Majors and Minors Frequently Asked Questions

Costal Enviromental Studies

• Q. What kinds of classes will I be taking in the Coastal Environmental Studies major / minor?

  The COS major and minor focus on the physical/chemical interactions of the coastal zone.  Students will take classes in physical sciences, chemistry, and geospatial science.  Additionally students take policy and management classes to learn about the complex interactions between the environmental systems and humans.
  Click here for a full listing of the courses required for the COS major.
  http://sb.cc.stonybrook.edu/bulletin/current/academicprograms/cos/degreesandrequirements.php 

• Q. What types of jobs will my major / minor in Coastal help prepare me for?

  The COS major and minor will prepare students for a wide variety environmental jobs including environmental consulting, ecosystem restoration and governmental and regulatory administration.  Recent graduates have found jobs with non-profit environmental groups, in fishery conservation, and local governments.  

• Q. Are there internships available that would relate to my major or minor in Coastal?

  Students in COS have participated in internships with local governmental agencies and non-profits working on projects covering habitat protection and restoration, wetlands monitoring, and groundwater nutrient loading.  COS students have also participated in international study abroad programs in Costa Rica and New Zealand.
  Click here for more information on jobs and internship opportunities with the Campus Career Center:   http://career.stonybrook.edu/

• Q. Are there graduate programs in sustainability related areas I could apply to with my background from SBU?

  Many of the COS graduates have elected to continue on to graduate school.  They have entered programs on Environmental Science, Marine Science, and Geosciences.
  Visit this link for some information on our Grad Corner Resources Page regarding graduate schools and career opportunities.

Ecosystems and Human Impact

• Q. What kinds of classes will I be taking in the Ecosystems and Human Impact major / minor?

   In the beginning you will be taking several Foundation courses (Introduction to Sustainability, Economics, Mathematics...) and some career leadership skills courses (Working in Teams, Advocacy and Change...). Most of these courses are required by our other majors and you will get to know many other students who share your interest and passion for sustainability. By the end of your second year you will begin to enroll in our advanced Core courses which focus on two themes: (1) the principles and applications of ecosystem ecology (Ecology, Ecosystem Restoration, Ecosystem Based Management...), and (2) humans (Ecology, Human Ecology, Global Environmental Change...).
  Click here for a full listing of the courses required for the EHI major.  http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/sustainability/majors_ehi.html

• Q. What types of jobs will my major / minor in Ecosystems help prepare me for?

  This EHI major can prepare you for several future paths depending on your interests and choice of advanced core electives. Some possibilities are: Environmental advocacy/lobbying, Research of biodiversity and species conservation, Entrepreneurship, Environmental consulting, Environmental engineering, Ecosystem-based management, Ecosystem restoration, Law and environmental education, Resource management, and eco-tourism.

• Q. Are there internships available that would relate to my major or minor in EHI?

  Yes, there are many possibilities. Here are some experiences that students in this major have pursued: environmental education at a wildlife preserve, practicing land stewardship on an organic farm, assisting in research on sustainable green technologies for water treatment, implementing storm water management with an environmental consulting firm, and conducting bird surveys in relation to human development. Click here for more information on jobs and internship opportunities with the Campus Career Center:  http://career.stonybrook.edu/

• Q. Are there graduate programs in sustainability related areas I could apply to with my background from SBU?

  Yes.  Below is a short list, but national and international educational programs in sustainability, at both the undergraduate and graduate level, are growing very rapidly, so be sure to check with your adviser and our Career Center. Arizona State University; Harvard University; NYU; Slippery Rock University; Lund University. 
  Please visit this link for some information on our Grad Corner Resources Page regarding graduate schools and career opportunities. 

Enviromental Design, Policy, & Planning

• Q. What kinds of classes will I be taking in the Environmental Design Planning major / minor?

  Your course work in EDP summarizes the broad area of the design and management of the built environment -- green architecture, infrastructure, energy production, public utilities, transportation, and waste management. Planners are increasingly attuned to the question of how we achieve resiliency in the face of the uncertainties of a changing climate. This requires the development of a repertoire of strategies for attaining sustainability. EDP courses build competency in this area of study. 
  Click here for a full listing of the courses required for the EDP major.  http://sb.cc.stonybrook.edu/bulletin/current/academicprograms/edp/degreesandrequirements.php

• Q. What types of jobs will my major / minor in EDP help prepare me for?

  Whether in the private sector, in government, or within the not-for-profit realm, there is a growing demand for professionals who recognize opportunities in which costs can be reduced along with environmental impact. In planning agencies, in public utilities, in businesses engaged in renewable energy, energy conservation and green design, or community-based organizations promoting progressive new approaches to urban and suburban management, or where "sustainability coordinators" are hired for entire institutions, the EDP foundation and background will help make you competitive for these positions. 

• Q. Are there internships available that would relate to my major or minor in EDP?

  Yes, and they are limited only by your imagination. We will explore this with you and help you develop an internship whether nearby and concurrent to your ongoing coursework, or in some distant location in which you may be engaged during your summer break. You can get credit for work outside of the classroom that gives you a hands-on experience related to your career ambitions. In some cases, internships can even result in an hourly wage. That arrangement is between the intern and the host. Whether or not there may be compensation, an internship should provide an intellectual challenge and useful work experience, as well as academic credit.
  Click here for more information on jobs and internship opportunities with the Campus Career Center: http://career.stonybrook.edu/

• Q. Are there graduate programs in sustainability related areas I could apply to with my background from SBU?

  Absolutely, and they are constantly growing in number. An excellent source of information on the growing list of graduate degrees is maintained by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). Please see: http://www.aashe.org/resources/academic-programs/

  You may also visit  this link for some information on our Grad Corner Resources Page regarding graduate schools and career opportunities.

Enviromental Humanities

• Q. What kinds of classes will I be taking in the Environmental Humanities major / minor?

   EHM students take a range of courses in environmental literature, environmental media, environmental film, environmental aesthetics and art, environmental philosophy, environmental history, environmental politics, and environmental social issues related to gender, race, culture, and class.  EHM courses are (often) team taught, hands-on, and they involve research, public speaking, and outdoor nature experiences. The theme of the curriculum is deeply interdisciplinary in the Humanities and Social Sciences in a variety of environmental and sustainability topics. The curriculum includes basic science courses that enables students to have a rich and deep understanding of the field of sustainability. Click here for a full listing of the courses required for the EHM major.  http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/sustainability/majors_humanities.html

• Q. What types of jobs will my major / minor in EHM help prepare me for?

  Students will be prepared for jobs in writing, journalism, publishing politics, the arts, museum work, and environmental/nature education and advocacy in public and private sectors, and environmental consulting. Some of the career fields they can expect to enter are environmental advocacy and NGOs, environmental social media and filmmaking, environmental education, green business, conservation work, and food rights advocacy.

• Q. Are there internships available that would relate to my major or minor in Environmental Humanities?

  There are many internships available in the local area with and in environmental advocacy groups, museums, nature education, organic farms and CSAs, government, and more. Some examples include: The Sierra Club, Clearwater Citizen's Campaign for the Environment, Local political offices, Slow Food Long Island, and Fox Hollow Farms.
  Click here for more information on jobs and internship opportunities with the Campus Career Center: http://career.stonybrook.edu/

• Q. Are there graduate programs in sustainability-related areas I could apply to with my background from SBU?

  There are Sustainability MBA programs nationwide, including Environmental Humanities MA and PhD programs in Arizona, Utah, and Oregon. UC Berkeley, Antioch, and Goucher, New York University, and Syracuse. Many others have programs in sustainability conservation, social change, and advocacy that are very well suited for our graduates.  Many of our graduates have attended these programs. Some areas that our students have applied to graduate school include: Art, Journalism, English, Law, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Health, Social Work, the Social Sciences and teaching.  Please visit this link for some information on our Grad Corner Resources Page regarding graduate schools and career opportunities.

Geospatial Science

• Q. What kinds of classes will I be taking in the Geospatial minor?

  The courses for the GSS minor focus Geographical Information Systems (GIS), which are PC based programs.  Depending on the student's major area of study they may also take courses in remote sensing, spatial statistics, project management or spatial economics to compliment the work they are focusing on.
  Click here for a full listing of the courses required for the GSS Minor.
  http://sb.cc.stonybrook.edu/bulletin/current/academicprograms/gss/degreesandrequirements.php

• Q. What types of jobs will my major / minor in GSS help prepare me for?

  The GSS minor trains students to be GIS professionals, they can work in either the public or private sectors as well as for non-profit organizations.  With GIS applications being used in all disciplines of science, most areas of business, local and federal governments, and many disciplines of social science, the employment opportunities are many and varied. 

• Q. Are there internships available that would relate to my major or minor in GSS?

  Students in GSS have participated in internships and research with local governmental agencies and non-profits working on projects covering utility infrastructure, habit studies of sharks and lemurs, emergency and public safety management, and light pollution studies.  These data have been collected in the US, Belize and Madagascar.
  Click here for more information on jobs and internship opportunities with the Campus Career Center:  http://career.stonybrook.edu/ 

• Q. Are there graduate programs in sustainability related areas I could apply to with my background from SBU?

  Geospatial Science students that continue on to graduate school will typically focus on another discipline and apply their GSS training to their independent and guided research. Visit this link for some information on our Resources Page regarding career opportunities.

Sustainability Studies

• Q. What kinds of classes will I be taking in the Sustainability Studies major / minor?

  SUS students start with foundation course in math, science, ethics and economics to build an interdisciplinary base of knowledge. To this students will add courses in communication and teamwork and systems and model assessment. For depth and breadth, students take a variety of upper level courses in physical environment, ecology, human population, economics, and policy and society. In the systems capstone course, students will work in teams with classmates enrolled in related majors to collaboratively address a current environmental issue.   The SUS major/minor builds on an interdisciplinary, systems approach to problem solving. The curriculum provides a framework that examines the production and consumption choices that individuals and societies make and their effect on environmental quality. Students learn to critically assess how our economic, social and political systems are making decisions and whether these decisions will insure the sustainable use of our limited resources.
  Click here for a full listing of the courses required for the SUS major.
  http://sb.cc.stonybrook.edu/bulletin/current/academicprograms/sus/degreesandrequirements.php

• Q. What types of jobs will my major / minor in SUS help prepare me for?

  This degree can lead to careers in both the private and public sectors, such as, economic development, international trade, resource and energy conservation, business policy, law, education, and eco-tourism.   For example, our resent graduates have careers in education, solar energy, retail and financial businesses, government organizations and organizations related to conservation and advocacy.

• Q. Are there internships available that would relate to my major or minor in SUS?

  Some examples of internships available for SUS students include: Government agencies such as DEC and EPA, retail businesses like Target and Alternative Energy companies and several other sustainability programs in institutions such as SUNY Stony Brook. Our students have many opportunities for internship experiences. One example was at the Wildlife Rescue Center of the Hamptons, Inc. where duties included preparing diets for recovering wild animal patients and oversee first aid and other various medical procedures on injured wildlife. Another example was with The N.Y. Chapter of the Urban Green Council, a Washington-based non-profit organization committed to a sustainable future through cost efficient and energy-saving green building. Responsibilities included working on shared courses, websites and other communication systems that would be used by members as well as working on the accreditation for a high performance technical roundtable presentation regarding compliance with the Greener Greater Buildings Plan.   Click here for more information on jobs and internship opportunities with the Campus Career Center:   http://career.stonybrook.edu/

• Q. Are there graduate programs in sustainability related areas I could apply to with my background from SBU?

  The major prepares students for graduate study in public policy, advocacy and conservation, social science, political science, law, management and business.
  A few examples of possible graduate school programs for SUS students are: Colorado State's MBA in Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise and MA in Environmental Philosophy, The University of New Hampshire's MA in Sustainable Politics and Policy, Columbia's MS in Sustainable Management and Yale's MBA in either Environment or Forestry.  Please visit this link for some information on our Grad Corner Page regarding graduate schools and career opportunities.