Environmental Studies (BA)

Innovative Curriculum

The Environmental Studies major is rooted in the understanding that complex environmental problems cannot be grasped through a single discipline. As a student in the program, you investigate the relationship between humans and their environment through social, ecological, and political dimensions. We emphasize three main areas:

• A firm grounding in the natural sciences, particularly urban ecology and resilience
• A sustained engagement with environmental policy and politics, particularly around aspects of inequality, race, and justice
• Studio-based work on design and sustainability

Our students are innovators and creative problem solvers passionate about facing the environmental challenges of this century, curious about the interaction between humans and their environments, and inspired to bring about social and ecological justice.

Learn more about the curriculum

We continue to offer courses and co-curricular opportunities in environmental studies. Students who begin their studies in the Adult Bachelors Program in Fall 2026 or after can continue to explore this subject through:

• The Environmental Studies minor.
• Topical courses in environmental studies, such as Fieldwork: Observing and Writing Nature, Green Roof Ecology, and ARTSCI-Environment Lab. 
• Programming and events hosted by institutes such as the Tishman Environment and Design Center and the Multispecies Lab.
• Fellowships and grants such as Lang Sustainability Internship grant, which supports Lang students working with New School centers, labs, and institutes focused on the environment.
• Internships and independent work in the community. Students have recently interned at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture, the Bee Conservancy, and the Climate Museum. 
• Lang’s annual Dean’s Honor Symposium, in which students connect their interests and scholarship with experiences outside of the classroom and in context with one another. 

Career Paths

Environmental Studies graduates pursue their passions in many areas such as sustainability consulting, public policy, urban design, urban planning, or continued graduate study, including in The New School's MS in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management program.

Interdisciplinary Excellence

The New School offers the BA in Environmental Studies as part of the university's suite of cross-college, interdisciplinary undergraduate programs, which includes Global Studies, Environmental Studies, and Urban Studies. These interdisciplinary programs are designed to prepare students for the new careers of the 21st century.