StudyQA — Bachelor: Global Environmental Change and Sustainability

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The Master of Science in Global Environmental Change and Sustainability at Johns Hopkins University is a comprehensive interdisciplinary program designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and address the complex challenges facing our planet. This program integrates scientific, social, economic, and policy perspectives to provide a holistic understanding of environmental issues on a global scale. Students will explore topics such as climate change, biodiversity loss, sustainable development, environmental policy, renewable energy, and environmental justice. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, data analysis, and innovative problem-solving approaches to develop effective strategies for creating a sustainable future. Through a combination of coursework, research projects, and practical applications, students will gain hands-on experience working with real-world environmental data and case studies. The program prepares graduates for careers in environmental consultancy, policy analysis, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations dedicated to sustainability efforts. Additionally, students will have opportunities to collaborate with leading experts and engage in interdisciplinary research that addresses urgent environmental issues. The program fosters a global perspective, encouraging students to consider local actions within the broader context of worldwide environmental change. By the end of the program, students will have developed a deep understanding of the scientific principles underlying environmental phenomena and the societal factors influencing sustainability initiatives. Whether you are looking to advance your career in environmental science, policy, or advocacy, the Johns Hopkins University Master’s in Global Environmental Change and Sustainability offers a rigorous academic environment that supports innovative thinking and meaningful impact towards a sustainable future for all.

The major in GECS is an interdepartmental program designed to provide students with a solid knowledge base of the science of the Earth and its living and nonliving systems, as well as how humans interact with Earth and its natural systems, including social science tools of change, such as policy, communication, individual and social behavior change, and law. Students will be exposed to theory, research, and the practical applications of both throughout their course work. Requirements for the major include a total of 24 courses (81 credits) if the Science concentration is chosen and 25 courses (78 credits) for the Social Science concentration.

All GECS majors must complete 13 “core” courses listed in Table 1 below. Additionally, students will choose either the Science concentration or the Social Science concentration to determine their additional course requirements. For the Science concentration, majors complete the additional science core courses and requirements listed in Table 2a. For the Social Science concentration, majors complete the additional requirements as listed in Table 2b. All courses must be taken for a letter grade and students must receive a grade of C- or better to apply the course towards the major.

The GECS Senior Capstone Experience involves the research, planning and execution of a tangible sustainability project on or off-campus. While working in groups (the size of which will depend on the nature and scale of the project), GECS Seniors will research, design and create/implement a sustainability project or initiative on campus or in Baltimore. All GECS Seniors enroll in the Capstone Seminar both in the fall and in the spring. The seminars are designed to facilitate measured progress on the capstone projects and ensure that the final product is meaningful and exceptional. All majors will make a presentation of their capstone experience to involved faculty, advisors, and fellow students at the end of their Senior year.

Table 1: Required Courses for all GECS Majors

AS.270.103	Introduction to Global Environmental Change	3
AS.271.107	Introduction to Sustainability	3
AS.271.506	GECS Senior Capstone Seminar Part I (GECS Senior Capstone Seminar, Part I, Fall)	3
AS.271.505	GECS Senior Capstone Seminar - Part II (Part II, Spring)	3
AS.110.106	Calculus I (Biology and Social Sciences)	4
or AS.110.108	Calculus I
AS.030.101	Introductory Chemistry I	3
AS.030.105	Introductory Chemistry Lab I	1
AS.180.102	Elements of Microeconomics	3
Select one of the following:
EN.550.111	Statistical Analysis I
EN.550.113	Statistics Through Case Study
AS.280.345	Public Health Biostatistics
AS.230.205	Introduction to Social Statistics
Select two of the following (Political science required):
AS.190.102	Introduction To Comparative Politics
AS.190.209	Contemporary International Politics
AS.190.226	Global Governance
AS.190.206	Global Environmental Politics
Select two of the following (Environmental science required):
AS.270.305	Energy Resources in the Modern World
AS.270.308	Population/Community Ecology
AS.271.360	Climate Change: Science & Policy
AS.280.335	The Environment and Your Health
Select one of the following (Communications required):
AS.271.401	Environmental Ethics (oral communication)
AS.271.120	Environmental Photojournalism (visual communication)
AS.271.302	Nature, Baltimore and a Sense of Place (written communication)
Science (see Table 2a) or Social Science (see Table 2b) Concentration Requirements

Table 2a: Science Concentration Requirements

(Students complete either Table 2a (science concentration) OR 2b (social science concentration); pick one)

AS.110.107	Calculus II (For Biological and Social Science)	4
or AS.110.109	Calculus II (For Physical Sciences and Engineering)
AS.030.102 & AS.030.106	Introductory Chemistry II and Introductory Chemistry Laboratory II	4
or AS.030.103	Applied Chemical Equilibrium and Reactivity w/lab
AS.250.205	Introduction to Computing	3
or AS.270.205	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Geospatial Analysis
or AS.270.307	Geoscience Modelling
or AS.270.318	Remote Sensing of the Environment
Select one year of either Physics or Biology:
AS.171.101 & AS.171.102 & AS.173.111 & AS.173.112	General Physics:Physical Science Major I and General Physics: Physical Science Majors II and General Physics Laboratory I and General Physics Laboratory II *
AS.020.151 & AS.020.153 & AS.020.152 & AS.020.154	General Biology I and General Biology Laboratory I and General Biology II and General Biology Lab II (General Biology I)
Two 300-level or above courses in Earth and environment sciences as listed in Table 3
Two courses at any level in social sciences as listed in Table 4
Two 300-level or higher course in social sciences as listed in Table 4

*	Students may substitute alternative, but equivalent, Physics courses. AS.171.101. 103, 105, or 107 may be used as Physics I and AS.171.102, 104, 106, or 108 may be used as Physics II.

Table 2b: Social Science Concentration Requirements

(Students complete either Table 2a (science concentration) OR 2b (social science concentration); pick one)

One course at any level in Earth and environmental sciences as listed in Table 3
One 300-level or higher course in Earth and environmental sciences as listed in Table 3
Four courses at any level in the social sciences as listed in Table 4
Six courses at the 300-level or higher in the social sciences as listed in Table 4

Table 3: GECS Electives in Earth and Environmental Science**

AS.250.205	Introduction to Computing	3
AS.270.224	Oceans & Atmospheres	3
AS.270.205	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Geospatial Analysis	3
AS.270.210	Environmental Field Methods	3
AS.270.220	The Dynamic Earth: An Introduction to Geology	3
AS.270.221	The Dynamic Earth Laboratory	2
AS.270.305	Energy Resources in the Modern World	3
AS.270.307	Geoscience Modelling	4
AS.270.308	Population/Community Ecology	3
AS.270.311	Geobiology	3
AS.270.315	Natural Catastrophes	3
AS.270.318	Remote Sensing of the Environment	4
AS.270.332	Soil Ecology	3.00
AS.270.369	Geochem Earth/Environmen	3.00
AS.270.377	Climates Of The Past	3
AS.270.378	Present & Future Climate	3
AS.270.405	Modeling the Hydrological Cycle	3
AS.271.360	Climate Change: Science & Policy	3
AS.280.335	The Environment and Your Health	3
EN.570.108	Introduction Environmental Engineering	3
EN.570.239	Emerging Environmental Issues	3
EN.570.328	Geography & Ecology of Plants	3
EN.570.353	Hydrology	3
EN.570.395	Principles of Estuarine Environment: Chesapeake Bay	3
EN.570.205	Ecology	3
or EN.570.403	Ecology
EN.570.411	Engineering Microbiology	4
EN.570.420	Air Pollution	3
EN.570.443	Aquatic and Biofluid Chemistry	3

Table 4: GECS Electives in Social Sciences**

AS.070.132	Invitation to Anthropology	3
AS.070.279/EN.570.285	Ecological Anthropology	3
AS.070.285	Understanding Aid: Anthropological Perspectives for Technology-Based Interventions	3
AS.070.327	Poverty's Life: Anthropology of Health & Economy	3.00
AS.130.177	World Prehistory: An Anthropological Perspective	3
AS.140.302	Rise of Modern Science	3
AS.140.311	Ecology, Health, and the Environment	3
AS.180.101	Elements of Macroeconomics	3
AS.180.215	Game Theory and the Social Sciences	3
AS.180.228	Economic Development	3
AS.180.241	International Trade	3
AS.180.252	Economics of Discrimination	3
AS.180.266	Financial Markets and Institutions	3
AS.180.301	Microeconomic Theory	4
AS.180.302	Macroeconomic Theory	4
AS.180.355	Economics of Poverty/Inequality	3
AS.190.102	Introduction To Comparative Politics	3
AS.190.209	Contemporary International Politics	3
AS.190.220	Global Security Politics	3
AS.190.226	Global Governance	3
AS.190.227	U.S. Foreign Policy (U.S. Foreign Policy)	3
AS.190.280	Political Persuasion	3
AS.190.281	Virtue, Labor, and Power (Classics of Political Thought II)	3
AS.190.301	Global Political Economy	3
AS.190.320	Politics Of East Asia	3
AS.190.396	Capitalism and Ecology	3
AS.190.405	Food Politics	3
AS.190.411	Environment and Development in the Third World	3
AS.190.412	Political Violence	3
AS.190.426	Science and Expertise in Global Politics	3
AS.190.491	Game Theory in the Social Sciences (Game Theory in the Social Sciences)	3
AS.200.101	Introduction to Psychology	3
AS.200.133	Introduction to Social Psychology	3.00
AS.200.222	Positive Psychology	3
AS.220.206	Writing about Science I: Daily News Journalism	3
AS.220.210	Introduction to Non-Fiction: Science as a Social Activity	3
AS.220.317	Writing about Science II	3
AS.230.101	Introduction Sociology	3
AS.230.150	Issues in International Development	3
AS.230.213	Social Theory	3
AS.230.221	Global Social Change (Global Social Change)	3
AS.230.265	Research Tools and Technologies for the Social Sciences	3
AS.230.313	Space, Place, Poverty & Race: Sociological Perspectives on Neighborhoods & Public Housing	3
AS.230.325	Global Social Change and Development Practicum	3
AS.230.359	Research Seminar on Global Social Protest	3
AS.230.373	Urban Sociology	3
AS.230.396	Politics and Society	3
AS.230.460	Research Seminar on Stratification in the Modern World Economy: 1600-2014	3
AS.271.120	Environmental Photojournalism	3
AS.271.301	Climate Change Adaptation in the Developing World	3
AS.271.302	Nature, Baltimore and a Sense of Place	3
AS.271.304	Sustainable Food Systems (Sustainable Food Systems)	4
AS.271.309	Designing Sustainable Wellness	3
AS.271.401	Environmental Ethics	3
AS.271.402	Water, Energy, and Food (Water, Energy and Food)	3.00
AS.271.403	Environmental Policymaking and Policy Analysis	3
AS.280.215	Understanding Behavior Change: Theory and Application	3
AS.280.225	Population, Health and Development	3
AS.280.329	The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Scientific Writing in Public Health (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Scientific Literature)	3
AS.280.380	Global Health Principles and Practices	3
AS.360.247	Introduction to Social Policy: Baltimore and Beyond	3
EN.570.110	Introduction to Engineering for Sustainable Development	3
EN.570.130	Climate, Environment and Society	3
EN.570.222	Environment and Society	3
EN.570.334	Engineering Microeconomics	3
EN.570.406	Environmental History	3
EN.570.428	Problems in Applied Economics	3
EN.570.493	Economic Foundations for Environmental Engineering and Policy Design	3
EN.570.495	Optimization Foundations for Environmental Engineering and Policy Design (Organizational Foundations for Environmental Engineering and Policy Design)	3
EN.570.496	Urban and Environmental Systems	3
EN.570.497	Risk and Decision Analysis	3

The lists of acceptable Earth and Environmental Science and Social Science Electives will be reviewed and updated annually by the Director, with guidance from the Advisory Committee. Courses no longer taught will be removed, although credit earned for courses that are removed will still count toward GECS major requirements as long as the course was on the list when it was taken, and new courses will be added. Relevant courses not included in the elective list may be able to be substituted for an elective with approval of the Director. Students wishing to make such a substitution should follow the procedure outlined on the major’s website.

Honors in GECS Major

To receive honors in GECS, you must have met the following criteria:

Have a GPA of a 3.5 or higher in GECS courses.
Receive an A on your capstone project.

Application and Supplement
$70 nonrefundable application fee or fee waiver
Signed Early Decision Agreement
Secondary School Report
SAT Reasoning Test or ACT Test
Mid-year Report*
TOEFL or IELTS results (recommended)
International Certification of Finances Form and Bank Statement

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Scholarships

Both need- and merit-based financial assistance is available for international applicants, although both types of assistance are limited. The admissions process for international students is need-aware, meaning the offer of admission is directly linked to the student’s ability to meet expenses.

The Global Environmental Change and Sustainability program at Johns Hopkins University offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the complex interactions between human activities and the Earth's environment. This program is designed for students interested in addressing pressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, resource depletion, and sustainable development. It combines coursework in environmental science, policy, economics, and social sciences to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the environmental issues facing the world today. Students will engage in rigorous academic training that emphasizes critical thinking, analytical skills, and practical solutions for sustainability. The curriculum typically includes topics such as climate science, environmental policy, sustainable development, ecosystems management, and environmental economics. Through a combination of lectures, seminars, case studies, and research projects, students are prepared to work effectively in government agencies, non-profit organizations, multinational corporations, or academic and research institutions. The program may offer opportunities for fieldwork, internships, and collaboration with professionals in the environmental sector, providing valuable hands-on experience. Graduates of the program are equipped to contribute to policy design, environmental advocacy, research, and leadership roles aimed at promoting sustainability and resilience in communities worldwide. The program aligns with Johns Hopkins' commitment to addressing global health, environmental challenges, and sustainable solutions through innovative research and education.

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