The University of Washington is just the latest in a long string of major American universities to consider adding a College of the Environment program to its already extensive curriculum.  But despite overwhelming interest, both from students and a green-grad hungry job market, there is some resistance within the university to such an addition.

Environmental Science programs, which began appearing during the 1960s and 70s at pioneering institutions like Dartmouth College, involve education across many formerly independent disciplines, and synergize these disparate teachings with an environmental focus. But because of this interdisciplinary approach, some educators feel it could detract from physical science and engineering departments already established at the University.

But with many campuses already focusing on maximizing sustainability and students more concerned about how they can protect the planet than at any time in the past few decades, is it hypocritical of undergraduate institutions to avoid offering educational options that deal specifically with the environment? Or should Earth-minded students attempt to pick out their own environmental curriculum from existing course offerings?