University of Oregon
AC-4: Graduate Program

The Environmental Studies Program offers a master of science (M.S.) or master of arts (M.A.) degree in Environmental Studies and a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in Environmental Sciences, Studies, and Policy (ESSP) that includes Environmental Humanities.

Our graduate programs are interdisciplinary, drawing on resources and faculty throughout the university, including the Schools of Arts and Sciences; Architecture and Allied Arts; Journalism and Communication; and Law. Currently, more than 100 faculty members from thirty different departments and programs are officially affiliated with Environmental Studies. These faculty have research and teaching interests in environmental issues ranging from the global to the local, including climate change, conservation biology, ecocriticism, ecology, endangered species conservation, environmental economics, environmental ethics, environmental law, green architecture and design, land use planning, marine resources, political ecology, public land management, sustainability, transportation, urban growth, water resources, and many other areas.

Students and faculty often collaborate with the numerous environment-related research centers on campus, including the Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, the Ecological Design Center, the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program, the Institute for a Sustainable Environment, and the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology.

Our graduate curriculum emphasizes flexible and individualized degree-planning. We encourage innovative and interdisciplinary work culminating in first-rate scholarship and creative projects in subjects ranging from biology, geography and psychology to environmental humanities and policy studies. Students design a course plan tailored to their individual goals and interests and select faculty mentors from across the university to advise them in developing and completing their projects and theses. Students may also take courses and work with faculty at our partner institutions, Oregon State University and Portland State University. Many of our students pursue concurrent degrees in law; planning, public policy, and management; landscape architecture, and other fields.

Our program attracts exceptionally strong students who excel academically, are self-motivated, and typically have a range of experiences beyond their academic training, such as environmentally-related internships, employment, or volunteer work. Students in the program enjoy a strong sense of community that fosters lifelong friendships and collaborations.

Most graduate students in Environmental Studies receive funding for all or part of their graduate study. Doctoral students are funded jointly by Environmental Studies and the student’s focal department for the length of time that is typical within the focal department.

Graduates of our program work in national, state, and local government as well as national and regional environmental organizations, and many have pursued careers in research and teaching at leading colleges and universities. See our alumni page to find out more about what our alumni are doing now."

"Our graduate programs are interdisciplinary, drawing on resources and faculty throughout the university, including the Schools of Arts and Sciences; Architecture and Allied Arts; Journalism and Communication; and Law. Currently, more than 100 faculty members from thirty different departments and programs are officially affiliated with Environmental Studies. These faculty have research and teaching interests in environmental issues ranging from the global to the local, including climate change, conservation biology, ecocriticism, ecology, endangered species conservation, environmental economics, environmental ethics, environmental law, green architecture and design, land use planning, marine resources, political ecology, public land management, sustainability, transportation, urban growth, water resources, and many other areas."

The Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Oregon is a national leader in design education, with a particular reputation for social responsibility and ecological stewardship. Landscape Architecture is an environmental design discipline of broad scope whose central concern is the wise use of land. As a profession, it includes the detailed development of land and sites of all sizes and uses, as well as planning activities, both of which rest on a foundation of ecological understanding that views human value systems as a major force in landscape making. The discipline is growing from a primarily professional field to one that supports scholarship and research, thus changing its role and mission in the academic community and in society. As a result of this growth, a doctoral degree is rapidly becoming preferred for university faculty and professional positions in the field.
The Program

The doctoral program in landscape architecture offers opportunities for advanced study and scholarship with a focus on ecological landscape planning and design, which encompasses a range of spatial scales and cultural contexts. Planning and design are mutually supportive activities and their integration is essential for achieving long-term land use goals. An ecological approach to these subjects focuses on how landscape pattern, process, and change interact to create land mosaics that maintain the diversity of life and the foundations for human well being. Our doctoral program is designed to engage these issues through spirited analysis, critique, and prescription of landscapes in Oregon, the United States and throughout the world. Depending on their background and research goals, students can expect to complete their degree in three to six years, which includes time for required coursework, qualifying exams, and completion of a dissertation. For each incoming doctoral student, we will provide at least two years of tuition and fee waivers, two years of stipend, and health insurance. Students also have the opportunity to teach and to participate in ongoing research projects.

Architecture MArch/MS and PHD, https://archenvironment.uoregon.edu/architecture/graduate;
Biology MS and PhD, http://biology.uoregon.edu/graduate/grad.php;
Environmental and Natural Resource Law, http://enr.uoregon.edu;
Green Business MBA, http://business.uoregon.edu/mba/;
Green Chemistry MS and PhD, https://chemistry.uoregon.edu/graduate/.

"The sustainable business practices track of the Oregon MBA combines academic and experiential learning components to prepare and position MBA graduates for a leadership role in sustainable enterprises. Part of the Business Innovation Institute at the Lundquist College of Business and housed in one of the nation's most environmentally friendly business school facilities, the center is at the forefront of thinking about how to balance social, environmental, and financial responsibilities.

In fact, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest—with its natural beauty, array of outdoor opportunities, and appreciation for the environment—continue to be a nexus of sustainable business management practices, new startups, and innovations. Many companies in Oregon's hallmark industries—electronics, wood products, consumer products, and green building—have earned reputations for world-class supply chain and operations management. And Oregon is an international leader in environmental quality, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility.

In many ways, the Center for Sustainable Business Practices is about evolving and converging the region's enterprising culture in these fields to create new understanding and to foster strategies that help businesses thrive—with global reach and impact.

As a hub of the University of Oregon's aspiring international leadership in research, teaching, and outreach activities in this vital area, the center offers faculty, students, and the business community:

A research-based, interdisciplinary, and integrated curriculum that is delivered in a personalized way
Active, first-hand exposure to real-world business issues and opportunities
An engaged community on campus, in the Pacific Northwest, and across the country"

"Sustainable business practices are gaining relevance at lightning speeds as more and more businesses evaluate their environmental impact. Oregon Law’s Green Business Law concentration prepares students to enter this emerging field by immersing them in a rich, interdisciplinary curriculum. Students interested in the environment and natural resources law should also consider concurrently pursuing an Environmental Law concentration to complement their legal education."

"The master of public administration (MPA) program at the University of Oregon promotes evidence-based decision making and the efficient and ethical stewardship of societal and environmental resources by professionals in the public and nonprofit sectors. We support this purpose by training a diverse cohort of students from the U.S. and abroad to be effective administrators, analysts, and advocates in their communities. The curriculum offers a close connection between multidisciplinary, policy-oriented research and opportunities for real-world applications. Students are supported in creating a customized course plan that allows for the most effective use of their time as full- or part-time students. Our program combines a rigorous academic approach in the development of analytical and managerial skills with highly experiential learning opportunities.

The master of public administration program prepares students to become evidence-based policy makers, analysts, and managers. Evidence-based policy making is a concept that has been gaining widespread acceptance in the policy community, both in the U.S. and internationally.

Student can select a field of interest in Environmental Policy, Food Studies, and/or Transportation Policy"