Academics

Hope gives you the tools and skills to analyze resource problems on global, national, regional, local and personal levels. We offer courses, programs, internships and project activities that promote awareness about sustainable development and how sustainability best practices can be applied.

Courses

Each year, more and more sustainability-related courses are offered at Hope. These courses fall underfirst-year seminars,general education math and science,environmental studiesandenvironmental science.

Hope also offers a unique opportunity for students to study for their fall semester in the Oregon Cascades. Learn more about theOregon Extension Program.

You can also take additional courses during a study-abroad program in locations like Costa Rica, Australia, Germany, Ireland and others. Visit theFried Center for Global Engagementto learn more.

Minors

Minors for bothenvironmental scienceandenvironmental studiescan complementany major at Hope.

A minor in theAmerican ethnic studies(AES) program is designed to develop citizens, participants and activists who strive daily to build community, both locally and nationally, in the pursuit of justice and equality.

Thepeace and justice minortakes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding peace theory, application and strategy.

Women’s and gender studies minorprovides a critical, interdisciplinary and cross-cultural understanding of women, gender and power in a global context.

Majors

Theenvironmental science programfocuses on scientific approaches to solving environmental problems. Students can select a concentration in biology, chemistry or geology.

The field ofbiologyrepresents a number of different approaches to the study of life, from the molecular to organismal to ecological levels.

Thegeological sciences在解决环境问题、认识和减轻自然灾害以及获取自然资源方面发挥关键作用。

The professional practice ofengineeringrequires an understanding of analytical methods, design techniques, social and economic influences and an appreciation for cultural and humanistic traditions. Option for an environmental engineering emphasis.

With several majors and minors, thechemistry departmentallows you to tailor your studies to your specific career goals — whether you hope to pursue dentistry, chemical engineering or environmental science.

Women’s and gender studies majorprovides a critical, interdisciplinary and cross-cultural understanding of women, gender and power in a global context.

Amajor in religion with a focus on ethics, culture and social witnesscovers topics such as: How do religion and culture influence each other?How can Christians engage in moral reflection? What does it mean to care for the earth, to seek justice, and to do the things that make for peace, to bind up the wounds of people who are afflicted?

We also offer enough sustainability-related courses that you can create a customized composite major.Contact the Registrar's Officefor more information.

All of ourmajors and programs can be viewed here.

Summer Terms

Many May, June and July terms are related to sustainability. Check out the Vienna Summer School, the ecological theology and ethics course, and others in fields such as biology and the humanities. Enrolling in one of the specialsummer terms让你旅行，追求一个更专注于一个特别感兴趣的领域。

Internships

Internships are available throughout the school year and summer. Contact members of theGreen Team,Hope College Sustainability InstituteorBoerigter Center for Calling and Careerfor more information. Off-campus internships are available through theWashington D.C. Honors SemesterorThe Philadelphia Center.

Research

Students may participate in sustainability-related research that bolsters the resilience of the college, the local community and the world. Research is completed through theGreen Team,Hope College Sustainability Instituteor with a faculty advisor. Hope’sAnnual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activityis a culminating event for many students to showcase their work to students, faculty, family and community members. The Sustainability Institute recognized over60 projects at the 2021 Celebration以经济、社会或环境问题为重点的研究。

TheGlobal Water Research Instituteenables water-centered research that can transform the health and well-being of local, regional and global communities. Our interdisciplinary, collaborative student and faculty research provides improved understanding of water and equips communities to make data-driven decisions about their water use.

Day1 Research Communitiesallow students to gain new skills, work with professors and upperclass students, and tackle environmental issues in the Great Lakes region starting on day one of your college experience!

Summer Research — Every year hundreds of students join mentors in disciplines across campus to delve into research through theSummer Hope Academic Research Program (SHARP). Through SHARP, students conduct research with faculty mentors each summer. Students learn cutting edge research techniques, conduct literature reviews, attend seminars and analyze data.

TheOffice of Natural and Applied Sciencesis housed in the A. Paul Schaap Science Center, and is one of the nation’s premier undergraduate science education facilities. We use modernequipment and several spaces(on and off campus) tosupport innovative research, community outreach and coursework.

Projects

Past and continuing projects have included:

• A campus garden
• City of Holland and campus urban tree canopy inventory
• Researching the history of sustainability at Hope College
• Microplastics
• Documenting campus energy and water usage
• Carbon sequestration
• Sustainability in the Bahamas
• Supporting research forProject Clarity, which aims to improve water quality throughout the entire Lake Macatawa watershed
• Partnering with local non-profits and businesses to develop solutions