Undergraduate Program

Environmental Science and Engineering (ESE) AB and SB interdisciplinary programs focus on understanding, predicting, and responding to natural and human-induced environmental change. Addressing environmental issues such as global warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, or local and regional air and water pollution requires perspectives from a diverse set of scientific disciplines including atmospheric physics and chemistry, oceanography, glaciology, hydrology, geophysics, ecology, and biogeochemistry. We view the environment as a complex set of chemical, physical, and biological interactions, made even more complicated by the various activities of human society.

At Harvard College, students choose a "concentration," which is what we call a major. All prospective undergraduate students, including those intending to study engineering and applied sciences, apply directly to Harvard College. During your sophomore spring you’ll declare a concentration, or field of study. You may choose from 50 concentrations and 49 secondary field (from Harvard DSO website).

Through exploration of the underlying processes and feedback within the Earth system, and with a range of approaches from theory and modeling to experiments and observations, we train students to think about environmental processes in an integrated fashion, preparing them to manage the environmental challenges we face.

Students interested in Environmental Science & Engineering have the option to pursue:

  • Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) in Environmental Science and Engineering
  • Bachelor of Science (S.B.) in Engineering Sciences (an ABET accredited program) on the Environmental Science and Engineering Track

Learn about our Environmental Science and Engineering Concentrators >

Apply to Harvard College >

 

Picture of undergraduates, graduate students and faculty from Harvard Environmental Science and Engineering department posing on a grassy area

 

Engineering Advising Events and Resources

Get pre-concentrator advice on the SEAS First-Year and Sophomore Advising Events Canvas Page. The page lists upcoming advising events for first-years and sophomores before declaration,  has recordings from virtual Webinars and Q&A sessions, and other advising resources.

Do you have questions about our program? Contact our ADUS!

Bryan Yoon (Ph.D.) is the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies in Environmental Science and Engineering. With an undergraduate degree in environmental planning and graduate degrees in ecosystem biogeochemistry, Bryan has research and teaching experience in a variety of topics in environmental sciences. Whether you are thinking about joining ESE or looking for someone to discuss your thesis ideas, Bryan’s here to help you. For questions or setting an appointment, please email byoon@seas.harvard.edu

AB/SM Program

Our AB/SM degree program is for currently enrolled Harvard College students only.

Requirements

Learn more about the Environmental Science and Engineering requirements.

Courses

View current Environmental Science and Engineering courses.

Research Opportunities in Environmental Science and Engineering

As part of your Environmental Science and Engineering coursework, or perhaps as part of individual research opportunities working with professors, you will have the chance to take part in or participate in some extraordinary projects. Learn more about research opportunities at Harvard SEAS.

Learn about the research interests of our Environmental Science and Engineering faculty.

Environmental Science and Engineering Career Paths

Read about some of our Environmental Science and Engineering Alumni.

Clubs and Organizations

SEAS-affiliated student organizations are critical to the overall growth of our concentrators as engineering and applied science professionals. These organizations enable our students to pursue passion projects and events in areas of interest that are complementary to the current formal academic curriculum. Learn more about SEAS-affiliated student clubs and organizations.