�ڰ�������

NEIU is a one-stop hub for students interested in understanding and addressing environmental challenges. As an urban campus in Chicago, NEIU offers direct access to diverse and dynamic environments, from river systems and urban forests to infrastructure, land use, and environmental justice issues. 

At NEIU, students can:

• Explore environmental questions through multiple pathways, events, clubs, and disciplines.
• Learn how natural systems work.
• Understand how people interact with the environment.
• Use data and mapping to understand environmental change.
•  Investigate how decisions, values, and communication shape environmental outcomes. 

Students can complement their environmental interests and goals by exploring a wide variety of academic opportunities at different scales, from individual courses, to microcredentials, to certificates, to full degree programs. NEIU provides a unique setting to study the environment where it matters most - in the world around you. 

1. Environmental Programs

• Biology
  • B.S. in Biology
  • Minor in Biology
  • M.S. in Biology
• Environmental Science
  • B.S. in Environmental Science
• Geography, Environmental Studies, and Geosciences
  • B.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies
    • Concentration in Geography
    • Concentration in Environmental Studies
  • B.S. in Applied Geosciences
    • Concentration in Earth and Ecosystem Resource Management
    • Concentration in Geodata and Geospatial Analytics
  • Minor in Geography
  • Minor in Environmental Studies
  • Minor in GIS (Geographic Information Sciences)
  • Minor in Earth Science
  • Minor in Climate Change - coming soon
  • M.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies
  • Certificate in GIS (Geographic Information Sciences)
  • Microcredentials - coming soon

In addition to taking courses in the above programs, a wide variety of other programs in the College of Arts and Sciences offer environmental-themed courses (e.g., Economics, Philosophy, History, English, Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology).

2. The student experience

Students engage with environmental questions through a range of perspectives and approaches that connect data, systems, experiences, and real-world applications.

At NEIU, students experience:

• Real-world environmental projects that combine fieldwork, lab work, and data.
• Analysis of changing landscapes through maps and satellite imagery.
• Data collection in the field through observations, sampling, and site-based investigations.
• Use of ground truthing, surveying equipment, and drones to study environmental systems.
• Field trips across Chicagoland - urban waterways, forest preserves, green spaces, neighborhoods, and beachfronts
• Practical skill building in urban and environmental planning, communication, and the interpretation of natural areas.
• How to craft sound environmental policies and work with governmental entities to inform policy.
• Environmental activism in theory and practice.
• How everyday human activities and natural processes impact our environment.
• Partnerships with local communities and environmental organizations.

Field-Based Experiences

Fieldwork at NEIU starts right where students are. Classes regularly move beyond the classroom into local environments, exploring parks and forest preserves, working along the Chicago River, and investigating coastal processes at Lake Michigan. These experiences bring environmental systems to life through direct observation and hands-on data collection. 

Students also have opportunities to extend these experiences beyond the local setting through weekend field trips and immersive courses. Some students choose to study tropical environments in Belize, while others participate in multi-week field courses in the western United States, exploring landscapes such as the Badlands and Yellowstone, with extended field study based in Montana.

Beyond the Classroom

Learning at NEIU goes beyond coursework. Students can apply their skills by getting involved on campus, working as interns with community partners across Chicago, or participating in research projects. These experiences connect what students learn to the environments they live in, creating opportunities to engage, contribute, and make a tangible impact. 

• Research Experiences: Students work with faculty on research projects that explore earth, environmental and human systems through data, fieldwork, and analysis. Many projects draw on local environments, connecting students to the places they live and study, while others extend to regional and global contexts.
• Community-Focused Projects: Students work directly with Chicagoland communities and organizations to address a variety of geographic, earth, environmental, and resource-based issues.
• Internships: Students gain practical experience through internships with environmental organizations, government agencies, and community partners across the Chicagoland region and beyond. Internships often lead to professional and future employment opportunities.
• Environmental Student Clubs: Students connect with peers who share an interest in sustainability, conservation, and environmental action, creating opportunities for involvement, leadership, and community. 
• Research centers: Students have access to two research centers, depending on their areas of interest. 
  • Student Center for Science Engagement (SCSE)
  • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Center (SHARC), 

Each center provides research and mentoring opportunities and a supportive community for skill building and job preparation.

These opportunities and extracurricular experiences help students strengthen their resumes and prepare for graduate study or environmental careers post-graduation.

3. Labs and learning spaces

Across campus, students engage with environmental questions in specialized labs and learning spaces designed for hands-on investigation. From working with samples and models to analyzing real-world data, these spaces connect classroom learning to practical experience.

• Greenhouse: Located in Bernard J. Brommel Hall, the Department of Biology runs our greenhouse. Used in curricular and extracurricular modes, it serves as a living lab where students can apply theoretical concepts in ecology, plant biology and environmental science in practical application.  The space is used for plant cultivation and hands-on learning of living systems and natural environments. 
• Soils and Water Analysis lab: A dedicated lab space for soil and water analysis, equipped for sample testing, sediment analysis, and groundwater monitoring using on-campus wells. Physical models,  including groundwater flow models, water tables, and an augmented reality sandbox, allow students to explore how water moves through landscapes and subsurface systems.
• Environmental Science Lab: Lab spaces designed for hands-on investigation of environmental systems, including water quality testing, ecological analysis, and interdisciplinary lab work. Students engage with laboratory components that build scientific skills across biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics, with guidance in lab techniques and research methods.
• Weather and Climate Lab: A combination of indoor and outdoor learning spaces for studying weather and climate systems. A rooftop installation on BBH is equipped with sensors that measure atmospheric conditions and urban microclimates in real time. Additional lab spaces support climate data analysis using research-grade climate models and physical materials such as paleoclimate proxies, including ice cores, sediment samples, and tree rings, that allow students to observe, analyze, and interpret weather patterns, climate variability, and long-term environmental change. 
• Geoscience Lab: Lab spaces equipped for the study of Earth materials, including rock and mineral collections, fossil specimens, and facilities for sample preparation and analysis. Students work with physical samples and analytical tools to investigate Earth processes and geologic history.
• GIS and Geospatial Analysis Lab: Computer-based lab spaces equipped with geospatial software for mapping, spatial analysis, and data visualization. Students create and interpret maps, satellite imagery, and datasets to explore geographic and environmental patterns.
• Human-Environment Learning Spaces: Students have access to survey creation and social science data analysis software, interpretive materials, and resources to create policy making and educational tools that encourage environmental responsibility.
• Student-Managed Garden: The Green Conservation Group, an NEIU student club, operates and manages garden space on the main campus. Students from any program can practice gardening and have fun in an inclusive social environment.
• Gensburg-Markham Prairie: Comanaged by NEIU and The Nature Conservancy, Gensburg-Markham Prairie is a 110-acre tall-grass prairie remnant. Saved from development by the University in the 1970s, the prairie is a dedicated Illinois Nature Preserve and National Natural Landmark. It includes large portions that have never been plowed, making it one of the highest-quality prairie sites in the Midwest, supporting rare plant and animal communities that aren’t found in more highly disturbed prairie restorations. This outdoor education laboratory provides student learning, internships, and environmental research opportunities.  

5. Sustainable Campus:

Sustainability at NEIU is part of everyday campus life. Students learn in and contribute to a campus environment that actively manages green spaces, supports biodiversity, and engages the community in environmental stewardship. 

• Tree campus: NEIU is recognized as a Tree Campus Higher Education site, reflecting its commitment to urban forestry and long-term care of campus trees. Students experience a campus where green spaces are actively managed and integrated into learning and daily life.
• Campus natural area management: NEIU’s properties include a variety of natural elements known for their beauty, tranquility, and green landscaping.  Prescribed burns help maintain native ecosystem health and biodiversity in our prairie areas on campus and at the off-site NEIU-owned and managed Gensburg-Marham Prairie. The campus community and neighbors enjoy diverse and beautiful trees, native tallgrass plant species, various open green spaces, a unique remnant Swamp White Oak Savannah, and our beloved Solitary Oak tree.
• Campus cleanups: Students take part in campus cleanup efforts that help maintain and improve shared spaces. These activities connect environmental awareness with direct action and community involvement.  
• Green Fee Committee: Students solicit, review, select, and implement campus sustainability projects through the Green Fee Committee, giving them invaluable skills in navigating the opportunities and challenges inherent in green project management. 

Student Highlight

• “I’ve been in school for what feels like forever, switching majors and schools more times than I’d like to admit. After all the ups and downs, I finally feel like I am in the right place.” — Ligia Veliciu, current student, B.A. Geography

Faculty Highlight

• “The impetus behind my passion for teaching students at NEIU specifically has always been the tremendous potential for success that our students have, and the transformative power we as educators can have in the process.” — Pam Geddes, Ph..D., Professor of Biology

Description: Lawyers may write up legal documents, craft legal arguments, interpret laws, gather evidence, research legal or factual issues, meet and hear from clients, advise clients about their legal interests, represent clients in court, work with other lawyers on large projects, settle contract disputes, find and manage witnesses, etc. 

Median Salary: $145,760 per year (May 2023)

Core Competencies: Critical thinking and problem-solving, Ethical reasoning and decision-making, Oral and written communication, Teamwork and leadership, Technological fluency and information literacy.

Undergraduate Majors/Minors: Any, but most often: Philosophy, Justice Studies, Political Science, English, History, Communications.

Graduate Program / Degree: Law School / Juris Doctor (J.D.) 

Certifications: Prospective lawyers take a licensing exam, called the “Bar Exam.”

Resources :

Description: Assess clients to identify their emotional, behavioral, and psychological needs, Ask questions that encourage clients to discuss their emotions and experiences, Help clients process their reactions and adjust to difficult changes, Create a treatment plan that helps clients develop coping strategies and decision-making skills, Refer clients to other specialists, resources, or services in the community, Complete and maintain confidential files and records

Median Salary: $85,330 per year (2022)

Skills/Core Competencies: Experimentation, data collection and analysis, Critical thinking and problem-solving, Ethical reasoning and decision-making, Oral and written communication, Active community participation and engaging a diverse community, Teamwork and leadership, Self-awareness and self-improvement

Undergraduate Majors/Minors: Psychology or related field

Graduate Program: Counseling, Social Work, Psychology

Certifications: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

Resources: 

Description: Museum Curators and Directors acquire items for the museum and are in charge of which things are stored or displayed in a museum, and how. Archivists are often specialists in appraising and maintaining items and materials. Conservators and Technicians prepare and restore items 

Median Salary: $60,000

Core Competencies: Experimentation, data collection and analysis, Critical thinking and problem-solving, Ethical reasoning and decision-making, Oral and written communication, Active community participation and engaging a diverse community, Teamwork and leadership,  Technological fluency and information literacy

Undergraduate Programs: Anthropology, Art, History, Philosophy

Graduate Program: Museum Studies, History, Library Science, Art History, Archival Studies, Archaeology, Political Science, or Public Administration.

Certifications: The  offers the Certified Archivist credential (optional).

Resources: