Environmental Studies & Science
Environmental Studies & Science on the Block
This course surveys key domestic actors, institutions, and policy/legal regimes that have shaped historical and contemporary regulation of environmental issues in the United States. Students will collaboratively interrogate law/policy dimensions of environmental equity and justice, explore structural deficits and opportunities, apply these insights to specific environmental regimes, and cultivate environmental legal and academic research and communication skills. Environmental Studies majors and minors can count this course or EV/PS274 toward the major, but not both. 1 unit.
Featured Alumni
Holly Moynahan
Pronouns: She/Her
Graduation year: Class of 2016 (December 2015)
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Currently living in: Boston, Massachusetts
Current occupation: Sustainability & ESG Director
What was your experience at CC like as an Environmental Science major?
I LOVED the environmental science (EV) major at CC. I have countless memories of phenomenal EV classes. For example, for my Ecology class, we spent 4 days out of the week up on Pikes Peak learning about ecology on the mountainside, and up past the three line (i.e., above ~11,000 feet) in many cases. For Geology, we camped with our class and professor for a week, roaming Colorado and New Mexico to see ancient rock strata in-the-flesh. I can name half a dozen more classes like those where we had the exceptional experience of hands-on learning. Within my degree, I also concentrated in Economics by taking a few Econ courses, since I knew I wanted to go into corporate sustainability after CC. I loved that I had the support from the EV department to pursue a separate topic area (Econ) to complement the systems-lens acumen I developed through my science degree. And, in tandem, I was also taking courses like EV Ethics, EV Policy, and EV Education—to name a few—which all gave me a multi-dimensional view of EV issues, topics, and opportunities. Plus, I was fortunate to study abroad twice: Spanish in Spain the Summer after my Freshman year (2 blocks abroad via CC), and Fall semester abroad sailing and studying in Polynesia via SEA Semester. Looking back, CC—and my EV education—were the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Madeline Lee
Pronouns: she/her
Graduation year: 2017
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Currently living in: Homer, AK
Current occupation: Tribal Fish Biologist, Chugach Regional Resources Commission
What was your experience at CC like as an environmental science major?
I enjoyed the field trips of an environmental science major and did a focus in ecology to take full advantage of the awesome experiences the block plan offered. I took a block in Belize for tropical rainforest and coral reef ecology as well as a block roaming the Rockies with animal ecology. The environmental science program is diverse with a wide range of classes that I found to be formative, but I’m grateful I chose a focus in ecology and had an advisor guide me towards a focus in GIS to help me find a job post-graduation. I also minored in computer science and found it to be incredibly challenging on the block plan. The material was very difficult to learn in 3.5 weeks. I enjoyed studying computer science abroad in Budapest more because I was able to learn on the semester plan which I found to be much easier for those types of classes.
Stephen Rijo
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Graduation year: 2013
Hometown: Basking Ridge, NJ
Currently living in: Denver, CO
Current occupation: Principal City Planner – City and County of Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure
What was your experience at CC like as an Environmental Policy major?
It was a great experience that was intellectually fulfilling and gave me the skills to be successful in graduate school, my professional career, and my personal life.
Explore Our Programs
The Environmental Studies & Science program at CC critically examines the complex interrelationships between humans and more-than-human nature. At the center of our interdisciplinary majors are the social and earth systems that are vital to the flourishing of all. In the course of study, we nurture students’ motivation to create a sustainable and more just world in the face of climate change and other environmental crises.
Contact Us
Shannon Gelbman
Academic Administrative Assistant
ev@coloradocollege.edu
(719) 389-6965
Mailing Address
Environmental Studies & Science Program
14 East Cache La Poudre Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
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