Environment & Sustainability Program

Environment & Sustainability at W&M

The Environment & Sustainability Program (ENSP) helps you become an innovative change maker who carries a vision of how to resolve our contemporary environmental problems through science, policy and imagination. This program reaches across the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. It is one of the most integrative environmental programs in the nation. Since ENSP is a secondary major, the ENSP degree offered (B.A. or B.S.) is determined by the primary major chosen before or at the same time as you declare ENSP. You will also focus your studies through one of three tracks: environmental science, environmental policy or environmental humanities.

About ENSP

Paths of Study

Applied Learning

Courses

Study Introduction to Environment & Sustainability (ENSP 101), Science Communication (ENSP 440) and Watershed Dynamics (ENSP 341).*
Environmental Research

Take part in funded summer research and intern at local agencies including Friends of Powhatan Creek, Chesapeake Bay Program and the Environment Planning Committee of James City County.
Study Abroad

Meet with an advisor to determine which overseas program would be the best fit — from Costa Rica to Kenya to Australia.

Rankings

^# 3

Best Colleges for Environmental Science in Virginia

Niche 2025
^Top 30

Best Colleges for Public Policy in America

Niche 2025
^# 14

Best Science Lab Facilities

The Princeton Review 2025

Latest News

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Upcoming Events

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Student Resources

Access information about declaring a major, research, studying abroad, awards, and internships.

For Current Students

Mellon Environmental Postdoctoral Program

The Mellon Environmental Post-Doctoral Scholars (MEPS) program supports the annual hire of one post-doctoral-scholar (for a 2-year term) to support teaching, research, and advising in the Environmental Science & Policy (ENSP) program.

For Postdocs

Outcomes

William & Mary has been successful in placing graduates in high-ranking environmental graduate schools and setting them up with strong career trajectories in environmental fields. Graduating students have also moved directly into positions with the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Geological Survey, National Park Service, Global Council for Science and the Environment, AmeriCorps and various environmental non-profits and consultancy companies including the Cadmus Group, Deloitte and FTI Consulting.

Hear from a Student

"The opportunity to experience lab work and execute my own project feels just as necessary as my coursework and satisfies my need for hands-on activities during my college career." — Breegan O'Hearn '25, a biology and environment & sustainability double major from San Diego, California. O'Hearn is investigating plastic toxicity.

Alumni & Friends

We love hearing from alumni! Please send us your news and keep your contact information up to date.

For Alumni

Support Environment & Sustainability

Your contribution to the Environment & Sustainability Program will make a difference in the education of tomorrow's leaders, in sustaining and expanding our program of teaching and research, and in the protection of our campus and community environments.

Show Your Support