Bowdoin College
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Environmental studies at Bowdoin equips students with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives necessary to understand the causes and consequences of local and global environmental problems, with the goal of developing just and equitable solutions. The curriculum emphasizes thinking across and beyond disciplines and embracing interdisciplinary inquiry in the humanities, arts, social sciences, and natural sciences. Students coordinate their study of the environment with any department/program at Bowdoin that offers a major. In order to complete the major, students are required to take nine environmental studies courses. Students must take an introductory interdisciplinary course, Introduction to Environmental Studies, followed by three courses in each of the disciplines—a course in the environmental sciences (Perspectives in Environmental Science), a course in the environmental humanities (Environment and Culture in North American History), a course in the social sciences (Environmental Policy and Politics)—and an advanced seminar. Three out of the nine courses are concentration electives linked by a cohesive theme chosen in consultation with their academic advisor. These elective courses allow students to develop a particular interest from the broad spectrum of environmental studies courses offered at Bowdoin. An example of such a theme might be environmental health, environmental justice, or climate change and energy.

With similar educational goals as the major, the minor consists of five courses: Introduction to Environmental Studies, two courses at the intermediate level or higher, one of which should be in the disciplinary area outside a student's major, and two core courses in the disciplinary area (natural science, social science, or humanities).