Options at East Bay Colleges

I'm exploring colleges in the East Bay region. Are there any schools there that are especially appealing for social sciences or environmental studies majors? I'd appreciate any tips or personal experiences with colleges in that area.

Often, exploring regional colleges can result in finding overlooked gems that are suited to your interests. In the East Bay region, a couple of institutions come to mind right off the bat.

First up is the University of California, Berkeley, a world-renowned institution often abbreviated as Cal. It offers robust programs in both social sciences and environmental studies. Their geography and environmental studies programs are highly respected, and their anthropology, sociology, and political science programs are regularly ranked amongst the best globally.

Similarly, Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga offers robust liberal arts education, with strengths in sociology and environmental science. Its curriculum incorporates experiential learning, which allows students to take their studies out of the classroom and apply them in real-world situations. It's also located in a beautiful park-like campus.

Additionally, California State University, East Bay (CSUEB), although less known than Cal, has a very strong sociology department and a growing environmental studies program which is interdisciplinary, allowing students to tie together different fields of study in their environmental research.

Even though I can't provide personal experiences with these institutions, many students appreciate the diversity of these schools, the ability to study in an urban (Berkeley and CSUEB) or more rural (Saint Mary's) environment, and the opportunities for research and internships in the area. No matter what, I'd recommend visiting these schools, if possible, to get a feel for the campuses and chat with faculty in your intended departments of study.