Custom Pathways
BS-ES students design their own Custom Pathway that guides their coursework and learning experiences from their second year onward. Each pathway centers on a complex environmental topic that crosses disciplines, allowing students to pursue their individual interests while building on the program’s foundations in environmental science, governance, justice, and culture.
With guidance from program and faculty advisors, students shape a pathway that brings together relevant courses, experiential learning, professional development, and other opportunities. Custom Pathways might explore topics such as translating scientific research into action, biotechnology and ecosystem services, urban development and environmental engineering, or sustainable food systems.
Year 2: Explore & Design through shared foundations
After building solid science foundations in year one, in the second year of the BS-ES degree, students take ERTH-2110: Experiential Rotations, where they are introduced to four areas of environmental work: Environmental Justice, Environmental Governance, Environmental Culture, and Environmental Science. In the Spring, students take ERTH-2239: Formation, which embraces the Jesuit concepts of formation, discernment, and care for the whole person. Students work on personal, professional, and intellectual formation, specifically focusing on how they understand and engage in environmental work. This course serves as a bridge between the first two years of the BS-ES that take place on Georgetown’s Hilltop Campus and the second two years that take place at the Capitol Campus. This shift in location is mirrored by a shift in the curriculum as students plan for their Custom Pathway, Professional Development experiences, Capstone work, and more.
Year 3 and 4: Pursue & apply your knowledge through electives and capstone
The final two years of the degree are spent pursuing appropriate electives, quantitative and methodological courses, and experiences to complete their custom pathway trajectory, with at least 9 credits of courses being related to the student’s custom pathway. Students complete electives, projects, quantitative and methodological courses, internships, immersions, and experiences relevant to their custom pathway. Professional development and peer leadership engagements are a significant component of a student’s custom pathway, as students are encouraged to select these to complement their unique journey. In year four, sudents continue to complete electives, projects, internships, immersions, and experiences relevant to their custom pathway, with a particular focus on completing their capstone projects.
