Students may be able to major in Environmental Studies beginning next fall, Ariel Strauss '07, the Union's representative to the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, reported at a Union Senate meeting last month. Environmental Studies is currently offered only as a minor. The UCC also passed a proposal to create a field-work program in Environmental Studies, Strauss said, in line with Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe's ongoing push for greater "experiential learning" outside the classroom.

The major, slated to include 13 courses, was also approved by the Social Science Council, which includes faculty from different academic departments.

But before it can be offered, the proposal has to be approved at the faculty meeting Thursday afternoon, Jaffe said. He asked the Natural Science Council to review the proposal as well.

"The field fits in with Brandeis' mission of international concerns," Prof. Brian Donahue (AMST), a faculty member of the Environmental Studies program, said.

Over the last five years, many students have worked with professors to design their own Environmental Studies majors. This year there are 10 such students, said Prof. Laura Goldin (AMST), associate director of the Environmental Studies program.

The major's requirements would include "Environmental Issues, Introduction to Geographic Information Systems," an internship and either a senior essay or senior thesis, Donahue said.

Jaffe said students would also take economics, law, environmental-history and ecology courses.

"We want to make sure we have enough courses so students can do the major and have enough breadth, but still leave room in electives to get depth," he said.

In a separate initiative, the Environmental Studies program is launching the Brandeis Environmental Field Semester. Around 11 students will sign up for the same four integrated courses and take class trips that last several days into Waltham and greater New England for field work, Goldin said.

"We want to marry the experience of a study-abroad program with the resources of the University," Prof. Dan Perlman (BIO), chair of the Environmental Studies program, said.

Information sessions to discuss the Environmental Field Semester will be held in Brown 224 next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and March 19 at noon.

Perlman said environmental studies is extremely important right now, given the current pressing environmental issues. "We only have one planet, and we're doing a pretty good job of messing up the one planet we have," he said.

Students who major in Environmental Studies will be better-equipped to stop the spread of AIDS and avian flu, and slow down global warming, Perlman said.

Universities in Brandeis' peer group, including Tufts University and Boston College, already have Environmental Studies majors, but the curricula vary widely, Perlman said.