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Environmental Studies/Sciences
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Program Options
Environmental studies courses are available at many of EAP’s partner
universities worldwide. You can choose from a wide variety of short-term
and year-long programs taught in English or in a foreign language.
Analyze strategies for alleviating urban environmental
problems in Hong Kong
Examine ecological restoration approaches in New
Zealand
Explore natural resource economics and environmental
politics in developing countries such as South Africa
Investigate how Costa Rica manages its wild areas
and promotes ecotourism
Study sustainable development in Germany
Witness the responses to severe drought in Australia
In addition, EAP offers special-focus programs designed specifically
for environmental studies and biology majors in Australia
and Costa Rica.
Use the following resources to find the right programs for you:
Selection criteria and application deadlines can be found through
each country's “To
Apply” page.
- Sample Opportunities: Don’t know where
to start? This will introduce you to the range of possibilities in studying
environmental studies on EAP.
- Program Wizard: Search
for programs offering environmental studies courses by country, language,
program length, and more.
- Course Finder: Browse
environmental studies courses previously taken by EAP students.
Many additional courses may be offered.
- Host University Websites
(access through each country’s “Web Links” page):
Additional course information can usually be found
through either a) the university’s course catalog/handbook/prospectus,
b) the department/school/faculty website, or c) the university’s
international office website.
- Your Department: Meet with your academic advisors
early and often to discuss study abroad opportunities.
Note: Environmental Science majors should also read EAP's Biology
web pages.
Sample Opportunities
 Summary
Chart: This chart contains information about program eligibility,
duration, and language prerequisites for the programs described below.
Most of EAP's partner universities in Australia offer programs in environmental
studies that include a strong field work component. These programs offer
UC students the opportunity to develop analytical and research skills
within a multidisciplinary framework. Course work and research opportunities
are focused on the interrelationships between people, places, and the
environment, and are available in a wide range of fields, including evolution
of the earth and its landscapes; ecosystem processes and products; human
society and environment; resource conservation, management, and use; environmental
and resource policy; and fundamental science. Most courses encompass an
array of cultures and environments in both hemispheres, with specific
reference to Australian case studies.
Fall Semester Marine Biology and Terrestrial Ecology,
University of Queensland
This program is offered through the University
of Queensland's Centre for Marine Studies. The Centre coordinates
research and teaching focusing on the ocean, coast, estuaries, and reefs
of Queensland, and brings together the activities conducted through various
research stations. EAP's program consists of lectures, laboratory studies,
and extensive field study at the Heron Island Research Station on the
Great Barrier Reef, the Moreton Bay Research Station, and other locations
in coastal Queensland. Students must have an intermediate-level background
in marine biology, ecology, environmental science, oceanography, conservation
biology, marine engineering, or related fields.
Courses include:
- Marine Biology (13 UC quarter units)
- Human and Terrestrial Ecology (8 UC quarter units)
All students enroll in both courses, spanning 12 weeks of instruction
and totaling 21 UC quarter units. Courses are interwoven with changing
prominence throughout the program.
Prerequisites include completion of one year of lower-division biology.
Preference is given to students with at least one course in upper-division
organismal biology or ecology, and one in statistics.
Pontifical Catholic University Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio)
PUC-Rio offers an excellent program in geography
and environment designed to help future Brazilian leaders confront
the country's environmental problems while meeting the development needs
of its growing population. The program has three tracks: analysis of the
physical-environmental elements (geology, geomorphology, climatology,
ecology); analysis of the social-structural elements (demography, agrarian,
urban, and industrial geography); and mastery of interpretive-technology
(cartography, photo interpretation, geoprocessing). The PUC course on
tropical forests has been particularly popular with EAP participants.
The program begins with a four-week Portuguese intensive language program.
The University of British Columbia, Vancouver
UBC offers a broad range of relevant courses within the departments
of anthropology, biology, economics, environmental science, forestry,
geography, global resource systems, philosophy, political science, psychology,
and sociology. UC students may study at UBC for the fall semester or the
full year. Special internship opportunities for environmental studies
students are available through the Conservation
Volunteers Program (CVP) in the Faculty
of Forestry. The CVP promotes linkages between the environment, communities,
and education. Past volunteer positions were available at the Wild Bird
Trust and the Langley Environmental Partners Society.
Fall Semester Marine Science Program
Bamfield Marine Station (BMS), Vancouver Island
Bamfield Marine Station
is a unique marine-oriented research and educational facility. It is located
in Barkley Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island in an open coast
setting, complementing the protected water environments of the Georgia
Strait, where the major Canadian government marine institutions are located.
The pristine nature of the surrounding marine environment, coupled with
a rich habitat and organismal diversity, makes it an ideal location for
students to study behavioral ecology, evolutionary biology, marine plant
aquaculture, microbiology, and toxicology.
EAP seniors and graduate students in marine and coastal sciences may
take upper-division course work at BMS. To be eligible, students of biology,
botany, or zoology must have already completed at least two courses covering
introductory ecology, introductory invertebrates, and/or nonvascular plants
(highly recommended). Students are required to take five courses including
Ecological Adaptations of Seaweeds, Structure and Function in Animals,
Marine Population Ecology and Dynamics, a seminar course in marine science,
and an independent research course. The program includes lectures, seminars,
laboratory work, and field work.
University of Chile, Santiago
The people of Chile take environmental issues very seriously, given the
dependence of their economy on agriculture and forestry. At the University
of Chile, EAP students may study these issues through the Environmental
Biology program (choose "Biología con mención en
Medio Ambiente), which has general courses and special tracks for conservation,
effects of contaminants, and aquatic resources. The Engineering School
also offers degrees in natural resource science and science of forestry.
In addition, students may approach the environmental policy questions
through the departments of law, history, economics or general studies.
The program begins with a three-week Spanish intensive language program.
Tropical Biology and Conservation Program,
Monteverde
EAP's Monteverde experience offers unparalleled opportunities for field
study concentrated in a quarter-long program. The program focuses on unique
ecological systems and on the conservation of tropical biodiversity in
an ideal location for environmental studies. Because of Monteverde's rich
biological attributes, the area is the target of strong conservation efforts.
Several reserves have been established to protect the flora and fauna
along the continental divide and at lower elevations. In addition, the
program works with local farmers to study the impact of agricultural practices
on the local environment.
University of Costa Rica, San José
As the country's principal research center, the University of Costa
Rica devotes considerable resources to the study of the environment. A
primary concern in this small country is the sustainability of productive
agriculture without degradation of the nation's biodiversity and tropical
forests. In addition to offerings in the Departments of Biology and Food
Science, EAP students may take relevant courses in economics, geography,
sociology, anthropology and other social sciences. The program begins
with a six-week Spanish intensive language program that makes several
excursions to different ecological zones in the country.
University of Copenhagen
UC environmental science students can enroll in courses in English
at the University of Copenhagen for the fall or full academic year. A
broad range of courses is available in the Faculty of Science, as well
as related courses in the Faculty of Social Sciences and in the Faculty
of Law. Course topics include the Baltic Sea Region: Politics of Sustainability,
European Union Environmental Law, and Arctic Ecology. The university's
Zoological Museum houses collections
in entomology, invertebrates, and vertebrates, and most of the specimens
are catalogued in a modern, searchable database. Opportunities for internships
at the European Union Environmental Agency in Copenhagen also may be possible.
Students interested in such internships should consult with the Denmark
EAP Study Center Director upon arrival. Program options begin with several
weeks of Danish language study. Continued language study during the fall
is recommended for fall-only semester students and required for full-year
students.
The University of Bordeaux:
Environmental Studies
The University of Bordeaux I offers course work in environmental studies.
Students may participate in spring or year-long EAP options. Relevant
courses are offered in departments of biology, development and natural
resources, and geography. Course work concentrating on the biological
sciences requires a strong background in the relevant sub-field, whereas
courses in other disciplines usually do not have prerequisites. The program
begins with several weeks of intensive French language instruction.
Georg-August University, Göttingen
Germany is the first major industrialized country in which the Green Party
has had a major influence on the government. Of special interest to UC
environmental studies students is the contrast in attitudes between the
former East and West Germany with regard to environmental protection.
Academic year, fall, and spring semester programs in Göttingen offer
course work in environmental studies through the university's Center
for Nature Conservation. The Center coordinates teaching and research
among the four main departments (Fakultäten) that offer course
work in environmental studies: biology, agricultural sciences, forestry
science and woodland ecology, and geosciences. Faculty come from diverse
fields such as anthropology, forestry, game biology, landscape ecology,
plant science, and rural development. In addition, the Department of History
offers a lecture series on environmental history that covers topics such
as historical relationships between humans and the environment, irreversible
and reversible interference with the environment, environmental medicine,
and intercultural comparisons of the environment with an anthropological
perspective.
Course work is intended primarily for advanced students who are environmental
studies majors. All instruction is in German. The spring option also requires
completion of at least one upper-division course taught entirely in German.
The fall and year options begin with a six-week intensive German language
program.
University of Ghana, Legon (Accra)
UC students can enroll in a wide variety of courses through the departments
of Biology, Botany, Zoology, and Geography and Resource Development at
the University of Ghana. Most courses have a West African focus and many
address issues specific to Ghana. Field work and applied techniques are
emphasized. Course topics include tropical biogeography, regional geography,
GIS, climatology, rural and urban development, environmental ecology,
agricultural land use, conservation, and wildlife management.
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi
KNUST, located on a spacious campus of gentle knolls in Kumasi, the center
of rich farming and timber country, presents a unique context for environmental
studies. Courses in the departments of Biology, Geography, and Economics
cover ecological and environmental issues in those fields, including ones
with a special component on West Africa. The Biology Department also offers
a master's degree in Environmental Science. Courses in the Faculty of
Environmental and Development Studies focus on the built environment,
including landscape ecology, rural and urban design, and community participation
in planning and design. The Institute of Renewal Natural Resources teaches
sustainable management of natural resources, especially forestry, agroforestry,
wildlife and range management, and aquaculture.
University of Hong Kong
The Environmental Life
Science Programme within the Department of Ecology and Biodiversity
trains students through broad exposure to theories and problems in environmental
monitoring and management, mainly from an ecological perspective. Courses
cover a wide range of habitat types and living systems, with an emphasis
on field work and data analysis. Courses are available in coastal ecology,
environmental microbiology, fish biology, fresh water ecology, molecular
ecology, biodiversity, oceanography, applied microbiology, environmental
toxicology, fisheries and mariculture, systematics, pollution and environmental
impact assessment, and conservation biology.
Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
The departments of biochemistry, biology, and chemistry jointly offer
the Environmental Science Program
at CUHK. The program is intended for students who are interested in environmental
science and its various applications to strategic planning, policy development,
pollution control, and waste treatment. The curriculum provides specialized
training with an emphasis on environmental conservation and environmental
impact assessment, as well as environmental chemistry, health, and toxicology.
Students in the program have access to a wide array of specialized facilities,
including an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, a complete automatic
system for the determination of toxic organic compounds in air, a Fourier
transform IR spectrometer, a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer, high
performance liquid chromatography, an inductively-coupled plasma atomic
emission spectrometer, an ion chromatography system, and a microplate
spectrophotometer system. The prior study of Chinese is recommended, but
not required, for this program. Chinese language study is recommended
each term.
A wide range of interdisciplinary programs offer opportunities for students
to study New Zealand's unique landscape, as well as environmental issues
specific to Antarctic environments. Courses emphasize issues central to
New Zealand and the Pacific Rim, and many address the particular environmental
challenges faced by the indigenous Maori. The academic year runs from
February through late November.
National University of Singapore
Singapore provides a special environment for the study of human-environmental
interactions due to its small land area, dense population, tropical habitat,
and one of the largest commercial harbors in the world. NUS offers a number
of interdisciplinary courses in the departments
of Geography and Southeast Asian Studies, and through the South Asian
Studies Programme. UC students may enroll in courses such as Eco-Development
in Southeast Asia, the Southeast Region: Landscape and Society, Urban
Environments, Natural Resource Management, Urban and Regional Planning,
Sustainable Development and Environmental Evaluation, and Environmental
Change in the Tropics. NUS is home to the renowned Raffles Museum of Biodiversity,
which includes the Zoological Reference Collection and the SINU Herbarium.
University of Cape Town
Urbanization in Africa provides an interesting context for studying the
environment at the University of Cape Town. The Department
of Environmental and Geographical Science focuses on issues relating
to environmental change and human-environment interactions. The ways in
which environmental change and human activities have shaped the landscape
and vegetation patterns are interpreted through paleoecological and geomorphological
studies. The department has a unique reference collection of pollen slides
and photographs used in reconstructing former vegetation types.
A few highly qualified students may be accepted by UCT for scientific
field work experiences that take place during January-February prior to
the start of the UCT spring semester. Marine ecology students may apply
to a course that includes a three-day field camp and explore South Africa’s
three-ocean marine environment. Courses in ecosystem and behavioral ecology
begin with a pre-semester field module and continue with research projects
and assignments during the semester. Interested students should indicate
their interest when they apply for EAP at UCT. Selection of students for
these courses is made by the instructors and there is no guarantee of
spaces for UC students.
University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College-Durban
The School of Environmental Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal
offers courses at both the Pietermaritzburg and Durban campuses. At Durban
a wide range of courses emphasize the way in which societies interact
with their urban and rural environments. Other departments, such as Biological
Sciences, Chemistry, Economics, Engineering, and Law, also offer relevant
courses. Among the array of courses available are ones on such topics
as hydrology, atmospheric science, air pollution, coastal geomorphology,
wetland ecology, urban development, sustainable cities, environmental
geography, environmental philosophy and ethics, tourism studies, environmental
technology, biogeography, land issues and rural development in Southern
Africa, economics of Africa, and the making of modern South Africa.
University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg
UC students in environmental science are encouraged to consider the
University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg for unique offerings. The
School of Biological and Conservation Sciences offers modules in ecological
sciences (community, ecosystem, range, etc.), biodiversity conservation,
environmental biophysics, and range and wildlife science and management.
The School of Environmental Sciences provides advanced courses in environment
and development and undergraduate courses in such topics as geographic
information systems, environmental assessment, applied geomorphology,
and contemporary environmental issues. Most courses focus on contemporary
issues specific to South Africa, and many consider practical concerns
related to local environmental conservation, management, and sustainable
development. Some courses are taught at both Pietermaritzburg and Durban,
so prospective students should read the faculty handbooks carefully to
determine which campus offers the courses of interest.
The following immersion programs in Spain offer course work relevant
to the environmental studies major. All programs begin with a four-week
summer intensive Spanish language program.
Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)
UAB has a long tradition of commitment to environmental research and has
organized a far-reaching interdisciplinary program that represents its
broad vision. The Environmental Sciences Program coordinates course offerings
of 18 departments to prepare students in the analysis and management of
natural resources and other environmental systems. The program also emphasizes
advocacy, education and communication of environmental issues.
Introductory courses may be available in the Environmental
Sciences Program. Students should check to see if classes offered
through departments such as geography, biology, public administration,
or sociology have specific prerequisites.
Complutense University of Madrid
Several schools at the Complutense offer courses that allow students to
develop a specialization in environmental studies, although there is no
major per se. Relevant course work is offered on a variety of levels and
covers topics such as the environmental impact of development, management
of natural resources, and human ecology. These courses are found in various
departments, including ecology, human geography, economics, political
science and public administration, sociology, plant biology, and animal
biology (see Dpto.de Ecología).
Lund University
Sweden's commitment to social liberalism and environmental protection
make this country an important site for environmental studies. Lund University
offers course work in several academic units, including the departments
of ecology, systems ecology, and biology, the International Institute
for Industrial Environmental Economics, and the Lund
Institute of Technology. Courses are available at various levels,
with a good selection in English, as well as Swedish. Master's-level courses
are available to advanced seniors Beyond the Classroom who fulfill the
necessary prerequisites and have the prior consent of the department or
instructor. Courses taken in the past by EAP students include international
environmental affairs, environmental politics, resource ecology, environmental
protection projects, river restoration in Europe, and special studies
in the environmental sciences. Two areas of particular interest at the
Institute of Technology are environmental psychology and environmental
and energy systems studies.
EAP offers an intensive Swedish language program (ILP) beginning in June
that is recommended (but optional) for participants in the fall program
and required for students in the year-long program. Continued language
study in the fall is required of year students, and optional for fall-only
students. The appropriate combination of the ILP and continued language
study can fulfill the foreign language breadth requirement of most UC
campuses, and gives students the linguistic ability to select additional
courses taught in Swedish.
Several of EAP’s partner universities in the United Kingdom and
Ireland offer programs in environmental science and studies. The universities
listed below provide students with particularly strong programs.
The School of Environmental Sciences at East Anglia has an outstanding
reputation in both teaching and research, bringing together geology, geography,
ecology, oceanography, economics, planning, soil science, risk assessment,
and environmental pollution - subjects which elsewhere are taught in separate
departments. The School's innovative interdisciplinary approach provides
a context for education which most visiting students find exciting. Classes
and labs are smaller than those at UC, with lots of in-depth practical
work and easy contact with lecturers. There are lecture/lab combo courses
that are taught by the same lecturer and UC students have opportunities
to do special study projects.
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