Concentration Information

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Information for Freshmen

ESPP is designed to provide a multi-disciplinary introduction to current problems of the environment. It is founded on the premise that the ability to form rational judgements concerning many of the complex environmental challenges which confront society today requires both an understanding of the underlying scientific and technical issues and an appreciation for the relevant economic, political, legal, historical and ethical dimensions. It offers students an opportunity to specialize in a specific area of either natural or social science relating to the environment.

Application for ESPP

Students applying for the concentration are required to submit a short essay indicating why this concentration suits their interests and career plans. Concentrators are required to formulate plans of study designed to comply with the concentration requirements, to indicate when the courses will be taken without time conflicts and to identify elective courses that will provide in-depth understanding of a particular area of environmental science and/or policy.

Download the ESPP application.

All students have to satisfy a core of requirements in biology, chemistry, earth and planetary sciences, economics, government and mathematics. First year students interested in concentrating in ESPP should consider taking courses that will meet ESPP requirements in two or three areas if scheduling permits. Due to of the sequencing of more advanced courses, many of which have prerequisites, progress with required courses in the following areas will allow for more flexible course schedules in sophomore, junior, and senior years.

  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics

Also to consider are the Core exemptions for ESPP concentrators: Quantitative Reasoning, Science A, Science B and Social Analysis.

  • Exempt areas: Quantitative Reasoning, Science A, and Science B
  • Non-exempt areas:
    Foreign Cultures Literature and Arts B
    Historical Study A Literature and Arts C
    Historical Study B Moral Reasoning
    Literature and Arts A Social Analysis

The Core Curriculum Requirement for Students Who Entered Before September 1999

  • Exempt areas: Science A and Science B
  • Non-exempt areas:
    Foreign Cultures Literature and Arts B
    Historical Study A Literature and Arts C
    Historical Study B Moral Reasoning
    Literature and Arts A Social Analysis
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Requirements

Basic Requirements: 16 half-courses

  1. Required courses
    1. Environmental Science and Public Policy 10.
    2. Two half-courses in biology
      • One chosen from: OEB 10, OEB 53, Life Sciences 1a, or Life Sciences 1b.
      • OEB 55 (formerly Biological Sciences 55). Students with Biology Advanced Placement credit may petition to be exempted from one of the introductory level biological sciences courses by substituting a suitable higher level course.
    3. Two half-courses in mathematics or statistics to be chosen from Mathematics 1a and 1b; Mathematics 1b plus Mathematics 19a, 20 or 21a; Mathematics 1b plus Statistics 100 or 102; Mathematics 1b plus Applied Mathematics 21a; Mathematics 19 plus Statistics 100 or 102; Mathematics 19a and 19b; Applied Mathematics 21a and 21b; or Mathematics 21a and 21b.
    4. Physical Sciences 1.
    5. One-half course in organic chemistry (Chemistry 17 or 20). Physics 11a and 11b may be substituted for organic chemistry.
    6. Two half-courses in Environmental Science/Engineering: EPS 5 and either EPS 7, EPS 8, or ES 6.
    7. Two half-courses in economics: one half-course in microeconomics (e.g., Social Analysis 10a) and Economics 1661. Students may satisfy the microeconomics requirement by taking Social Analysis 10, a full course. The course may be divided with credit, in which case students may use the first term to satisfy the requirement. The second term of Social Analysis 10 may count as an elective within ESPP. (Students interested in a joint concentration with Economics ordinarily should take the full year of Social Analysis 10 since this course is required by Economics.)
    8. ESPP 78.
    9. One half-course junior seminar, ESPP 90.
    10. Additional half-courses approved by the concentration to reach a total of 16 half-courses (see items 5a and 5b).
  2. Tutorials
    1. Junior year: ESPP 90 seminar required of all concentrators.
  3. Thesis: None.
  4. General Examination: None.
  5. Other information
    1. Students applying for the concentration are required to submit a short essay indicating why this concentration suits their interests and career plans. Concentrators are required to formulate plans of study designed to comply with the concentration requirements, to indicate when the courses will be taken without time conflicts and to identify elective courses that will provide in-depth understanding of a particular area of environmental science and/or policy. Study plans are established in consultation with and approved by the Head Tutor. Thereafter, study plans are reviewed and approved by the student's concentration adviser.
    2. A list of courses judged of particular relevance for Environmental Science and Public Policy concentrators that may be chosen as electives is available from the Head Tutor. Other courses may be substituted by petition to the Committee on Degrees in Environmental Science and Public Policy.
    3. Pass/Fail: One elective course may be taken Pass/Fail.

Honors Requirements: 17 half-courses

  1. Required courses
    1. Include all Basic Requirements (above).
    2. ESPP 99r (one term).
    3. Additional half-courses approved by the concentration to reach a total of seventeen half-courses (see items 5a-c in Basic Requirements).
  2. Tutorials
    1. Junior year: ESPP 90 seminar required of all concentrators.
    2. Senior year: ESPP 99r (one term), required. Two terms may be taken, but only one term may count toward meeting concentration requirements.
  3. Thesis: Required. Ordinarily written as part of ESPP 99r.
  4. General Examination: None.
  5. Other information: Same as Basic Requirements (above).
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Advising

At the beginning of the first term of concentration the Head Tutor in Environmental Science and Public Policy assigns each student to one of the members of the Committee on Degrees in Environmental Science and Public Policy, based on the student's interests. If desirable, the student is then reassigned to an adviser more appropriate for the student's specific area of interest, depending on faculty availability. Students normally continue with the same adviser throughout their concentration, although advisers may be changed upon student request or faculty perception of academic needs. Students should meet individually with their adviser at least once each term to discuss course selections, research opportunities and other academic matters, but are encouraged to meet with their advisers more often throughout the year. The adviser's signature on study cards is required. Students may also seek advice from any member of the Committee on Degrees in Environmental Science and Public Policy.

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Enrollment Statistics

Number of Concentrators as of November

Concentrators 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Environmental Science & Public Policy 74 87 82 77 56
ESPP + another field 7 5 3 5 8
Another field + ESPP 0 0 0 1 2

Degrees Awarded Academic Year 2003-2004

Regular Cum Laude Cum/Field Magna Summa TOTAL
2 15 4 8 0 29
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