about
Welcome to enviroClasses, a database of environmental classes at MIT. Realizing that it can be a challenge to navigate through the rich diversity of course offerings at MIT, Laboratory for Energy and the Environment (LFEE) created an environmental class listing in 2001. The goal of the listing was to aid undergraduate and graduate students in finding environmental classes that suited their interests and the requirements of their degree programs. In 2003, the list was transformed into the interactive web database, enviroClasses. Newly updated and now in its fifth year, enviroClasses is easier to search and navigate, and can be browsed by academic department, environmental content area, or disciplinary area.
enviroClasses content areas are environmental topics related to natural or human systems. They are a great starting point for a general user.
enviroClasses disciplinary areas, sort classes by the area of academic study. Classes are individually sorted, so multidisciplinary courses can been found across areas of study, not just in the school where they’re offered.
enviroClasses organizes undergraduate and graduate classes at MIT that consider environmental topics to make them easier to find. The database draws updated information, including schedules and class descriptions, from the MIT Subject Listings & Schedule. Updates and additional information that we have received can be found at the News & Updates page and on each individual class page.
Criteria for Selection of enviroClasses
In order to be included in the enviroClasses database of environmental classes, an MIT subject must contain substantial study of how a particular issue, skill or idea relates to or affects the natural environment. This study must be a substantial portion of the subject. This study may be in the form of lecture, discussion, classwork, assignments or laboratory.
The environmental content must be evident in one of the following:
Subject title and summary
Subject syllabus submitted to enviroClasses
Special topics/individual arrangement courses are not typically included in the database because they are inherently variable from year to year and it is impossible to judge to the course content from information included in the MIT Bulletin. They may, however, be included in the "updates" section if we receive a notice from the instructor including evidence of environmental content as described above.
In addition, subjects included in enviroClasses should consider environmental effects, or the workings of affected and unaffected ecological systems, rather than simply including instruction in how to affect the environment. This requirement ensures that the database provides a useful selection of MIT subjects that is not dominated by skills-oriented classes that do not specifically consider skills or knowledge required to fully address environmental challenges.
Subjects examining the concepts and applications of sustainability and sustainable development are welcome, but must explicitly include environmental sustainability.
Relevant concepts may include (but are not exclusive to):
Human relationships to natural resources and the environment
Ecological sustainability
The working of ecosystems
Environmental effects
Environmental policy and remediation
These criteria have been refined with the help of MIT students. Selections are made by the staff of the Education Program at the MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment. We welcome feedback on the content of our database. Please contact us if you have any comments.
What's the Fine Print?
Most classes require few, if any, prerequisites. Not all classes in this list are currently offered; for example a "
" designates classes that are included in the MIT Course Catalog, but are not offered during the upcoming academic term. A key to all symbols is available throughout the listing.
Please note that EnviroClasses is intended for informational and exploratory purposes only. It is currently updated once per term (with additional changes that we receive after the start of the term listed under Updates). Please refer to the MIT Subject Listings & Schedule to register for classes and to obtain the most current information on all MIT classes.
We hope these pages are helpful in finding environmental classes at MIT that fulfill your interests!
