The Program in
Jonathan Moch ‘12
Major: Geosciences
Senior Thesis: Permafrost and Global Climate Change: Novel Models, Uncertainties, and Policy Implications
Internship: Modeled carbon cycle-climate feedbacks, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey Post-graduation: environmental think tank, Washington D.C.
Vibrant, Multidisciplinary,
and Experiential
The Program in Environmental Studies
is open to students from all academic
disciplines as early as the freshman year.
Generalist Track
Students who wish to examine a broad range of environmental topics are encouraged to pursue the Generalist Track. To follow this course of study, students select:
• One (1) ENV foundation course • Four (4) ENV electives
Three electives must be chosen from dif- ferent academic divisions (i.e., natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities).
Specialist Tracks
The Specialist Tracks allow students to examine a particular environmental topic in-depth. For this course of study, students complete:
• One (1) Environmental Science course • One (1) Environmental Policy course • Three (3) ENV electives specific to the
selected track
Track 1: Biodiversity and Conservation
The Biodiversity and Conservation Track is for students interested in conservation and understanding the factors that contribute to changes in biological diversity over time.
Electives: conservation biology; The Program in Environmental Studies (ENV)
offers a vibrant, multidisciplinary forum for engaging the scientific, political, humanistic, and technological dimensions of today’s environmental challenges. Participating students pursue either a generalist track or one of several specialist tracks:
• Biodiversity and Conservation • Climate and Energy
• Earth Systems • Environmental Policy • Environment and Water
Students in the ENV Program complete five courses, investigate an environmental
topic as part of their senior thesis, and parti-cipate in a senior colloquium. Students who complete the requirements receive a Certificate of Environmental Studies at graduation.
Experiential learning including laboratory and field study, internships, and independent projects is an integral component of environ-mental studies at Princeton. Equally important are colloquia and other opportunities for students to interact with leading scientists and policy makers.
Electives: environmental and natural resource economics; global environmental issues and governance; environmental history and law; poverty and conflict; climate ethics; environmental justice; climate communications; technology regulation; global health policy.
Track 5: Environment and Water
The Environment and Water Track examines the role of water in today’s societies and delves deeply into the scientific and technical dimensions of domestic and global water resources and management.
Electives: ecohydrology; climate variability and the water cycle; fluid mechanics;
environmental geochemistry; energy-water nexus; water pollution; ecosystem health; drought and resilience; sedimentology; water conservation and restoration.
Senior Year Experience
All participants in the Environmental Certificate Program examine an environmental issue as a component of their senior thesis. The ENV Senior Colloquium—a faculty-led seminar— is also required and provides a forum for discussing outcomes of independent work and for exchanging perspectives on global environmental issues.
The senior year experience culminates
in Discovery Day—an interdisciplinary
poster session featuring senior thesis
projects of Program participants.
tropical ecology; marine ecology; ecohydrology; African wildlife and ecosystems; ecosystems and climate change; epidemiology; infectious disease; species interactions; land use, agriculture, and food; restoration ecology.
Track 2: Climate and Energy
Students in the Climate and Energy Track study the environmental impact of our global energy system.
Electives: greenhouse gas emissions and global change; climate science; environmental chemistry; air pollution; energy technology; energy- water nexus; geopolitics of oil; energy policy and adaptation; carbon mitigation; food security.
Track 3: Earth Systems
The Earth Systems Track addresses the atmospheric, oceanographic, and environ-mental aspects of Earth’s natural processes and fosters an understanding of these dynamics in the context of the global environment.
Electives: environmental geochemistry; the climate system; oceans; atmosphere; terrestrial biosphere; catastrophes; extreme weather events; soil contamination.
Track 4: Environmental Policy
Students in the Environmental Policy Track explore pressing environmental issues for the 21st Century and their policy solutions.
Karen Krieb ‘12
Major: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Senior Thesis: The Effects of Pasture Abandonment on Soil Chemistry in Azuero Peninsula, Panama Internship: Studied land use, reforestation, and soil quality in Pedasi, Panama
Post-graduation: engineering and construction firm, Chicago, Illinois
Theodore Eyster ‘13
Major: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Senior Thesis: Hydrological and Riparian Habitat Impacts from Stream Restoration in an Urban Setting
Internship: Investigated coliform sources and the impact of stream restoration on community lake, Princeton, New Jersey Internship: Monitored aquatic warblers, Poland
Internships and Independent
Field Research
As early as the freshman year, students may apply for internships with Princeton faculty and for other mentored research opportunities. These paid fellowships provide exposure to cutting edge research on environmental challenges including climate and energy, infectious disease and global health, sustainable development in resource-scarce regions of the world, and environmental sustainability. Funding is also available to support field research with connections to independent work in the junior and senior years.
Interdisciplinary Environmental Center
The Program in Environmental Studies is part of the Princeton Environmental Institute (PEI), the center of environmental research, education, and outreach at Princeton University. PEI is committed to advancing knowledge and developing the next generation of leadership in the environmental field. The Institute derives strength from more than 90 members of the Princeton faculty and comprises several major interdisciplinary research centers and educational programs for undergraduate and graduate students.To Participate
The Program in Environmental Studies is open to all students regardless of academic major. Students may participate as early as their freshman year. For more information and to register, visit www.princeton.edu/pei.
Chenyu Zheng ‘12
Major: Economics
Senior Thesis: Financing and Residential Adoption Rates of Solar Power in California and New Jersey Internship: Developed marketing materials for clean-energy non-profit, Beijing, China
Printed on carbon-neutral, 100% recycled FSC-certified paper. Design by ChingFoster.
Scan this QR code to visit PEI’s website.
“Being in the ENV Program was the high point of my academic experience at Princeton. Its interdisciplinary
nature exposed me to a variety of people and opinions that challenged and enriched my own views of
environmental issues.”
— Jason Warrington ’13 (Politics)Certificate in Environmental Studies: Requirements
Biodiversity and Conservation
One (1) Environmental Science course and one (1) Environmental Policy course plus three (3) electives*
Earth Systems Environment and Water
Generalist
One (1) ENV foundation course plus
four (4) electives*
Environmental component to senior thesis Senior Colloquium
Climate and Energy Environmental Policy
Track Options
