The urban sustainability program takes a unique interdisciplinary approach by offering concentrations in economics, environmental science, and sociology. Students will examine the causes of urban sustainability problems and devise solutions that promote environmental protection, social equity, and economic vitality. Alongside their coursework, students will learn how to map economic, environmental and social data using our geographic information system (GIS) laboratory to produce and analyze data. Our place-based teaching approach features hands-on engagement with the natural and built environment of New York City - including field trips to community gardens, local waterways, and city parks - preparing students to understand and find solutions to global issues affected by urban development in an era of climate change.<br><br>Defining and solving many of the problems confronting urban centers requires an understanding of the physical, chemical and biological processes of coupled natural-human systems. Students in the Environmental Science concentration will use the natural laboratory of New York City to examine issues such as urban soil contamination, loss of wetlands, coastal impacts of sea level rise and effects of nitrogen pollution on marine ecosystems. Students will be prepared for graduate study in environmental and sustainability programs and acquire skills and knowledge that can be applied to careers in government, non-government, and private sector positions requiring management of resources andor researching on ways to protect the natural environment.