Environment and Sustainability

ENVS Student Sarah Fisher worked with Perkiomen Watershed, featured in 2023 annual report

Steward of the Land

As someone who grew up near the Perkiomen Watershed near campus Sarah Fisher ‘23 has a vested interest in protecting it. She gained invaluable land stewardship experience as an intern for the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy, helping to design projects that will improve the local ecosystem. She continues to focus on the applications of urban agriculture in relationship to Indigenous peoples and community-based agriculture projects.

Meet Sarah

Create an ecologically vibrant, economically, and socially just world by addressing complex environmental problems.

put your coursework into action

Through integrative coursework and hands-on projects, students develop crucial problem-solving skills. Both our majors and minors engage in applied projects related to climate change, biodiversity, agriculture, circular economies, GIS, urban planning, water systems, geology, and natural resource stewardship.

Our students refine their analytical and technical skills through field experiences. They collaborate with community partners on ecological restoration, environmental management, and waste reduction projects. They also engage in food production at the campus farm and Whittaker Environmental Research agroecological field site, maintain the Ursinus Food Forest, and participate in BearShare circular economies.

Join a Dynamic and rapidly expanding field

The need for experts in environment and sustainability is growing. Our majors and minors can choose from 7 concentrations. Each concentration provides a unique path with focused coursework and experiential learning to match your interest.

Check out these factors contribute to the growing importance and demand for expertise in environmental studies, making it a dynamic and rapidly expanding field.

10 Reasons to Study Environment and Sustainability at Ursinus College

If you are a student in Food Systems and you get to harvest red aronia berries from your college's very own food forest
Bears on the hill! Our Environmental Policy students are introduced on the floor of the House and the Senate and met with Ursinus alumni legislators and other elected officials to discuss current policy and careers in environmental policy.
ENV students Jeff Cocci ’23 (left) and Lexi Fowler ’23 (center) install core logs with Ryan Beltz as part of the Arcola Island project along the Perkiomen Creek.
The Social Life of Waste class visits Total Recycle to see (and smell) recycling in action. Total Recycle is a leader in recycling construction materials for topsoil, road material & cement for businesses & residential use.
ENVS students help install plantings for the campus's new hugel garden. Compared to flat gardens, hügels improve drainage and water conservation, reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides, and require less maintenance.
For many visitors to Pfahler Hall, the extensive collection of hundreds of minerals, fossils, and artifacts on display in a first- and second-floor museum-like exhibit represents a trip through time, both historical as well as geological. More
Students of Dr. Bove collect and measure crayfish in the Perkiomen Creek for research on microplastics in water.

As part of their learning, students also have the opportunity to shape the College’s commitment to the Welcome Home Project, working both 1) to affirm the acknowledgment of our campus’ location in Lënapehòkink, or the traditional homelands of the Lenape people, and 2) realize critical elements of the Statement of Mutual Intentions signed by the College with the five federally recognized Tribes (U.S. and Canada) that comprise the Lenape.

Environment and Sustainability

put your coursework into action

Join a Dynamic and rapidly expanding field

Featured Story

Artwork and Sustainability Go Hand-in-Hand in Latest Installation

Tracks & Minors

Environment and Sustainability

put your coursework into action

Join a Dynamic and rapidly expanding field

Featured Story

Artwork and Sustainability Go Hand-in-Hand in Latest Installation

Ursinus College Majors & Minors

Tracks & Minors