Experience the Difference: Georgetown’s First BS-ES Discovery Day

Zoe Gutherman (BS-ES’27) is part of the inaugural class of the BS in Environment & Sustainability , a degree offered by the Earth Commons Institute and the College of Arts & Sciences.

Georgetown University’s B.S. in Environment & Sustainability (BS-ES) program recently hosted its very first Discovery Day for prospective students. As the BS-ES Student Ambassador, I had the privilege of meeting students coming from all over the country who wanted to learn more about the degree and what life at Georgetown might look like for them.

The BS-ES is an undergraduate degree that integrates environmental science, environmental governance, environmental justice, and environmental culture between foundational and elective classes. Students have the opportunity to explore and learn more about multiple disciplines in their first two years on the Hilltop and proceed to move to the Capitol Campus to focus their studies in the latter two years of the program. Throughout their coursework, there is an emphasis on research, education, and service to the greater community on the way to learning more, both personally and professionally.

Discovery Day mimicked this emphasis on exploration and different perspectives by highlighting many areas of life as a BS-ES student, including:

• Panel with Current Students
• Overview of Georgetown with Admissions Representative Jim Colman
• Background of the BS-ES Degree with Dean Pete Marra
• Mock class with Co-Directors Dr. Randall Amster and Dr. Jesse Meiller
• Tours of the Hilltop and Capitol Campuses

“Discovery Day gives us the opportunity to welcome future Hoyas to campus, share how we create hands-on learning experiences in both local and global settings, and showcase the strong community and academic foundation we’re building to prepare them to go out from Georgetown and help change the world,” says Dr. Pete Marra, Dean of the Earth Commons Institute.

Dean Marra continues, “The BS in Environment & Sustainability is a forward-thinking degree that equips students with interdisciplinary perspectives to tackle complex environmental challenges. It’s about developing real solutions—and empowering students with the hope and agency to make a lasting impact,” and this event was a way to give students the chance to learn via experience – something integral to the BS-ES program.

Lindsey Jamieson, Earth Common’s Director of Marketing and Recruitment, adds “selecting the right program and university for your undergraduate degree can be a daunting task. Discovery Day is intended to provide an immersive opportunity for prospective students to learn more about the BS-ES degree and Georgetown University overall, and help them make the most informed decision about where they want to study in the future.” 

Discovery Day is intended to provide an immersive opportunity for prospective students to learn more about the BS-ES degree and Georgetown University overall.
– Lindsey Jamieson, Director of Marketing and Recruitment

I wish I had the chance to engage with other prospective students and the BS-ES program on such a comprehensive level when I was searching for the best school and environmental program. It was exciting to see so many new and engaged students who travelled to Georgetown for this experience in order to learn more.

If you missed this event, look out for future events or speak to a current student about BS-ES!