Environmental Studies Program

Goals of the Program

Our interconnected world with a highly mobile human population and increased global trade has made this a small world indeed. Understanding the global environment and international issues is more important than ever. In addition to a world-wide outlook presented in class, you'll be strongly encouraged to participate in Central's study abroad program which features English-language programs in England, Wales, China, the Netherlands, and the Yucatan in Mexico. For example, Central's program in Carmarthen, Wales features courses on environment studies that will count toward your major. Central students have also interned with the United Nations in Vienna, the British Parliament and the World Wildlife Fund in London.

2. Provide hands-on experiences (lab and field), and opportunities for active learning

A new style of college education is emerging in the United States, in which students and faculty work as partners in teaching, research, and service. This "active learning" challenges students to get involved. Your education at Central College includes laboratory exercises, extended field trips (sometimes to other geographic regions), and a Senior Seminar where students work with professors as a team to tackle a real-life environmental issue in depth. Students can become involved on campus in the Environmental Stewardship Task Force, and with the student environmental club (SCATE).

Central College's environmental teaching/research center, the Carlson-Kuyper Field Station, and a new Central College Organic Garden offer exciting, nearby opportunities for learning in the environment.

3. Integrate diverse academic subjects

Environmental issues usually involve multiple disciplines, for example natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics) and social sciences (political science, sociology) together with ethical issues and the need to communicate with diverse groups. The Program reflects this reality by incorporating multiple academic subjects: classes are taught by a variety of faculty from departments across campus, and students and professors collaborate on interdisciplinary projects.

View a list of typical courses completed for the degree
View a list of current faculty in the Program

Field Botany students preserve plants during a collecting trip

Taking a GPS reading in Environmental Science class.
The Global Positioning System unit
reads signals broadcast by satellites

Features of the Program

The Program features classes across academic disciplines. It is not designed solely for science students. The major is flexible, containing an environmental science track and a global environmental policy track. There are choices within each track as well, allowing you to tailor a program to fit your interests and career goals. In any case, you will study natural science and the role of humanity in the Earth system.

2. Internships, practica, independent studies

There's no better way to find out if a career field is right for you than an internship. Internships are possible through a number of environmental and conservation organizations, regulatory agencies or in the business sector. Central students have interned with Greenpeace, the Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Red Rock, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge. Other interns conducted flora and fauna surveys of state preserves for the Iowa Nature Conservancy, worked to reestablish prairie land for the Mahaska County Conservation Commission, worked in the Environmental Office at the Iowa National Guard, and served as a junior engineer at Yellowstone National Park.

You may wish to arrange an internship through the Washington (D.C.) Center, where Central has a formal partnership. Another option is the Chicago term, where you can spend a semester living, working and attending classes. Many Central students have interned with the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

Opportunities also exist to conduct research with a Central College professor. Numerous outlets exist for public presentations or publications of high-quality scholarship.

The beauty of the Carlson-Kuyper Field Station will inspire you as you write environmental literature, while its varied habitats and laboratory space provide means to better understand ecology. The labs in the Vermeer Science Center (now under extensive expansion and renovation) include state-of-the-art equipment for analytical chemistry, animal collections (one of the very best in Iowa for small mammals), the CUI Herbarium of plant specimens, and more.

Employment Opportunities in Environmental careers

Students with environmental studies majors can go on to more specific graduate study programs in such fields as environmental chemistry, environmental health, environmental law, conservation biology, environmental engineering, political science, international politics and geography. An environmental studies background is excellent preparation for the study of law since many law schools are instituting specializations in this area.

Jobs are available at all levels of government ranging from the Environmental Protection Agency to the Department of Natural Resources to environmental policy planners and planners at the local level. You could serve as a consultant on environmental issues to non-governmental organizations such as relief organizations like CARE, or conservation and environmental organizations like the World Wildlife Foundation or Greenpeace. Opportunities in education and research will likely increase.

The need for environmental experts is also growing in the business world as corporations hire consultants to deal with environmental regulations and policies.

More information about environmental careers is available from Drs. Weihe or Zaffiro, or your adviser. See the ESP bulletin board in VSC for three ring binders with job announcements, including paid internships, graduate assisantships (pay you to attend grad school), and permanent positions.