Sample Courses
- Ecological Footprint of Energy Generation is a detailed study of the ecological consequences of all forms of energy generation including fossil fuels and alternative
energy sources. - Environmental Ethics explores key concepts and contemporary positions on topics
including anthropocentrism, individualism, ecocentrism, deep ecology, and ecofeminism. Exploration includes case studies and theory. - Environmental Aesthetics explores the aesthetic experience of nature through philosophical perspective by emphasizing nature and art, beauty and the sublime,
embodiment, culture, science, ethics, conservation, and preservation. - Environmental Issues is an in-depth examination of a particular environmental topic such as global warming, ecosystem restoration, energy alternatives, geothermal
development, public lands management, or environmental literature. - Wetland Ecology and Management explores topics such as hydrology, soil, wetland classifications, and management strategies. This course involves field trips to local wetlands.
- Environmental Justice examines the law and history of environmental justice and their effect on current decisions; the class also focuses on civil rights law and sustainability and equity.
- Political Ecology explores how economic, social, and cultural conflicts about natural resources shape human interactions with the environment.
Hands On Learning
You will have many chances to get your hands dirty while majoring in environmental studies. You can participate in the Environmental Leadership Program (ELP), which provides you with opportunities to work with local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies on real-world environmental projects.
“It’s really well-geared towards the independent, self-motivated student,” says Steve Mital, ELP co-coordinator and undergraduate advisor.
You can also join the ranks of previous
environmental studies majors who studied and completed internships abroad. “Many environmental problems
are global—climate change and species conservation, for example—and can only be solved at the international
level,” says Mital. “Students interested in these types of issues benefit greatly from an understanding of how other nations perceive and approach
environmental problems.”
If you come up with a creative project related to a local problem, you might find faculty support by participating in a Student Initiated Project (SIP). “SIPs provide students the opportunity to take their thesis one step further by applying that knowledge to a real-world situation,” says Mital. In addition, you can get involved with a number of campus organizations like the Student Recycling Program, the Holistic Options for Planet Earth Sustainability (HOPES), and Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE).
Interdisciplinary Opportunities
Faculty members participating in environmental studies come from departments as diverse as anthropology, architecture, geography, general science, English, law, philosophy, and physics. The goal of the department is to evoke ecological change by increasing awareness of environmental issues across disciplines, so if your interests span a range of topics, the environmental studies faculty and staff will help you develop an academic path that is tailored to your goals.