentration is designed for undergraduate engineering students to acquire a fundamental understanding of the environmental impacts of various energy technologies and put them in a position to pursue a career in green technology. The diverse elective courses will include the analysis of recent environmental policy; the electrochemistry of fuel cells and battery cells; the planning, operation, and marketing of sustainable power systems; and the emergence of sustainable energy as the defining environmental challenge of our time. As the engineering discipline of energy and environment continues to grow, students with a specialized background in this concentration will be well-prepared for this emerging field. The 16-credit concentration is available to students in any of the College of Engineering’s bachelor’s degree programs. The concentration is noted on students’ official transcripts and will prepare students for careers in clean energy, energy conversion, and environmentally sustainable systems.

Minor in Environmental Analysis & Policy:
http://www.bu.edu/academics/cas/programs/earth-environment/minor-in-environmental-analysis-policy/

Specialization in Ecology & Conservation Biology (available when studying toward B.A in Biology):
http://www.bu.edu/academics/cas/programs/biology/ba-ecology-conservation/

Minor in Earth & Environmental Sciences:
https://www.bu.edu/academics/cas/programs/earth-environment/minor-in-earth-environmental-sciences/

This represents FY2021 and FY2022 BU Metrics.