University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
The University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) is an interdisciplinary professional school focused on the environmental natural and social sciences, environmental justice, and sustainable landscape architecture. SEAS provides graduate-level degrees at the master’s and doctorate levels, along with undergraduate degrees through the Program in the Environment (PitE), a university-wide collaboration. Situated within the nation’s No. 1 public research university, SEAS has been a pioneer in environmental education, research, and activism for more than a century. Building upon the University of Michigan’s Department of Forestry , established in 1903, SEAS was founded as the School of Forestry and Conservation in 1927. The school is headquartered in the LEED-certified Samuel Trask Dana Building on the university’s central campus in Ann Arbor, a top-ranked college town and thriving cultural center. Description. At SEAS, we’re turning knowledge into impact—from research to implementation and engagement. Our deeply interdisciplinary environment supports expansive creativity and effective problem-solving—allowing us to address complex environmental issues from every angle on every scale. This is how SEAS is meeting the future: transforming the challenges of today into hope and  opportunity for tomorrow. WORLD-CLASS FACULTY AND ALUMNI The SEAS and undergraduate Program in the Environment (PitE) faculty—now nearly 90 strong—are 21st-century scholars and dedicated mentors leading cutting-edge research programs regionally, nationally, and around the globe. Together, SEAS and PitE now boast the largest alumni population of any environment and sustainability program in the nation, numbering more than 12,300. Their efforts in climate action, conservation, environmental justice, sustainable development, energy and sustainable systems, environmental planning, behavior, education, communication, sustainable business, environmental economics, ecosystem management, environmental data science, sustainable landscape architecture, and public policy continue to make  impacts in every state and in 80 countries. The SEAS Environmental Justice program was the first academic environmental justice program in the nation and remains at the forefront of the field’s teaching, research, scholarship, and advocacy. Equity and justice are central to all that we teach, and all that we do. Degree programs. Bachelor of Science (BS)/Bachelor of Arts (BA) The Program in the Environment (PitE) is a university-wide collaborative undergraduate program overseen by SEAS and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Master of Science (MS) This professional degree program prepares students for leadership positions in  environmental sustainability. MS Program Specializations: Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) Programs: The SEAS MLA program is one of the nation’s first and is among the very few programs in the world that employ ecological principles authentically in environmentally responsible design. Students pursuing an M.L.A. degree choose from two tracks: Doctoral Programs. SEAS’ doctoral program develops the creative abilities of select exceptional students, training them for independent work that contributes to original research and scholarship at the forefront of their chosen fields. SEAS offers a PhD in Environment and Sustainability with two primary tracks: MS dual-degree programs. SEAS offers  five formal dual-degree programs with the following University of Michigan schools: In addition to the above administration-approved dual-degree programs, SEAS students have initiated dual degrees with other University of Michigan programs, including: Graduate certificates. SEAS also offers the following graduate certificate programs for any graduate student concurrently enrolled at the University of Michigan: Centers and Initiatives. “THE GREAT LAKES UNIVERSITY” SEAS hosts three of the major Great Lakes research centers at U-M that receive funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The creation of new centers and major initiatives enables SEAS to tackle the  impacts of climate change, advance research, and promote environmental justice—while forging new community partnerships. The following are among the most recent: Among the ongoing centers and initiatives at SEAS are: An Environment for Discovery. Place-based learning is a hallmark of the SEAS education, and many of our students travel throughout the country and around the globe. From master’s projects in places like Puerto Rico, to Colorado and Washington, D.C., we work hand-in-hand with communities to have a true impact. Closer to home, our state of Michigan—surrounded by the Great Lakes—provides an array of  ecosystems to study and explore. SEAS itself manages six natural areas totaling 1,761 acres near campus, and the university’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Nichols Arboretum, and Biological Station provide an additional 14,000 acres for field study. Student Organizations. The University of Michigan is home to 1,600 registered, student-run clubs and organizations on campus, many of which involve meaningful community engagement and social justice work, The most popular among SEAS students are listed below. Ann Arbor Campus and Community. Ranked the No. 1 most-educated city in America by Forbes magazine, Ann Arbor is a national center for the arts , hosting cultural and intellectual events such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Berlin Philharmonic, and concerts brought to campus by the University Musical Society. Nationally acclaimed events like the Ann Arbor Art Fair draw nearly half a million visitors every year. SEAS offers a full slate of environmental career forums, along with lectures by renowned figures such as Vice President Al Gore, National Geographic photographer Jimmy Chin, prominent geographer Mei-Po Kwan, father of environmental justice Dr. Bob Bullard, and the Dalai Lama. University-wide activities such as sporting events, film festivals, symposia, and musical performances are listed events on  the SEAS events calendar and the U-M events website.