Environmental Studies - Lewis & Clark College Quick Links Apply Visit Alumni Library Giving The Source Newsroom Majors Art (Studio) Art History Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Biology Chemistry Classics Computer Science Computer Science and Mathematics Data Science Economics English Environmental Studies French Studies German Studies Hispanic Studies History International Affairs Mathematics Music Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology Religious Studies Rhetoric and Media Studies Sociology and Anthropology Student-Designed Major Theatre World Languages Minors Art and Art History Artificial Intelligence Asian Studies Chemistry Chinese Classics Computer Science Cybersecurity Dance Data Science Earth System Science Economics Education English Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation Environmental Studies Ethnic Studies French Studies Gender Studies German Studies Health Studies Hispanic Studies History Japanese Latin American and Latino Studies Law and Policy Mathematics Middle East and North African Studies Music Neuroscience Philosophy Physics Political Economy Political Science Religious Studies Rhetoric and Media Studies Russian Theatre
Associate Professor of Geological Science Elizabeth Safran leading a field trip in the Gorge.
Home / Environmental Studies Environmental Studies When you earn a degree in environmental studies at Lewis & Clark, you will learn the newest concepts in the field and cultivate cutting-edge technical and leadership skills to make a difference in the world. You’ll do all of this while benefiting from our proximity to Portland and the diverse natural environments of the Pacific Northwest. Majors Art (Studio) Art History Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Biology Chemistry Classics Computer Science Computer Science and Mathematics Data Science Economics English Environmental Studies French Studies German Studies Hispanic Studies History International Affairs Mathematics Music Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology Religious Studies Rhetoric and Media Studies Sociology and Anthropology Student-Designed Major Theatre World Languages Minors Art and Art History Artificial Intelligence Asian Studies Chemistry Chinese Classics Computer Science Cybersecurity Dance Data Science Earth System Science Economics Education English Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation Environmental Studies Ethnic Studies French Studies Gender Studies German Studies Health Studies Hispanic Studies History Japanese Latin American and Latino Studies Law and Policy Mathematics Middle East and North African Studies Music Neuroscience Philosophy Physics Political Economy Political Science Religious Studies Rhetoric and Media Studies Russian Theatre Why Choose a Degree in Environmental Studies? Our unique program will challenge you to transcend intellectual, geographic, and communication boundaries as you weave insights drawn from across the sciences and humanities; apply them in local, regional, and global contexts; and learn strategies to connect with the people and institutions you encounter. You will draw a larger—potentially more hopeful—circle around environmental issues. You will graduate with a background in environmental science situated in a broader understanding of cultural, political, and other key dimensions, plus skills and experience you can apply to professional opportunities, graduate study, and effective environmental action. Apply Visit What You’ll Study We offer a major and minor. The heart of our interdisciplinary curriculum includes core courses in environmental studies, which help build an intellectually coherent understanding of environmental problems and solutions; breadth courses in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, which provide important discipline-specific tools for environmental analysis; elective courses, which offer opportunities to explore key topics; and a quantitative requirement, which builds skills in data analysis and modeling. In addition, many of our students earn course credit toward their environmental studies degree while on an overseas program. Popular programs for our students are Australia, East Africa, Ecuador, India, Japan, and Senegal. Outside the classroom, the annual Environment Across Boundaries (ENVX) Symposium is organized by a committee of students with support from faculty and staff. This multiday, interdisciplinary event encourages students to expand their search for new scholarly concepts and skills, transcend geographic boundaries as they explore environmental issues around the world, and engage with people on all sides of these issues, ideally working toward mutual respect and collaborative solutions. The symposium offers the Lewis & Clark community and general public an opportunity to experience this broader approach to studying the environment. Our students also regularly engage in constructive environmental dialogue with people from diverse backgrounds in Portland and across the Pacific Northwest, and develop their own engagement projects to reach out to people connected to environmental issues. Additionally, many of our students become trip leaders for College Outdoors , taking their peers to spectacularly beautiful sites in the Pacific Northwest. This opportunity provides them with leadership opportunities and professional training for careers in outdoor education. Curriculum Connect With Lewis & Clark! After you hit submit, we will follow up with information about L&C, and you will have the opportunity to share a bit more about yourself. Loading...
Favorite Class
Social Change With Professor Bruce Podobnik
The class tackles various social issues globally, and as a student I got insight into some incredible activism that I have been applying to my own actions in my home town in Denmark. To be able to read, discuss, and learn about some inspiring activists has not only been informative, but the class itself has been one of my most engaging classes so far because I felt that every single student in my class wanted to learn from one another.
Philosophy and the Environment with Professor Jay Odenbaugh
It was an inspiring course that truly expanded my perspective on environmental ethics. Dr. Odenbaugh was an enthusiastic professor who posed engaging questions and fostered a space for students to debate key environmental topics.
Critical Perspectives on Development with Associate Professor Maryann Bylander
I think L&C has a great sociology and anthropology department, and this class shifted my perspective so much when it comes to global development projects. Everyone should take a class with Professor Bylander, you will learn a lot about how the world really works!
Global Environmental History With Associate Professor Andy Bernstein
This class gave me such an amazing and comprehensive understanding of humans and our connections with nature through time. I frequently think back to the sources we read and the concepts they’ve diffused, and see the way they’ve shaped our societies today.
Major: Environmental Studies and French Studies (double)
Favorite Class
Global Environmental History with Associate Professor Andrew Bernstein
I believe everyone should learn about the historical relationship between humans and their surrounding environment. As an environmental studies major, I found this to be an incredibly foundational class to my current and future thinking.
The class will push you to think creatively, collaborate, and build connections both in the Lewis & Clark and wider Oregon communities. Alana is supportive, curious, and knowledgeable, pushing her students to be the same.
Unnatural Disasters with Associate Professor Liz Safran
I have always been interested in natural disasters, and this course was able to provide a wide scope of information, through perspectives I had never thought of before, but now think are crucial for everyone to learn about.
We covered so much in one semester, but the content was genuinely fascinating and each new unit built on the last to show how interconnected earth systems are.
Spending an entire semester creating an event in this class was certainly a highlight of my academic career. Working with the notable organization Narrative 4, we created a unique story exchange with students that was the largest of its kind at the time.
Environmental Law and Policy with Hannah Goldblatt
In general, I enjoy learning about the topic and I’m looking to apply to Lewis & Clark Law School after finishing my undergraduate. Hannah was also a wonderful professor and connected us with many outside resources and brought in weekly guest speakers to show us how environmental law is being put into action in our own community in Portland. I also enjoyed our final moot court assignment in this class where we had to give an oral argument on a real life environmental law case in front of the class.
I came into the class with no prior experience with coding, and so the class was a way to learn the basics of R in a welcoming environment that was accessible to people with different levels of knowledge of code.
Minor: Earth System Sciences and Data Science (double)
Favorite Class
Any Japanese course with Instructor Satomi Newsom
In learning a new language, it often feels like you’re learning something novel with each lesson because so much is unfamiliar. The sense of discovery is very rewarding.
Complement Your Education With One of These Minors The most popular minors for our environmental studies majors are Earth System Science (ESS), Economics (ECON), and Entrepreneurship and Leadership (ELI). What Students Are Saying About Lewis & Clark In the fall of my sophomore year, I took my first sociology class and immediately knew that sociology and anthropology was for me. Since then, I have taken an incredible breadth of classes within the major, and have loved each one partially due to the incredible faculty in the department. Helen Guyton BA ’23 Sociology and Anthropology | Environmental Studies and Japanese (double) | Cologne, Germany More about Helen I find the community through my interests. Bonding with people over different types of outdoor endeavors, musical interests, and academic interests has given me a community with which I can pursue the things I care about most. Max Morrish BA ’22 Psychology | Environmental Studies | Ashland, Oregon More about Max We are home to a robust campus community that is concerned with both local and national sustainability efforts. Qwynci Bowman BA ’23 Environmental Studies | Austin, Texas More about Qwynci What Can You Do With a Degree in Environmental Studies? Our alumni use their BA in environmental studies in a variety of careers in nonprofit organizations, in academia, and at companies and agencies. Many go on to pursue advanced degrees in environmental history, landscape architecture, nuclear engineering, and other fields. Dedicated Faculty Our expert professors are your expert mentors. You will learn directly from faculty (no graduate assistants here!) that are nationally recognized in their fields of study and who love to work with and learn from their students. Your professors will inspire you to be a thoughtful and passionate participant in a diverse world. Your small classes will support you as you explore new ideas, find your voice, and speak your truth. Meet the Professors L&C is a place where people express care, extend support, and nurture one another. Inclusion, accommodation, diversity, and difference are valued here. Joseph M. Ha Associate Professor of International Affairs and Director of Political Economy Elizabeth Bennett More about Elizabeth I love the moments of insight when students suggest things that I hadn’t considered. Associate Professor of Environmental Studies; Director of Environmental Studies Program Jessica Kleiss More about Jessica Strong faculty support and rigorous academic expectations for second (and third) language acquisition help students achieve whatever they set their minds to do. Assistant Professor of Russian; Russian Section Head Maria (Masha) Hristova More about Maria (Masha) 29+38 Lewis & Clark offers 29 majors and 38 minors . 96% Within six months of graduation, 96% of the Lewis & Clark Class of 2024 was already changing the world through employment (71%), continuing studies (22%), and service work (3%), like the Peace Corps. 4-5-6 Lewis & Clark’s 4-5-6 Commitment can help you make the most of your future. U.S. News Lewis & Clark is on U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” list . 2,139 As of fall 2024, there are 2,139 degree-seeking students enrolled at Lewis & Clark College. Invest in Yourself A private liberal arts education is often more affordable than you think . Last year, Lewis & Clark distributed over $74 million in assistance from institutional, federal, state, and private sources. Additionally, we’re so confident that our first-year students will graduate in four years with their bachelor of arts degree that if you don’t, we’ll cover the extra semester of tuition. Find Your People Students can join a variety of student-run organizations that relate to their environmental studies degree, like the ENVX: Environment Across Boundaries symposium and Students Engaged in Eco-Defense (SEED). Don’t see what you’re looking for on the club list ? Start something new and build your own community of peers! Where Lewis & Clark Will Take You At Lewis & Clark, I was always taking a variety of classes in different disciplines and using my brain in different ways. This definitely serves me well in my job now! Elise Pfrommer BA ’21 Environmental Affairs | Latin American Studies | Lexington, Massachussetts More about Elise I am now working as a manager of a canoe outfitter and helping educate and prepare people to go on wilderness trips. This job has combined my passions for education, environmental studies, history, and outdoor recreation! Maddy Frawley BA ’18 Environmental Studies More about Maddy Lewis & Clark gave me a lot of confidence to express my ideas, opinions, and intentions. I think my favorite thing that I learned was the ability to problem solve. Skylar Golleher BA ’21 Economics and Environmental Studies (double) | Little Rock, Arkansas More about Skylar Environmental Studies Events April 25 Eco-Volunteer with Tryon Life Community Farm! Come volunteer with TLC as they work to tend to their space. You’ll get to choose your own adventure- fight invasives, nurture native species, get involved with light construction, gardening, and other special events! More info attached to the description of this event. Dates for this event are: February 28, 2026 April 25, 2026 May 30, 2026 June 27, 2026 July 25, 2026 August 29, 2026 September 26, 2026 October 31, 2026 REGISTER HERE April 30 ENVS Spring Poster Celebration Students in ENVS, ESS, and selected CORE classes will be presenting the work they completed this semester. Come celebrate the end of the semester, view student work, and enjoy refreshments! May 8 ENVS Senior Brunch September 28 29th Annual ENVX Symposium until October 3 September 29 29th Annual ENVX Symposium until October 3 September 30 29th Annual ENVX Symposium until October 3 October 1 29th Annual ENVX Symposium until October 3 Show 2 more... ( 9 total ) Featured News CORE 121 Students Tackle Campus Transportation Issues Read the story More News and Events → Jessica Kleiss Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Director of Environmental Studies Program jkleiss@lclark.edu 503-768-7368 Facebook Page Instagram Admissions Academics Financial Aid Alumni
