Our society is confronted with great opportunities and complex problems. Crime; environmental degradation; family violence; inadequate and unaffordable housing; government seemingly unresponsive and inefficient; conflict that is as local as street gangs in southern California and as global as ethnic strife in far-away nations - - these and other problems seem so complex that citizens wonder where they can turn for answers.

An interdisciplinary academic unit, our School gives greater attention to the social, political, institutional, and cultural contexts of people-environment relations. The School attracts international attention for its innovative interdisciplinary programs. Going beyond traditional teaching and research, it links scholarship to community needs and translates research into practical solutions benefiting us all.