Environmental Studies & Environmental Science

Dickinson College

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Environmental Studies & Environmental Science

Dickinson's environmental studies & environmental science department is one of the oldest and best established in the country. Our faculty are well-known in their fields and provide rigorous, hands-on coursework in environmental policy, aquatic ecology, agroecology, forest ecology, environmental health, food studies, sustainable communities, international environmental politics, environmental philosophy, ethics and literature, wildlife conservation, natural resource management and environmental justice.

Newsweek included Dickinson on its list of Seven of the Greenest College Campuses in the U.S. (2023)

Students may choose to pursue either a B.S. in environmental science or a B.A. in environmental studies. The department works closely with students to support their scholarly interests and endeavors, whether that’s collaborating with local communities to protect their air and water, working to make the places we live be more sustainable or conducting climate change research on the ice sheets of Greenland or mountains of Nepal.

The Princeton Review ranked Dickinson No. 2 on its list of Top Green Colleges and has named it a "great school for environmental studies majors" (2023).

We believe that getting out of the classroom and engaging with people and places around the world is the best way to learn. We take seriously the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and critical thinking and understand that solving today’s environmental and social challenges requires not only know-how but innovation and creativity.

GreenMatters included Dickinson on its list for best colleges for environmental science and studies (2023).

Chair: Michael BeeversAssociate Professor of Environmental Studiesbeeversm@dickinson.edu
Department coordinator: Kerri Thaubythaubyk@dickinson.edu

Phone: 717-245-1355
Fax: ---
Location: Kaufman 106 Mailing Address

Department Features

Study Abroad

Current Courses

Student-Faculty Research

Student Outcomes

Where Our Students Go From Here

Jobs

United States National Park Service
Pacific Whale Foundation
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Chesapeake Bay Program
Student Conservation Association
Smithsonian Institution
Stroud Water Research Center
San Juan Citizens Alliance
San Francisco Beautiful
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Environmental Data Resources, Inc.
Repair the World
Resource Management Concepts, Inc.
Strategic Energy Innovations

Graduate Schools

Yale University, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment
University of Maine, School of Policy and International Affairs
Emory University, Department of Chemistry
University of Pennsylvania, Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning
University of Oregon, School of Journalism
Boston University, School of Public Health
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health
University of British Columbia, School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
Rutgers University, Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
Lewis and Clark Law School
University of Vermont, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
University of Georgia, Skidway Institute of Oceanography

Where Our Students Have Interned

Earth Day Network
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental Resources Management
Maine Audubon Society
Sierra Club
U.S. Green Building Council
Friday Harbor Labs, University of Washington
Hawaiian Hawksbill Turtle Recovery Project
Massachusetts Audubon Society
National Aquarium
United States National Park Service
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

Student Perspective

"One of my favorite things about Dickinson is the small classes where professors can dedicate personal attention to each student. Even in classes outside of my major and minor, I’ve met so many amazing professors who are really passionate about what they teach and go above and beyond to help their students."

— Lauren Orefice ’24

Word on the Street: Students Conduct Sustainability Research in Germany

Word on the Street: Students Conduct Sustainability Research in Germany

'It’s a lot of work, but it’s really fun.' Students conduct fieldwork in Germany as part of an innovative program on global sustainability and the transition to green energy.

German and Environmental Studies Students Visit Germany on Mosaic Trip

German and Environmental Studies Students Visit Germany on Mosaic Trip

Over spring break, students in the German and Environmental Studies departments visited Dresden, Bremen, and Berlin in Germany to learn about the nation’s energy infrastructure, German culture and history.

Department News

All News Department News

Jack Scantland ’28 Wins Dickinson’s Public Speaking Contest

Jack Scantland ’28 Wins Dickinson’s Public Speaking Contest

The first-year student takes the top prize with powerful reflection on linguistic diversity.

Raising the Roof on Sustainability Research

Raising the Roof on Sustainability Research

Researching and analyzing Tome’s green roof, Lucy Stott ’25 learned the value of interdisciplinary problem-solving and sharpened vital skills for a change-making career.

Sounding a Call: Students Publish Op-Eds on Environmental Issues

Sounding a Call: Students Publish Op-Eds on Environmental Issues

"Even in their first semester of college, they have a voice ... and can be part of a broader conversation." Through an intro-level class, students wrote and published op-eds on environmental issues.

Pursuing a Healthier World

Pursuing a Healthier World

"I love studying environmental science in a community that truly cares about it." Lila Brown ’26 is a standout athlete and aspiring doctor who's passionate about medicine and environmental health.

Envisioning Healthy, Sustainable Communities

Envisioning Healthy, Sustainable Communities

Thanks to the class that spurred her passion, the service trips that reinforced it and the internships that sharpened her skills, Kat Johnson ’25 is ready for an impactful career in public health.

Finding and Creating Community

Finding and Creating Community

Meet Dinela Dedic ’27, an environmental studies major also studying art and food studies, who’s dedicated to giving back to the campus and Carlisle communities.