The Environmental Studies Program (housed within the Geography Department.) provides a sound interdisclipinary grounding in the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities, producing graduates who understand and think creatively about the complex issues of our natural, naturalized, and artificial environments. The curriculum encourages cross-disclipinary thinking and problem-solving skills, for example, to introduce ethical reflection on questions of culture, resources, and the environment and to use literature and the arts to illuminate the ways in which humans have imbued nature with meanings and significance across cultures. Coursework develops skills in research, writing, creative thinking, and sound policy-making as students draw upon a range of disclipines to understand and solve specific issues and problems.

The UMD Bachelor of Arts degree consists of a major, minor, or double major, and the liberal education program, which equals a minimum of 120 degree credits. The Environmental Studies Major itself encompasses 63-72 credits. Students successfully completing 15 credits a semester during four years at UMD and following the requirements for the B.A. degree, should graduate in four years.