Environmental Studies and Environmental Science

Introduction

Known for having one of the oldest and strongest programs in the nation, Dickinson’s Environmental Studies department offers two independent majors, a BS in Environmental Science, and a BA in Environmental Studies. The Environmental Studies Department recognizes that solutions to the human predicament require an interdisciplinary effort, incorporating ecological and social academic perspectives. The goals of the program include providing a sound academic background and an opportunity for students to use their education through research and community outreach. Thus, students and faculty are involved in collaborative research at the local, regional, and national levels on a wide variety of environmental problems; ranging from monitoring stream health collaboratively with grassroots activists to researching the mechanisms of forest mortality, and examining the link between air quality and student athlete performance.  

Introductory courses for the Environmental Studies major and the Environmental Science major are the same. Please check the College Bulletin for details on the upper-level courses required for each major. 

Environmental Studies and Environmental Science Major Advising Resources http://www.dickinson.edu/academics/programs/environmental-studies/content/Info-for-Majors/ 

Introductory courses appropriate for prospective majors 

Environmental Science (ENST) 131, and 130 or 132.  ENST 131 and 132 are required for the Environmental Studies and Environmental Science majors (and all three meet the college’s natural science distribution requirement).  A student may not take both ENST 130 and 132.  Prospective majors usually enroll in ENST 132 in the spring, after taking ENST 131 or receiving college credit through the Environmental Studies Advanced Placement Exam. 

ECON 100, Contemporary Economics or ECON 111, Introduction to Microeconomics. 

ECON 111 is the required course for the B.S. major, whereas either course counts for the B.A. major. 

ENST 111, Environment, Culture and Values or ENST 215, Jewish Environmental Ethics 

CHEM 131, 132 or PHYS 131,132.  BS majors are required to take two semesters of either chemistry or physics.             

Notify the Environmental Studies department chair, Professor Candie Wilderman (wilderma@dickinson.edu), that you are interested in majoring in Environmental Studies or Environmental Science. This is essential because the department’s introductory (100-level) courses typically fill quickly. Whenever possible, space is reserved for likely majors, but this can only be done prior to course selection.  

Introductory ENST-listed courses that fulfill distribution requirements  

Division IA:     

ENST 111, Environment, Culture, and Values; or 

ENST 215, Jewish Environmental Ethics  

Division II:      

ENST/ANTH 214, Ecological Anthropology  

ECON 100, Contemporary Economics 

ECON 111, Introduction to Microeconomics  

ENST/HIST 205 Environmental History 

ENST/HIST 206: American Environmental History    

Division III, laboratory courses:  

ENST 130, 131, and 132 (Environmental Science) 

Course descriptions, requirements for the major refer to the College Bulletin: Environmental Studies and Environmental Science. 

Please note that majors in the environmental studies and environmental science programs require more courses than most majors. Although these programs provide real opportunities to customize the major, they have some very specific requirements. This means is that careful planning and consultation with a faculty member in the Environmental Studies Department is essential. This planning and consultation can begin as soon as a student arrives on campus.  

Off-campus study

Study off-campus may be either in the United States or abroad. Environmental Studies students are especially encouraged to participate in the Dickinson Science Program in Norwich, England and in the University of Queensland Science Program in Brisbane, Australia. Other recommended programs include the School for Field Studies, which offers full-semester programs at centers around the world focusing on biological conservation, resource management, and sustainable development. Recommended off-campus programs of study in the United States include the Semester in Environmental Science at the Marine Biological Laboratory of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and a semester program at The Duke University Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, NC. 

Internships

The BA Degree in environmental studies requires majors to complete an internship, independent study, or independent research for at least one academic credit. Both environmental studies (BA) and environmental science (BS) majors can also have a credit-bearing internship apply toward their thematic concentration upon approval by their advisor.  Academic credit for the internship is arranged through the department with the Internship Coordinator in the Career Center available to help students find appropriate sites and site supervisors.  Department internships require both an on-site and an academic supervisor.  Students should have made all arrangements in time for the course request period of the semester during which they will do the internship.   Credit-bearing internships conducted during the summer break require formal registration for Summer School through the Registrar. 

Co-curricular Programs

Students majoring in Environmental Studies or Science also often find employment, internship, and research opportunities with the Center for Sustainability Education.