Student Opportunities
Experiential learning is the cornerstone of the Environmental and Sustainability Studies program with both the B.A. and B.S. programs requiring an experiential learning component.
While the requirement may be met through indepenent study, internships, research, study abroad or other experiential courses, we encourage you to integrate these opportunities as as well as other real world, skill-developing opportunities into your College of Charleston experience.
Get Involved. Make a Difference.
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Internships
Gain professional experience with governmental agencies, non-profit organizations or sustainability-focused companies to put your coursework knowledge into practice.
Local Internships
- NOAA Coastal Services Center
- South Carolina Aquarium
- College of Charleston Center for Sustainable Development(View in The Hub)
Other Internships
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
- The Student Conservation Association
- Society for Ecological Restoration International
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Aspen Center for Environmental Studies
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Undergraduate Research
Engage in hands-opn discovery through undergraduate research opportunities in the Environmental and Sustainability Studies program.
As an undergraduate researcher, you'll collaborate with faculty mentors on impactful projects such as conservation, climate change, sustainable development and environmental policy.
In addition to helping fulfill the experiential learning requirement for the major, undergraduate reseach provides you with valuable experience for future studies in graduate school or careers in sustainability and conservation.
More on Undergraduate Research -
Clubs & Organizations
The College of Charleston is home to more than 240 clubs and organizations, with many of them dedicated to environmental and sustainability issues.
These organizations provide opportunities for you to advocate, find community, gain leadership skills, and make a positive impact.
- Alliance for Planet Earth
- Center for Sustainable Development
- CofC Vegan Club
- Cougar Food Pantry
- Outdoors Club
- Sustainable Ocean Alliance
- The Sustainable Fashion Club
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Cougar Changemakers
The Cougar Changemaker Program helps fund student-proposed projects to educate the campus community, encourage positive action for society and the environment, provide research data, and promote collaboration between academic disciplines.
Each semester, funding for Cougar Changemaker progjects are awarded up to $5,000 per project and $20,000 total.
Past Cougar Changemaker projects have included campus rain-collection barrels on Coming Street and a switch from gasoline to electric-powered tools for the campus grounds crews.
Learn more about submitting a proposal for projects to make the College of Charleston campus more sustainable in the Hub.
Hub: More on Submitting a Proposal -
Study Abroad
From water quality to sustainable tourism, add a global perspective to your sustainability studies.
Course such as Happiness and Sustainability in Denmark, Cultural and Environmental Sustainability in Guatemala, Sustainability in Ecuador and others provide you with insights and experience in international policies and how different cultures apporach environmental priorities.
Gain experience to help you lead, communicate and collaborate across borders to advance environmental agendas worldwide.
View Study Abroad Opportunities
Student Garden at Stono
The student garden at the Stono Preserve offers Environmental and Sustainability students hands-on experience with modern and historic gardening techniques. Produce from the garden supports area food banks as well as providing lettuce and other greens for sea turtles at the South Carolina Aquarium.
About Stono Preserve