The School for Field Studies

Environmental studies undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to take courses and gain research experience in remote foreign locations through the School for Field Studies (SFS). Educational and research opportunities exist at field stations in Kenya, Costa Rica, British West Indies, Pacific Northwest Canada, Australia and Baja, Mexico. Students are able to take environmental studies courses at these sites during the semester or the summer, and may count their coursework towards their environmental studies degree. Financial aid for study abroad is available through USC and the School for Field Studies. Contact the office  USC Overseas Program for more information about these exciting opportunities.

The University of Southern California Sea Grant Program

The Sea Grant Program at the University of Southern California's Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, has served the Southern California coastal region for over 25 years, funding research, transferring results to government agencies and user groups, and providing information about marine resources, recreation and education to the public. Sea Grant research and outreach projects cover a broad spectrum of areas, with particular emphasis on topics related to the "Urban Ocean," USC Sea Grant's thematic focus. USC Sea Grant is part of the Pacific Area Sea Grant Network.

The Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies

The Philip K. Wrigley Marine Science Center (WMSC) on Santa Catalina Island was recently refurbished through a generous endowment from the Wrigley family. This gift also supports activities in the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies (WIES) at the research center. Environmental studies undergraduate and graduate students can take courses on important issues related to ecology, marine science and environmental social science. Students receive "hands-on" research experience and have the opportunity to study with some of the nation's most prestigious scholars in marine and environmental studies. Internships on Catalina Island are also available.

USC Center for Sustainable Cities

The Center for Sustainable Cities engages in multidisciplinary research and education on the environmental, social and economic sustainability challenges facing metropolitan regions, and contributes to the development of public policy that improves the natural and human environment of cities.

The Center engages in three basic activities:

Sustainability science education, for both graduate and undergraduate students from a broad array of fields including civil, environmental, chemical, and industrial engineering, biological and earth sciences, economics, geography, sociology, anthropology, political science, public policy and urban planning.

Multidisciplinary research in focal areas of sustainability science, involving engineers, natural and social scientists, policy and planning experts, designed to enable cities to resolve complex environmental problems.

Training programs and policy outreach efforts to bring results of Center research and practical insights of graduate students and faculty directly to those who can utilize them - to encourage more sustainable private or corporate behavior, and to create or restructure public policies and programs.