Prospective Majors

Welcome to environmental studies at Lewis & Clark College! We offer regional and international research opportunities, the latest scholarly ideas, and cutting-edge technical and communication skills to prepare you for graduate school and professional excellence. Below is some special information for prospective new and transfer undergraduates who plan to major in ENVS.

New undergraduates

New undergrads typically have lots of questions:

• What courses should I take during my first year?
• What about ENVS courses during subsequent years?
• Do I get credit for AP courses I took?
• When should I plan to participate in an overseas program?
• What would an ENVS degree prepare me for after graduation?

These are all great questions, and don’t worry: our academic advising faculty and staff will make sure that you have the answers you need to thrive at Lewis & Clark when you get here.

Make sure to study our ENVS major/minor page carefully as you plan your first year at Lewis & Clark College. Do plan to take ENVS 160 (Introduction to Environmental Studies) fall of your first year.  We also recommend getting started with a prerequisite such as BIO 110, SOAN 100 or 110, IA 100, ECON 100, or POLS 102 or 103. The College Advising Center will have other recommendations too for your first year.

AP/IB Courses
The AP Environmental Science course has motivated many students into the field of Environmental Studies. If you get a score of 4 or 5 you will get credit towards graduation. We do require students still take ENVS 160 here to ensure maximum success in the major. 

Overseas programs
The study abroad programs that we offer are a signature feature of a Lewis & Clark education, and are often the highlight of a student’s time in college. Most students choose to study abroad for a semester during their Junior year. The application is about 1 year prior to the departure date. Take some time to peruse the Overseas and Off-campus Programs that we offer, to find a program that grabs you.

What can I do with an ENVS major?
Students who have graduated with an ENVS major have pursued a very wide array of professional pathways, including education, law and policy, business consulting, agriculture, scientific research, government work, nonprofit work, and more. You can read about their life stories in their own words on our Life After ENVS page.

Dual degrees

Transfer undergraduates

Transfer students are among our most mature and hardworking scholars, but sometimes face special challenges applying courses they’ve already taken to our requirements at Lewis & Clark. Here are some broad guidelines:

• In general, transfer credit is discussed as part of academic advising, and all acceptable courses will count toward your graduation credit requirement, but only certain ones will count toward the ENVS major or minor.
• Our ENVS core courses (160, 220, 295, 400) are done in a special way at Lewis & Clark College, so you should generally plan to take these four core courses here. Note that core courses are scheduled such that all can be completed within two years.
• Our program director and the registrar’s office will work closely with you to leverage your previous courses and chart a path towards completion that fits your needs.