School of Environment, Geography, and Sustainability

Students in river

Set the pace for sustainability

Enabling students to apply their knowledge of the environment, global issues and geography is key to paving a path toward global impact.
Dr. Benjamin Ofori-Amoah, founding director
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Create solutions in and out of the classroom

Create a healthier planet at one of the first environmental studies programs in the country. Students like you keep our tradition of academic excellence and critical research alive at the School of Environment, Geography, and Sustainability.

This interdisciplinary school exposes you to areas of conservation, law, business, communication, the arts and beyond. When you pursue a degree with us, you will find meaning, purpose and drive both inside and outside the classroom. Our faculty and advisors will be here to help guide your research and shape your career path. Let's break ground together.

Pride points

9 of 10

Broncos are employed quickly, working in their field in jobs they like.

—2024-25 Career Outcomes Report
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91%

of College of Arts and Sciences graduates are working or continuing their education.

—2024-25 Career Outcomes Report
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91%

of College of Arts and Sciences graduates working full time were satisfied with their job.

—2024-25 Career Outcomes Report
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Current Student Testimonials

Damian Ho - Freshwater Major

Harrison Donaldson - Tourism Major

Helena Hewitt - Global and International Studies Major

Alumni Spotlights

Laura Burden '14

Emma Conrad

Programs that target your interests

Students outdoors with net for environmental ecology course

Undergraduate programs

Explore majors in geography and tourism, environment and sustainability, and global and international studies. Build skills for careers in planning, environmental management, tourism, policy, and more.

Students sitting at a table overlooking WMU main campus

Graduate programs

Develop expertise in community planning, environmental and resource analysis, and geographic information science through an MS in Geography. Gain research skills and hands-on experience for careers in government, consulting, and the private sector.

Student sitting at desk with globe in the background

Certificate programs

Earn graduate-level certificates in Geographic Information Science, Geospatial Applications of Unoccupied Aircraft Systems, or Climate Change Policy and Management to boost your skills and career opportunities.

What you'll learn

As a student at the School of Environment, Geography, and Sustainability, you will be bold, curious and creative citizens and stewards who seek just and sustainable solutions to society’s pressing environmental and sustainability issues.

You will acquire essential interdisciplinary knowledge about global environmental and sustainability issues in the following realms:

  • Environmental sciences and humanities: Explore cultural forces that affect resource use and social systems. Get hands-on field and lab experience and connect concepts of ecosystem studies to a changing climate.
  • Social sciences: Examine social, economic and political systems that determine human-ecological interactions.
  • Experience-driven learning: Apply knowledge and skills to real-life issues, including the application of geospatial technologies.

 

Where you'll be after graduation

We'll give you a deep understanding of resiliency, adaptability and sustainability to promote and apply in your future profession. Students who have graduated from our programs at Western have gone on to build professional careers as:

  • Directors of nonprofit organizations
  • Directors of governmental agencies
  • Consultants
  • Field technicians
  • Laboratory technicians

The organizations they work for include:

  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
  • SET Environmental
  • Van Buren Conservation District
  • Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery
  • MI Department of Transportation
  • City of Kalamazoo
  • Wightman and Associates
  • Bureau of Land Management
  • Wildcare Foundation (Oklahoma)
  • Kalamazoo Nature Center
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A group of college students stands on a dirt path near a lake and marshland, listening to a guide who is pointing toward the water at the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery.

Resources and experiences

At the School of Environment, Geography, and Sustainability, you’ll find opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom. Access scholarships to support your studies, connect with career resources and advising, and gain hands-on experience through internships, fellowships, and study abroad programs. From environmental research on the Great Lakes to conservation projects around the globe, you’ll develop the skills, perspectives, and connections to thrive in your field.

Scholarships
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Michigan Sea Grant Environmental Internship

Create environmental stewardship projects for the Great Lakes through private businesses; local government, state and federal agencies; and nonprofits or university faculty.

Bird watching at Asylum Lake.

Yale Conservation Scholars Early Leadership Initiative

Conduct research or dive into environmental policy, water pollution, food insecurity and more at field stations in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island or even Africa!

Female student and professor, working in the community garden at WMU.

Pierce Cedar Creek Institute grants and fellowships

Take part in research projects, explore ecosystems and critical species and even create works of art inspired by nature at the Pierce Cedar Creek Institute's Field Station.

Study abroad as a Western student

Embrace study abroad programs to cultivate priceless cultural insight, personal development and a worldwide outlook essential for success in an interconnected society.

Explore more opportunities
Project community garden on WMU's campus.