Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary field that explores the interconnection between humans, other species and their lived environments. Modern environmental issues reflect the complex interactions of natural and social systems at global and local scales, and the resulting impacts on the Earth have led many to ask whether humankind has entered into a new epoch in the planet’s history, the Anthropocene, one in which humans are now a key driver in the change of Earth systems.

Teaching Goals of the Program

The Environmental Studies program fosters the critical, integrative thinking required to better understand the complexities of human-nonhuman-environment relationships and to assess and develop solutions to today’s environmental challenges that meet intergenerational human needs without compromising the natural systems upon which humans and other species depend.

History of the Program

In 2002, Paul Harcombe, a professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Walter Isle, an English professor, created and oversaw the first course listings in Environmental Studies (ENST) at Rice in their roles as co-founders of the Center for the Study of Environment and Society (CSES). From its inception, CSES reported to the Provost’s Office, which enabled a truly interdisciplinary approach to the ENST course listing.

Over subsequent years, the ENST course offerings grew to include: (1) Courses funded directly by CSES, usually taught by adjunct lecturers; (2) Courses taught by Rice faculty or staff explicitly for ENST; and (3) Cross-listed courses originating from other departments and tagged with the ENST designation to draw the attention of students with environmental interests.

During the summer of 2014, CSES merged into Rice’s new Center for Energy and Environmental Research in the Human Sciences (CENHS), the first research center founded within Rice’s cross-campus Energy and Environment Initiative (EEI). With the merger, CENHS inherited oversight over the ENST course listings.

A proposal to create a minor in ENST was approved by the Faculty Senate in the spring of 2015. The minor is overseen by the ENST Faculty Advisory Board.

Degree Offered

At Rice University, we offer a Minor in Environmental Studies to allow students to pursue this interdisciplinary field in addition to their main course of study. Details of the requirements of the minor and additional resources can be found under Minor Requirements and Resources.