Overview

Environmental Studies at The College of Wooster

The Environmental Studies Program at Wooster engages students with environmental issues both inside and outside the classroom, at both local and global levels. Resources available to students include a campus garden, visiting speakers, connections to local researchers and facilities at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, and opportunities to get involved in faculty research, campus sustainability initiatives, and internships both on and off campus. Recent students have worked with urban gardening initiatives in Cleveland, environmental education centers, environmental writing, and a variety of off-campus study options that expose them to environmental concerns and initiatives in other parts of the world.

Students majoring in Environmental Studies choose from four different pathways to give their interdisciplinary major a coherence and focus. Those pathways are:

  • Environmental Humanities
  • Environment and Society
  • Environmental Conservation
  • Sustainable Food Systems

Although pathways are focused around a central theme, students get the full breadth of an interdisciplinary program, by taking Environmental Studies courses and and cross-listed courses across all the academic divisions.


Faculty & Staff

Susan Clayton

Susan Clayton

Whitmore-Williams Professor and Department Chair of Psychology; Liaison to the Environmental Communication & Action Pathway

sclayton@wooster.edu

Erum Haider

Erum Haider

Assistant Professor of Political Science; Environmental Studies; South Asian Studies

ehaider@wooster.edu

Jennifer Ison

Jennifer Ison

Associate Professor of Biology (On Leave for Spring 2025)

jison@wooster.edu

Beth Lingenfelter

Beth Lingenfelter

Administrative Coordinator - Biology, Environmental Studies, Neuroscience

bsnyder@wooster.edu

Matt Mariola

Matthew Mariola

Associate Professor and Program Chair of Environmental Studies

mmariola@wooster.edu

Carlo Moreno

Carlo Moreno

Associate Professor of Environmental Studies (On Leave Spring 2025)

cmoreno@wooster.edu

Greg Wiles head shot

Gregory Wiles

Schoolroy Chair of Natural Resources; Professor of Earth Sciences

gwiles@wooster.edu


Latest Environmental Studies News

Dylan Kretchmar '25

English and environmental studies major acquires hands-on experience on animal farm

Dylan Kretchmar ’25, an English and environmental studies major at The College of Wooster, completed an APEX fellowship with the Wild Hearts African Farm […]

Emma Humbert '26

Environmental studies major conducts field research in Iceland during APEX fellowship

Emma Humbert ’26, an environmental studies major at The College of Wooster, used an APEX fellowship to pursue an opportunity as a research intern […]

Sammy Amier '26

Biology and Chinese studies major explores veterinarian and conservation practices

Sammy Amier ’26, a biology and Chinese studies major at The College of Wooster, spent the summer interning for the Lake Metroparks Kevin P. […]

Leo Widtmann '25

Economics major uses knowledge to support environmental causes in APEX Fellowship

Leo Widtmann ’25 was looking for an opportunity to use his classroom knowledge to help with environmental issues, and he found the perfect opportunity […]

More Environmental Studies Articles

Major

Environmental Studies majors become knowledgeable about core scientific concepts that are relevant to the environment; able to understand different ways of assessing the value of the natural environment; comfortable with different means of examining and communicating about the environment; and familiar with the ways in which social institutions contribute to environmental problems and potential solutions to those problems. They should also understand their own roles within the human-environment relationship.

To complete a major, students choose 13 courses that span environmental science, economics, communications, psychology, various humanities options, and other science courses. All students at The College of Wooster complete two semesters of independent study under the guidance of a faculty mentor and their research is used to build a thesis delivered in spring semester of their senior year.

 

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Minor

Environmental Studies minors are knowledgeable about core scientific concepts that allow them to understand ecological processes and change. They are able to understand different ways of assessing the value of the natural environment and be comfortable with different means of examining and communicating about the environment; and familiar with the ways in which social institutions contribute to environmental problems and may be utilized for solutions to those problems. They should also understand their own roles as actors within the human-environment relationship. The environmental studies minor complements a major in a traditional department so that students combine a detailed understanding of the knowledge and methods within a discipline with a focus on a particular topic.

 

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Independent Study

All students at The College of Wooster complete independent study on a topic of their choice under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The research becomes the basis of a thesis delivered in spring semester of each student’s senior year.

 

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Related Articles

Trinity Harmon '24

Economics major investigates ecotourism through gender-equity lens

A 2023 TREK trip to Costa Rica with faculty and students from The College of Wooster inspired economics major Trinity Harmon ’24 to investigate […]

Carolyn Klein '24

Environmental studies major investigates water bird visitation at local nature preserve

In 2018, 12 years after a century-old industrial site closed, the city of Rittman decided to turn it into the William J. Robertson Nature […]

Jen Mynard '23

I.S. builds case for accessible sustainable housing

Jen Mynard ’23 believes making sustainability more accessible to everyone will be “the issue of the coming century as climate change threatens all.” The […]

Alice Markey '23

Environmental studies major finds vibrant communities in Denmark cohousing research

In the age of technology, connecting to those closest to you seems like it would be easy, but some people don’t even know the […]

Alumni

Environmental Studies majors have access to internships and hand-on learning in college that leads to job offers and career paths after graduation.


Related Articles

Lauren Vargo '13

Lauren Vargo ’13 studies connections between glacier melt and climate change

Lauren Vargo ’13 came to The College of Wooster because she wanted the chance to take a wide variety of classes to figure out […]

In February, Chelsea Barnes '07 lobbied the Virginia Legislature for a grant to develop renewable energy on former coal-mined land.

Biology alumna honored for clean energy work

Chelsea Barnes ’07 strikes the balance between working with her community to promote solar energy and creating environmental policy

Dekila Chungyalpa ’98

Student-designed environmental studies major tackles issues at cross-section of faith and environment

Dekila Chungyalpa ’98 incorporates interests and skills she developed at Wooster into a lifelong commitment to environmentalism.

Aaron Levy '16

Political Science major co-founds environmental company

Aaron Levy ’16 tailored his degree to find the intersection of environmental studies and political science