Environmental Studies Major
Salve Regina University’s bachelor's degree in environmental studies grows from our mission to care for the earth. It’s entirely unique, bringing together faculty expertise, our location near freshwater, saltwater, forests and farmland, and collaborations with groups such as the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Save the Bay and the Aquidneck Island Land Trust.
My Salve education provided me with well-rounded knowledge, and the major in environmental studies opened a wide range of career opportunities. I am eligible for jobs that require a science degree, but I am also eligible for jobs that are more humanities-based. This gave me a lot of flexibility when choosing a career path.
Abigail Burke ’19, environmental stewardship scientist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Address Real-World Environmental Issues
Our program equips you with the tools needed to solve problems that arise from human interaction with the natural environment. Courses cover natural sciences, public policy, economics, cultural preservation and ethics. If you’re someone who wants to get out of the classroom and into fieldwork and internships, this program is for you.
With only 16 courses required for the major, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to double major or minor in areas like art, biology, business administration, economics, history, political science, religious and theological studies, or sociology and anthropology.
What Sets Salve Apart
Our Salve Compass program runs through all four years, connecting college to career. With a focus on hands-on, real-world experiences, it ensures every student has the skills and knowledge to succeed.
Salve offers 200+ study abroad programs in 45 countries, including a week-long trip to explore tropical biodiversity in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
Make a Difference
“We take full advantage of being in this seaside ecosystem that gives students opportunities to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to the field. Environmental and social justice are embedded in our program very concretely, and because of our community connections, students can act on those values right here in Newport.” - Dr. Jameson Chace, professor and chair, Department of Cultural, Environmental and Global Studies
Gain a Broad Perspective
Our environmental studies faculty are carefully curated from various departments and are experts across disciplines. Students learn to explore topics through different lenses to discover new approaches and solutions to environmental challenges.
Study in a Living Lab
Field research and internships provide critical experiences that benefit students and the community. Our majors gather data on small fish and macroinvertebrates in Narragansett Bay, map territories of conservation focal species at the Norman Bird Sanctuary and monitor the impact of human development on Aquidneck Island’s watersheds.
Build Research Experience
Throughout your Salve journey, you may find yourself working alongside faculty to survey marine and terrestrial vegetation, identify and sample plant and animal species, monitor avian nesting sites, test water samples and more.
Alumni Making Waves
Sophie Beauchesne '23
Community environmental promoter, Peace Corps (Paraguay)
While a double major in environmental studies and sociology and anthropology, Beauchesne interned at two local nonprofit organizations: Clean Ocean Access and the Aquidneck Land Trust. In her current role, she educates young people in environmental stewardship, promoting zero-waste campaigns and managing tree nurseries. Read more about her Salve experience.
Tyler Hertzwig '19
Environmental scientist, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
While at Salve, Hertzwig interned at the Department of Environmental Management, helping discover and identify pest plants in nurseries across Rhode Island. After graduation he stayed with the department, rising to agriculture marketing specialist, then taking on expanded responsibilities as an environmental scientist. In this role, he is Rhode Island’s state apiary/honeybee inspector, working on state and federal studies for honeybee diseases and pests that pose a threat to apiculture (beekeeping).
Levi Mitchell '24
Junior economist, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Throughout his years at Salve, Mitchell, a native of Alberta, Canada, worked in reforestation and wildfire firefighting, attended the 2023 United Nations climate change conference in the United Arab Emirates, held leadership roles on campus, played on the men's ice hockey team and completed internships with NASA and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. He is now a graduate student at the University of Ottawa, pursuing a master's degree in environmental sustainability, and a junior economist at Environment and Climate Change Canada, the country’s government department that oversees national environmental policies and programs.
Zoe Murray '15
Wilderness/trails forestry technician, U.S. Forest Service
After graduation, Murray joined AmeriCorps as a sustainability coordinator, working with the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group in Washington state, and earned her master gardener certification. Following a year as a recruitment specialist at the American Conservation Experience in Utah, she spent three years working seasonally with the National Park Service before taking on her current full-time role with the U.S. Forest Service.
Career Paths in Environmental Studies
As awareness of environmental issues grows, Salve graduates offer a strong combination of science and policy knowledge that makes them an invaluable resource to a wide range of organizations.
In my fieldwork, I learned how to gather data in difficult environments, specifically while gathering data on birds and trees in the mountains. This will be a large part of my job as a forester and wildland firefighter.
Garret Moen '23, field crew member, Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa
Here’s where some of our alumni are now:
- Community environmental promoter, Peace Corps (Paraguay)
- Conservation agent, town of Bolton, Massachusetts
- Environmental scientist, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
- Environmental stewardship scientist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Field crew member, Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa
- Graduate researcher, California State University, Long Beach
- Grants officer, Mass Audubon
- Master environmental field technician, Battelle
- Public schools environmental resource specialist, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
- Remote sensing analyst, NASA DEVELOP sustainability/ESG analyst, Cabot Corporation
- Wilderness/trails forestry technician, U.S. Forest Service
Degree Options
Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies
Our B.A. in environmental studies explores the broad range of issues that arise from the interaction of humans with the natural world and equips students with tools to understand and solve them.
Minor in environmental studies
Meet Our Environmental Studies Faculty
Your instructors in this program are curated from experts across disciplines, so you can learn to look at a single topic from many perspectives. Along with teaching, they conduct research, so undergraduates can get valuable hands-on experience in field ecology and environmental sciences.
Dr. Jameson Chace
- Professor
- Chair, Cultural, Environmental and Global Studies
Dr. Craig Condella
- Professor
- Chair, Philosophy
Dr. Victoria Gonzalez
- Assistant professor
Dr. Nathaniel Kitchel
- Assistant professor
Gabrielle Kuba
- Adjunct professor
Dr. Chad Raymond
- Professor
- Associate graduate program director
Dr. Adam Witham
- Assistant professor
