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 […]
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
Whitmore-Williams Professor and Department Chair of Psychology; Liaison to the Environmental Communication & Action Pathway
Erum Haider
Assistant Professor of Political Science; Environmental Studies; South Asian Studies
Beth Lingenfelter
Administrative Coordinator - Biology, Environmental Studies, Neuroscience
Carlo Moreno
Associate Professor of Environmental Studies (On Leave Spring 2025)
Latest Environmental Studies News
APEX Fellowship gives environmental studies major hands-on urban farming experience
When Cady Eakins ’25 went on a field trip to Akron Cooperative Farms with a class, she never expected that she would also gain […]
Erum Haider’s expertise on climate change in Karachi cited in New York Times article
As climate change wreaks havoc across the globe, a July 6 article in The New York Times about the devastating heat crisis in Karachi, […]
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 […]
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
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
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
Student-designed environmental studies major tackles issues at cross-section of faith and environment
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Political Science major co-founds environmental company
Aaron Levy ’16 tailored his degree to find the intersection of environmental studies and political science