Environment, Ecology, and Energy Program

Introduction

The Environment, Ecology, and Energy Program (E3P) offers diverse and multidisciplinary undergraduate degree programs in environmental science (B.S.) and environmental studies (B.A.). Faculty throughout the University, including the College of Arts and Sciences and the schools of business, government, law, and public health, mentor students through courses, internships, and research opportunities. This unique approach provides students an opportunity to explore the knowledge base needed to understand the environment and its relationship to society, as well as the applications of that knowledge in areas such as environmental modeling; aquatic systems; environmental behavior and decisions; environmental change and human health; ecology, conservation, and biodiversity; energy management; and population and the environment. The degrees combine traditional classroom teaching with extensive use of interdisciplinary, team-based projects, internships, study abroad opportunities, and research.

Advising

E3P maintains an advising system for students with an environmental interest. Students are encouraged to contact the director of undergraduate studies as early as they wish in their academic plan to discuss options and be assigned to a faculty advisor. Students may use the advising system from the time they enter UNC–Chapel Hill, obtaining advice from specialists in the various environmental fields. This advising system includes opportunities to meet with professionals from government, industry, and consulting to learn about the skills needed to work effectively in those fields if students are interested. In addition we routinely schedule seminars and host visitors who showcase career opportunities by their example in their respective fields.

Facilities

Program faculty and staff, including the EcoStudio Internship Incubator, occupy offices and laboratories in Venable/Murray Halls (third and fourth floors). Faculty are also located at facilities in Manteo, Morehead City, and Highlands, N.C.

Graduate School and Career Opportunities

A major in environmental science or studies prepares students for a variety of career options, including marine scientist, ecologist, environmental modeler, energy project manager, environmental policy maker, conservation advocate, land use planner, and environmental educator. Combining either major with other studies at the undergraduate or graduate level can lead to careers as an environmental lawyer, epidemiologist, or environmental geneticist, to cite a few examples.

Majors

Minors

Graduate Programs

Courses

Environment, Ecology, and Energy (ENEC)

Affiliated Professors

Carol Arnosti (Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences), Todd Bendor (City and Regional Planning), John Bruno (Biology), Jaye Cable (Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences), Karl Castillo (Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences), Michael Emch (Geography and Environment), Barbara Entwisle (Sociology), Joel Fodrie (Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences), Clark Gray (Geography and Environment), Elizabeth Havice (Geography and Environment, Donald Hornstein (School of Law), Allen Hurlbert (Biology), Chip Konrad (Geography and Environment), Paul Leslie (Anthropology), Adrian Marchetti (Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences), Christopher Martens (Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences), Charles Mitchell (Biology), Laura J. Moore (Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences), Rachel Noble ((Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences),), Hans Paerl (Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences), Tamlin Pavelsky (Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences), David Pfennig (Biology), Karin Pfennig (Biology), Michael Piehler (Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences), Diego Riveros-Iregui (Geography and Environment), Harvety Seim (Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences), Maria Servedio (Biology), Conghe Song (Geography and Environment), Donna Surge (Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences), Andreas Teske (Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences), Gabriela Valdivia (Geography and Environment), Colin West (Anthropology), Erika Wise (Geography and Environment), Andrew Yates (Economics).

Affiliated Associate Professors

Mark Alperin (Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences), Angel Hsu (Public Policy), Sophie McCoy (Biology), Aaron Moody (Geography and Environment), Janet Nye (Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences), Johanna Rosman (Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences), Alecia Septer (Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences).

Affiliated Assistant Professors

Benjamin Bridges (American Studies), Amanda DelVecchia (Geography and Environment), Miyuki Hino (City and Regional Planning), Noah Kittner (Environmental Sciences and Engineering), Caela O'Connell (Anthropology), Antonia Sebastian (Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences), Paul Tallie (Geography and Environment).

Research Faculty

Dick Bilsborrow (Biostatistics), Jim Costa (Western Carolina University), Elizabeth Dickinson (Kenan–Flagler Business School), Lindsay Dubbs (Coastal Studies Institute), Rich Kamens (Environmental Sciences and Engineering), Andy Keeler (East Carolina University), David McNelis (Institute for the Environment), Robert Peet (Emeritus, Biology), Rada Petric (Highlands Biological Station), Johnny Randall (N.C. Botanical Gardens), Elizabeth Shay (Appalachian State University), Alan Weakley (NC Botanical Garden), Jason West (Environmental Sciences and Engineering), Peter White (Emeritus, Biology).