Sewanee's Integrated Program in the Environment (SIPE) is one of the premier collections of environmental course offerings in the country with six majors, six minors, and a certificate.
Sewanee's expansive environmental curriculum—including natural and social sciences as well as the humanities and fine arts—offers students multiple pathways for appreciating the ecological complexity and wonder of the earth we inhabit. Students are exposed to key fields of study and develop a cross-disciplinary understanding of society, economics, and the environment. SIPE graduates are able to address the multi-faceted environmental challenges of today (and tomorrow).
This major explores issues related to environmental science, policy, and economics in a major with a self-designed focus that is developed during the junior year which leads to a senior capstone research project with a sustainability theme.
This major examines environmental issues by integrating the diverse perspectives offered by anthropology, history, literature, philosophy, religion, and visual studies.
This major track in Biology examines the diversity of life on Earth and the interactions that determine the distribution and abundance of species in ecosystems. This field-oriented major also addresses human impacts on ecological systems and the application of science to help conserve species.
A field-oriented study of forest ecosystems and the environmental components and processes (biological, physical, and chemical) that affect them, including management practices.
A study of processes affecting the earth—geological, hydrological, and chemical. With this field-oriented major, students examine past and present-day connections between earth features and processes, including rocks, minerals, and fossils, as well as glaciers, earthquakes, volcanoes, atmospheric gases, surface and subsurface water, and environmental pollutants.
An interdisciplinary environmental major that integrates coursework in forest ecosystems with geology and a broad range of other environmental classes offered. This program emphasizes the interrelationships between issues such as climate change, land use, sustainable development, food systems, pollution, and human health.
A major asset of the Environmental Studies program at Sewanee is the unparalleled opportunity for field study available throughout the University’s 13,000-acre land-base, commonly known as “the Domain,” and its "living laboratory" for inquiry. This extensive tract includes extensive woodlands, lakes, trails, caves, and bluffs that surround the central campus and encompass the residential village of Sewanee.
The minor in religion and environment will encourage you to integrate religious insights and spiritual experience with the natural and social sciences. Because the minor will invite you to reflect on your own spiritual experience and beliefs as they relate to the environment, it culminates in a capstone experiential course involving environmentally related service or action along with reflection on the meaning of that engagement.
The watershed science certificate is designed to give you a better understanding of the interactions among the physical, chemical, and biological factors that affect our watersheds and wetlands. In addition to hydrology, you’ll take watershed science courses as well as courses in disciplines from biology and chemistry to forestry and geology, and environmental studies.
Sewanee provides funding for an approved summer internship or research fellowship, a semester-long study abroad opportunity at no additional tuition cost, and the ability to graduate with one major in four years. Of course, you will have to do your part. If you meet Sewanee’s academic and social expectations, these opportunities will be provided.
Our small classes mean that your voice will be heard, your contribution will be expected, and your opinion will be listened to (and disagreed with, and challenged, and seen from a different perspective, and pushed in a new direction, and considered—and you know what? Maybe we’re both right. See how it works?).
A visit to the Domain (it's what we call our 13,000-acre campus) is the best way to determine if Sewanee is a good fit for you. Once you set foot on campus, spend time with our students and professors, or take a stroll through Abbo's Alley, we are confident that Sewanee will find its way into your heart.
