The Department of Environmental Science & Policy (ESP) is an interdisciplinary unit offering a B.A. in Environmental Planning & Policy and a B.S. in Environmental Science. We have an accelerated program allowing students in the B.A. program to work towards a Master’s degree in Policy, Planning, & Management.

We have a pathway leading to secondary science certification for people who want to become teachers.

We have transfer agreements with Maine community colleges.

We also offer minors and/or certificates in Sustainability, Environmental Science and Environmental Policy.

Sample 4 year schedule for the BS

Fall Year 1

  • ENG 100 College Writing (WRI1)
  • ESP 101 Environmental Science & Sustainability
  • ESP 102 Fund. of Env. Science Lab (SE)
  • ESP 150 Field Immersion (EL)
  • MAT (depending on ALEKS score)

Fall Year 2

  • CHY 113 Principles of Chemistry I
  • CHY 114 Principles of Chemistry I Lab
  • MAT 140 – Pre-calc
  • CORE Culture, Power & Equity
  • ESP 2XX or higher, science elective

Fall Year 3

  • ESP 340 Environmental Regulations
  • ESP 280 Research and Analytical Methods
  • ESP 412 or 413 – Ecology
  • CORE Cultural Interpretation
  • Elective

Fall Year 4

  • CHY 233 Analytical Chem with Lab
  • or CHY 251/252 Organic Chem with Lab
  • ESP 400 – Internship
  • Elective
  • CORE Creative Expression

Spring Year 1

  • ENG 102 Academic Writing (WRI2)
  • ESP 125 Environmental Ecology
  • ESP 126 Environmental Ecology Lab
  • BIO 105/BIO 106 Biological Principles & Lab
  • ECO 102 or other Sociocultural Analysis

Spring Year 2

  • ESP 203 Environmental Communication
  • CHY 115 Principles of Chem II
  • CHY 116 Principles of Chem II Lab
  • ESP 260 Soil and Water Conservation
  • Statistics
  • Elective

Spring Year 3

  • ESP 360 Water Quality Assessment
  • ESP 2XX or higher, science elective
  • CORE EISRC & I (ESP 308)
  • Elective

Spring Year 4

  • ESP 480 Capstone (CAP & WRI3)
  • ESP 475 – Climate Seminar
  • Elective
  • Elective
  • Elective

Sample 4 year schedule for the BA

Fall Year 1

  • ENG 100 College Writing (WRI1)
  • ESP 101 Fund. of Env. Science (SE)
  • ESP 102 Fund. of Env. Science Lab (SE)
  • ESP 150 Field Immersion (EL)
  • Statistics

Fall Year 2

  • CHY 1XX Chemistry Lecture
  • ESP 200 Environmental Planning
  • ESP 340 Environmental Regulations
  • CORE Culture, Power & Equity
  • Elective

Fall Year 3

  • ESP 280 Research and Analytical Methods
  • ESP 2XX or higher, policy & planning elective
  • ESP 220 Intro to Environmental Policy
  • Elective
  • Elective

Fall Year 4

  • ESP 400 – Internship
  • ESP 417 Site Planning & Assessment
  • ESP 375 Environmental Risk Assessment
  • ESP 2XX or higher, policy & planning elective
  • Elective

Spring Year 1

  • ENG 102 Academic Writing (WRI2)
  • ESP 125 Environmental Ecology
  • ESP 126 Environmental Ecology Lab
  • CORE Cultural Interpretation
  • ECO 102 Microeconomics (SCA)

Spring Year 2

  • ESP 203 Environmental Communication
  • ESP 308 Global Sustainability (EISRC)
  • ESP 326 Environmental Economics
  • Elective
  • Elective

Spring Year 3

  • ESP 421 Natural Resource Policy
  • CORE Creative Expression
  • ESP 2XX or higher, policy & planning elective
  • Elective
  • Elective

Spring Year 4

  • ESP 480 Capstone (CAP & WRI3)
  • CORE International
  • ESP 475 Climate Seminar
  • Elective
  • Elective

Core Requirements Acronym Key:

  • (CAP) Capstone
  • (EISRC) Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility, and Citizenship
  • (I) International
  • (EL) Engaged Learning
  • (SCA) Socio-cultural Analysis
  • (SE) Science Exploration
  • (WRI) Writing, Reading, and Inquiry