The ESPE program is focused on students with a strong interest in the science behind the myriad environmental problems that face our world, the political policy mechanisms that may provide solutions to these issues, and the nexus between the environment and the human condition. Students in the ESPE program choose either a BS degree in Environmental Science or a BA degree in Environmental Policy.
The BS degree emphasizes the biological, chemical, geological sciences, and also physics and engineering. The BA degree emphasizes the social sciences and humanities, and there is considerable overlap between these two tracks. All students take a common introductory course, a core of between 8 and 11 required courses, and 4-6 courses that define an area of concentration. During the senior year, students complete 2 terms of independent research, and senior BA students take a seminar on environmental policy.