Why Choose NIU Environmental Studies?

Whether you’re looking to major, minor, or simply explore your passion for the environment, NIU’s Environmental Studies program gives you the tools, experiences, and connections to build a meaningful and future-ready career. At NIU, you won’t just learn about sustainability - you’ll live it.

Build a Community, Not Just a Résumé

All environmental studies majors share a strong core curriculum, giving you the chance to grow alongside a supportive cohort of peers. You'll build lasting connections while engaging with faculty and professionals through seminars, speaker series, and student-led research presentations.

Get Involved, Make an Impact

Join a vibrant campus community passionate about sustainability and justice. From student organizations like the ENVS Student Advisory Board and Justice and Sustainability Association to volunteer projects and community events, you’ll have countless ways to take action and lead change - starting now.

Real-World Experience, Real Career Momentum

You won’t wait until graduation to start making a difference. Gain hands-on experience through internships, faculty-led research, and community-based courses. You might conduct fieldwork across the country, participate in a sustainability-focused study abroad trip, or take on a professional capstone project with a local government or nonprofit.

Learn Locally, Think Globally

Located just 65 miles west of Chicago, NIU gives you access to a wide range of local and regional resources - urban sustainability centers, conservation organizations, and public agencies offering research and internship opportunities. Plus, with nearby parks, forest preserves, and wildlife restorations, nature is always within reach for field-based learning and exploration.

Testimonial

My plan to pursue architecture or urban planning, combined with my passion for science, led me to the environmental studies program. The mix of science and policy felt like the natural choice. The multidisciplinary nature of the program has expanded my career choices, and I’m excited to see where it takes me.

Samuel Lepien, environmental studies major