Education

Vassar offers numerous opportunities for students to build sustainability directly into their curriculum. The following are a few examples of what’s available.

Environmental Cooperative

The Environmental Cooperative brings together regional environmental organizations, community groups, educators, the Vassar College community, and residents to increase our impact and expand conservation efforts in the Hudson Valley. Their programs and initiatives deepen engagement with environmental issues both within the college and among area residents, supporting stronger connections between the two.

Environmental Studies

Environmental Studies at Vassar is an interdisciplinary program that explores the relationships between people and their environment. In addition to offering both a Major and a Correlate Sequence, Environmental Studies hosts a wide array of courses that engage with and embrace sustainability.

Disciplinary homes for Environmental Studies majors can include any Vassar department, bringing together a knowledge of the natural sciences with a focus in either the arts and humanities or the social sciences.

Research Opportunities

The Environmental Research Institute (ERI) is “a research and public outreach wing of Vassar’s Environmental Studies Program.” Mentorship and funding opportunities are available for students.

Though not exclusively focused on sustainability, many participants in the Undergraduate Research Summer Institute (URSI) have focused their research on sustainability topics and challenges.