Department of Earth and Environmental Science

Institute for Environmental Studies

Academic Programs

The understanding and solving environmental problems are inextricably linked with education. The University of Pennsylvania supports several environmentally oriented teaching programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels and one of the goals of the Institute is to continue to support and enhance these programs.

A University-wide Environmental Education
Environmental Courses Across the University

School of Arts & Sciences
Master of Environmental Studies
Master of Science in Applied Geosciences
Department of Biology
Department of Earth and Environmental Studies

Wharton School
Environmental Management Program
Wharton Risk Management and Decision Processes Center

School of Engineering and Applied Science
Environment and Technology
Environmental and Resource Systems Engineering

Graduate School of Fine Arts
City and Regional Planning
Landscape Architecture

Law School
Program on Law and the Environment

School of Medicine
Graduate Program in Public Health Studies

A University-Wide Environmental Education

Environmental Courses Across the University
Courses related to the environment are found in numerous departments and schools across the University. A list of approximately 120 courses, from over 25 departments, and their descriptions has been compiled based on the 2001-2002 Course Register. Each course in the list has been attributed with IES keywords for user convenience. Current course offerings and timetables can also be found at the Registrar's Office.

School of Arts & Sciences

Master of Environmental Studies
The Master of Environmental Studies is offered by the College of General Studies in cooperation with the Institute. Course work for the Master of Environmental Studies brings together researchers and practitioners in the physical and biological sciences, economics, social sciences, and other arts and sciences disciplines with professionals in planning, health care and the law. This multidisciplinary approach provides graduates with the breadth necessary to address the complexity of environment problems as well as the depth to provide specific expertise in environmental issues and management.

Master of Science in Applied Geosciences
Geoscience professionals are on the forefront of environmental remediation and pollution prevention efforts. The need for technical expertise among environmental practitioners grows as the magnitude of soil and water contamination becomes apparent. Increasingly, a sound understanding of geochemistry, geophysics, hydrogeology and engineering geology are critical to addressing environmental problems.

Department of Biology
A number of faculty within the department have research interests in population and community ecology, ecosystem ecology, biodiversity, population genetics, computational biology, and evolution. The department's Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity group runs a Ph.D. program. Undergraduate biology majors can sign up for the Concentration in Ecology and Evolution, or pursue more informal Interest Areas such as ecology and conservation biology and plant ecology. Adjunct faculty hold appointments at the Morris Arboretum, the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences , the Stroud Water Research Center, and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and Conservation & Research Center.

Department of Earth and Environmental Science
The focus of the department is geology, paleontology, hydrology, and ecosystem analysis. Research areas also include biogeochemistry and environmental geology. The department's graduate programs lead towards the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The undergraduate program offers majors in geology, environmental studies, and paleobiology. The program in environmental studies is designed for students to achieve an understanding of the breadth of contemporary environmental issues through a series of courses in environmental studies, while ensuring that each student pursue a purposeful course of study in some traditionally defined area of scholarship.

Wharton School

Wharton Risk Management and Decision Processes Center
The Center carries basic and applied research on the development of effective policies and programs for low-probability events with potentially catastrophic consequences. The Center is especially concerned with natural and technological hazards and with the integration of industrial risk management policies with insurance.

Wharton Environmental Management Program
This program is for students who wish to combine skills in finance, management and marketing with courses in cost-benefit and risk analysis, insurance, law and public policy. The focus is on the real world of business and the serious tools needed to navigate the turbulent shoals of environmental problems. There are three different teaching initiatives: M.B.A. major in Environmental and Risk Management, Undergraduate concentration in Environmental Policy and Management, and Interdisciplinary undergraduate minor in Organizations and Environmental Management. The undergraduate minor is open to students in the Schools of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering, as well as Wharton students.

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Environment and Technology
The Environment and Technology Joint Degree Program satisfies the requirements for an Environmental Studies degree from the College of Arts and Sciences, in addition to a degree from the School of Engineering. Degree options include Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering Systems, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mathematics, Systems Science, or Applied Science in Environmental Systems.

Environmental and Resource Systems Engineering
This research area in the School of Engineering addresses topics such as biotechnological treatment of waste, waste minimization strategies, and sustainable development. The development of sustainable futures for generations to come involves not only the effective and economical treatment of waste but also the mitigation of waste production by looking at the life cycle of production systems. Graduate programs lead to an M.S.E or Ph.D., and students can specialize in Environmental and Resources Systems. Undergraduates can pursue the Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Systems.

Graduate School of Fine Arts

City and Regional Planning
Students in the Department of City and Regional Planning learn about the economic, social, political, and cultural forces underlying metropolitan growth. City and regional planners address urban opportunities and problems while shaping communities and environments in response to the needs of their citizens. Faculty interests include land use, sustainable development, sprawl, and urban design. The Department offers a Ph.D. program and a Master of City Planning program with a concentration in Environmental Planning and Growth Management.

Landscape Architecture
The Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning introduces students to the practice and scope of landscape architecture, including the environmental topics of urban parks, Brownfields, regional watersheds, ecology, and horticulture. The curriculum leads to the Master of Landscape Architecture, and the Department offers dual degree programs with architecture, regional planning, and fine arts.

Law School

Program on Law and the Environment
The Law School offers curriculum leading towards the J.D. degree, and other graduate programs for the Master of Laws, Master of Comparative Laws, and Doctor of Juridicial Science. Concentrations in Land Development, Regulation of Business, and Urban and Public Interest Law involve courses dealing with environmental law. Course topics include environmental regulation, international laws, Superfund, and environmental racism.


School of Medicine

Graduate Program in Public Health Studies
This is a University-wide program with a primary focus on master's level professional education. This program prepares for leadership by integrating research, education, and service learning in population health problems. The aim is to educate professionals from diverse disciplines in the core areas that define public health. During the course of study, students are enabled to embrace and achieve the public health paradigm as an essential component of their future endeavors in prevention, hygiene, education, and policy making. The ultimate goal is to ensure that Penn students and faculty can have the maximum positive impact upon current and future public health problems.

Institute for Environmental Studies All rights reserved.