State University of New York--College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Founded in 1911, the College of Environmental Science and Forestry is a premier environmental college focused on building a sustainable future through research and degree programs in the environmental sciences, engineering, design and management fields.

ESF inspires tomorrow's environmental leaders through discovery and the development of innovative solutions. The college strives to actively inform and involve the greater society on the environmental challenges of our time.

As a small, doctoral granting institution, ESF attracts top-notch faculty who push the boundaries of knowledge in their academic fields. Working side by side with these highly acclaimed faculty on research ranging from restoring polluted lakes to developing new sources of biofuels, our students push those boundaries too. Unlike many research institutions, experience and outstanding teaching is our top priority. This close-knit community of faculty and students share interests and work together to improve the world around them. Together, they learn and work in labs, classrooms, forests and wetlands across ESF campuses and field stations. Other research and educational opportunities take place nationally, internationally, and through our study-abroad programs.

Every ESF major requires some type of experiential learning. Career-related internships provide invaluable work experience and often pave the way to a permanent position after graduation. The College has an extensive internship program to help students with those connections.

These connections include over 40 internships through the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) reserved specifically for ESF students. Alumni have had great success in the NYDEC, notably among them is the former commissioner, Joe Martens. In Martens' words, "ESF is poised like no other College to put people in positions of critical importance around the world." Alumnus, Ana Maria Menezes of the class of 2008, is a perfect example of that. Menezes works as an environmental consultant on adaption to climate change for the U.N.. Alumni have been presidents of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), chemists at Georgia-Pacific and Proctor & Gamble, engineers at Bristol Meyer Squibb and Kimberly-Clark, lawyers, forest rangers, hydrologists, podcasters, cartographers and countless other exciting positions.

Students at our main campus enjoy the benefits of a unique partnership with neighboring Syracuse University (SU). These benefits include the ability to take courses at SU, participate in academic and cultural events, the use of athletic and recreational facilities, dining and religious services, discounted tickets to SU NCAA Division 1 sports events and a club offering of over 350 student organizations between both campuses.

What makes ESF truly unique is the strong sense of community between students, faculty, and Alumni. It is a sense of pride, family, and belonging that travels far beyond graduation. "I experience this wherever I go. People are proud to tell me they went to ESF when I see them," says alumnus Joe Martens. Students arrive on campus as first-years and transfers, all eager to change the world for the better. They leave as skilled professionals ready to make a difference. Most start making that difference before they ever leave. It is a tradition of good will, positive energy, creativity and community that threads us together.