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Environmental studies

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Environmental studies is a way to learn about our world. It looks at how people and nature work together. This field uses many different subjects to solve big problems. It connects the physical sciences with things like economics and history.

The Porter School of Environmental Studies Building
The Porter School of Environmental Studies Building

Students study the natural world and the built world too. They want to understand how these two things affect each other. This help is needed to face many environmental issues today.

This field works by using many different tools. Students use science to understand how the planet works. They also use social sciences to study how people behave. They might look at law, geography, or even how we plan cities.

By using these tools, they can find ways to stop destruction. They look at how individuals and whole societies impact the Earth. This way, they can create better ways to manage our natural resources.

People have been studying these topics for a long time. The New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University started a special degree program in the 1950s. They gave out their first degree in 1956.

Later, Middlebury College started a similar major in 1965. In Canada, the Environmental Studies Association of Canada was formed in 1993. This group helps people teach and research these important topics. Their first big meeting was held in Calgary in 1994.

There are many ways to study this field today. In the United States, over 500 colleges offer these degrees.

The University of California, Berkeley awards a lot of these degrees. In 2019, they gave out 409 degrees to students. Antioch University-New England also has a very high percentage of students in this field. In 2019, nearly 35% of their degrees were in environmental studies. This shows how many people want to help the planet.

Learning about the environment can change how we see things. In schools, this is often called environmental education. The goal is to help people care more about nature.

It helps children understand the things that change their surroundings. Instead of just watching, they become active leaders for the Earth. This study can even prepare students for other jobs. They might go on to study archaeology or how history and geography work together.

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