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Institute for the Environment & Sustainability

Established in 1969 as the Institute of Environmental Sciences, the Institute on Environmental Science began as a Master of Environmental Science (M.En.) degree to meet "the urgent need for a new program which is truly interdisciplinary in structure … and which contains a curriculum geared to train a modern environmental scientist equipped with the tools and philosophy to cope with new problems as they arise." In 2010, the Institute Environmental Science was renamed the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability to reflect its new role as an umbrella institute for undergraduate and graduate education and research on the environment and sustainability at Miami University.

Our Mission

The mission of the Institute for the Environment & Sustainability is to educate students as professionals and global citizens through interdisciplinary programs in environmental science and sustainability, and to provide leadership in areas of research and outreach that address environmental problems and promote a more sustainable society.

Our Co-Majors Will Build a Better Tomorrow

The term "co-major" indicates that students must complete another, primary major in one of the divisions at Miami University. There is no specific degree designation for the co-major; students receive the degree designation of their primary major. Completion of the co-major satisfies the Miami Plan thematic sequence requirement. The Institute for the Environment and Sustainability offers 3 co-majors:

Energy Co-major

The goal of an Energy Co-major is to provide students with core interdisciplinary training in energy that complements their disciplinary majors in engineering, natural sciences, architecture, business, and the social sciences.

Environmental Science Co-major

The Environmental Science Co-major emphasizes earth science and life science approaches to understanding environmental patterns and processes.

Food Systems & Food Studies Co-major

The Food Systems & Food Studies Co-major provides an interdisciplinary examination of food, exploring the complex path food follows from farm to fork and beyond.

Sustainability Co-major

The Sustainability Co-major emphasizes human-nature interaction in understanding environmental patterns and processes.

Master of Environmental Science (M.En.) Degree

The Master of Environmental Science (M.En.) is a professional degree program that emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to environmental problem-solving and sustainable practices. The program is designed to prepare students, upon graduation, for immediate employment as an environmental professional.

Our Program Emphasizes

  • Problem-solving skills
  • Interdisciplinary training
  • Teamwork and management
  • Effective communication
  • Quantitative analysis

Our Students Build a Better Future

Resources and Opportunities for Our Students

Study Abroad

Many of our students take advantage of the numerous travel opportunities available at Miami University.

In the summer of 2023, we offer students the opportunity for hands-on learning by working alongside students and professors from the University of Zambia and NGOs to conduct water-resource research aimed at increasing access to clean drinking water. 

Miami University Research Experience for Undergraduates

The Miami University REU program in Ecology and Environment is a summer research program supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Our program is an exciting opportunity for 12 undergraduate students to actively engage in a 10-week collaborative research project.

Institute for the Environment & Sustainability

The Institute for the Environment and Sustainability is an umbrella organization for undergraduate and graduate education and research on the environment and sustainability at Miami University.

Contact Us

118 Shideler Hall
250 S. Patterson Ave.
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-8183
ies@MiamiOH.edu

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The M.En. degree was designated as a national Professional Science Master's (PSM) program based on it its professional skills, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary breadth.
Learn more at the Professional Science Master's website.