Environmental Studies | Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences

Environmental Studies and Sustainability

The Environmental Studies and Sustainability (ENSS) major at NMU trains and educates students to observe, measure, and influence how people interact with Earth’s natural and cultural environments. This produces knowledge that is helpful in understanding our changing world and ensures its sustainability through the implementation of holistic solutions. Students will learn about sustainable food systems, energy, water resources, demographic changes, culture, and the built environment.

Our faculty train students to identify geographic concepts and patterns, and to use spatial, qualitative, and quantitative methods to understand and address environmental challenges.

View the Bulletin.

Our program prepares students for employment in many careers, including, but not limited to, the following:

Ecotourism Guide
Environmental Conservation Officer
Environmental Consultant
Environmental Educator
Environmental Protection Specialist
Organic Farmer
Park Naturalist
Park Ranger
Environmental Policy Expert
Recreational Consultant
Resort Manager
Sustainability Coordinator
Sustainable Agriculture Practitioner
Transportation Planner
Urban Planner
Water Conservationist

The Environmental Studies and Sustainability major’s course work will develop critical thinking, problem solving, and decision-making abilities. Strong communication skills, including writing and speaking, are essential for a career in this field. Leadership skills are also beneficial.

By graduation, students will be able to:

describe and explain the geographical foundations of Environmental Studies.
explain and analyze interdisciplinary connections between physical, biological, and social systems.
evaluate multicultural perspectives and policies.
apply methods and tools to solve problems.

Affiliated Faculty

Jelili "Gana" Adebiyi

Assistant Professor

jadebiyi@nmu.edu 906-227-2634

Office Location:

3003 Weston

Weronika Kusek

Associate Professor

wkusek@nmu.edu 906-227-2989

Office Location:

3111 Weston

Sarah Mittlefehldt

Professor

smittlef@nmu.edu 906-227-1442

Office Location:

3005 Weston Hall

Ryan Stock

Assistant Professor

rystock@nmu.edu 906-227-2616

Office Location:

3115 Weston

Susy Ziegler

Professor, Department Head, Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences

suziegle@nmu.edu 906-227-1104

Office Location:

3001A Weston

Major Requirements

Students must complete all courses listed in Core Requirements and then select eight (8) credits of elective courses.

Core Requirements (50 cr.)

GC 100 Physical Geography [SCII] (4 cr.)
GC 101 Introduction to Environmental Science [INTT] (4 cr.)
GC 164 Human Geography [SOCR] (4 cr.)
GC 205 Introduction to Geographic Research (4 cr.)
GC 220 Economic Geography (4 cr.)
GC 225 Introduction to Maps (2 cr.)
GC 235 Quantitative Methods (4 cr.)
GC 269 Introduction to Sustainability (4 cr.)
GC 310 Urban Geography (4 cr.)
GC 320 Environmental Policy and Regulation (4 cr.)
GC 335 Geographic Information Systems (4 cr.)
GC 360 Population Geography (4 cr.)
GC 489 Human-Environment Capstone (4 cr.)

Electives (8 cr.)

Choose 8 credits from the following:

AN 210 Ecological Anthropology: People, Culture and Nature (4 cr.)
AN 320 Native Peoples of North America (4 cr.)
EC 345 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (4 cr.)
EC 425 International Economics (4 cr.)
EC 460 Economic Development (4 cr.)
GC 202 Soils (4 cr.)
GC 210 Earth Hazards (4 cr.) [SCII]
GC 285 Earth’s Climate: Past, Present, and Future (4 cr.)
GC 300 Regional Studies: World Cultures (4 cr.) [SOCR] or
Study Abroad (4 cr.)*
GC 303 Practicing Geography (4 cr.)
GC 316 Geography of Tourism (4 cr.)
GC 317 Geography of Food Systems (4 cr.)
GC 342 Energy and the Environment (4 cr.)
GC 362 Wetlands (4 cr.)
GC 424 Environmental Justice (4 cr.)
GC 431 Landscape Dynamics and Analysis (4 cr.)
GC 444/GN 444 Gender & Environment (4 cr.)
GC 470 Environmental Ethics (4 cr.)
GC 475 Environmental Impact Assessment (4 cr.)
GC 491 Internship (2-6 cr.)
NAS 340 Kinomaage: Earth Shows Us the Way (4 cr.)
NAS 342 Indigenous Environmental Movements (4 cr.) [INTT]
PS 206 International Relations (4 cr.)
PS 415 Politics of American Foreign Policy (4 cr.)
SO 351 Social Change (4 cr.) [PERS]
SP 432 Environmental Communication (4 cr.)

*Study abroad may be substituted for GC 300 with advisor approval.

"While at NMU I gained valuable skills in GIS, plant identification, and multiple certifications like WFR [Wilderness First Responder] and [wildland fire chainsaws training]. In addition to hard skills, I also learned the importance of the human factor on natural environments and how to navigate this subject. I practiced working with others to prepare technical papers, presentations, and fieldwork, while also being pushed to think and work independently."

Montana cohn

BS Environmental Studies and Sustainability, 2014

Where Have Our Students Interned?

The following is a partial listing of organizations and businesses where our have interned.

Borden Dairy—sustainability intern
Citizens' Climate Lobby
Great Lakes Climate Corps—crew member; crew leader
Eaton County Resource Recovery Department—resource recovery intern
Isle Royale National Park—camping impacts monitoring intern
Marquette Alternative High School—garden educator
Marquette County Climate Adaptation Task Force
Marquette County Planning Department—planning assistant
Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority—various internship opportunities
Michigan Energy Options
Michigan Environmental Council
Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation—wildland firefighting
NMU EcoReps—various positions
Partridge Creek Farm—various intern positions
Seaside Sustainability
Sierra Club
Superior Watershed Partnership—various internships including for Energy Conservation Corps, technical writing, ecosystem restoration

"I'm very grateful for the staff and faculty here; they saw so much value in our ideas and projects and always encouraged us to take our projects farther than we thought they could even go. One of my favorite examples of this was the native plant rain garden which started out as just a paper for a class assignment, but we were encouraged to take it farther and turn it into an actual proposal to submit to the Green Fund—and it was chosen and actually came to fruition."

Bailey Swanson

BS Environmental Studies and Sustainability, 2023

"My entire experience at NMU was great. I think the happiest was digging soil pits for [GC 202 Soils]. We had a lot of fun outside that day. Another happy experience, I’d say, was just how helpful everyone was when I decided to apply to grad school. Many of my professors offered help with the application process and letters of recommendation. It was just really nice to feel all that support. "

Olivia Czajka

BS Environmental Studies and Sustainability, 2021

Declare the ENSS Major

We strongly encourage you to meet with one of our Senior Success Advisors in EEGS before declaring the major, as they can provide valuable guidance and will work with you to develop a degree plan. Our Success Advisors are:

Ruth Abbott (rabbott@nmu.edu; schedule a meeting)
Lauren Anargyros (lanargyr@nmu.edu; schedule a meeting)
Kelsey Avey (kavey@nmu.edu; schedule a meeting)
Jose' Garcia (jogarcia@nmu.edu; schedule a meeting)

When you are ready to declare:

You many submit your request to change a major or a minor on the web on the Change or Declare a Major page.
Enter your name, NMU IN, email address, class standing, check the "change my major" box, and input any additional relevant comments. For Earth Science be sure to select a concentration if you are under the Fall 2023 (or more recent) Bulletin.
Submit the declare request.

You may also visit the Student Success Office in 3302 C.B. Hedgcock Building to make the change in person.

Environmental Studies and Sustainability

Program Overview

What can you do with an Environmental Studies and Sustainability degree?