Environmental Studies Program

Environmental Studies/Policy. This interdisciplinary major provides an extensive introduction to the study of domestic and international environmental policy. Students combine a foundation course in environmental studies with courses in environmental economics, domestic environmental policy and law, international environmental politics, and courses in environmental science. Diverse electives allow students to explore topics from introductory Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to endangered species policy to environmental and human health. Students complete the Environmental Policy Practicum capstone seminar in the senior year.

Environmental Studies/Science. This interdisciplinary major also begins with a foundation course in environmental studies and is followed by core courses in environmental economics, biology and ecology, chemistry or physics, geology or GIS, and mathematics. Students select a focus area to explore in depth. Current focus areas include conservation biology, marine science, environmental chemistry, and environmental geology. Students can also propose well-structured alternative focus areas. The senior capstone seminar provides a “hands on” approach to environmental science research.

Environmental Studies Minor. The environmental studies minor may be elected by majors from other departments and consists of seven courses. After an introductory foundation course, students choose a two-course couplet from a selection in both the social and natural sciences and two courses from a selection complementing their area of interest.

January Program. Each year environmental studies students take advantage of Colby’s January Term to explore field study courses, conduct independent research, participate in group research projects, or undertake an internship with a scientist, company, or government agency dealing with environmental problems. The ES Program provides a limited number of stipends to assist students in undertaking approved environmental studies internships.

Study Abroad. Environmental studies students may participate in a variety of study abroad programs all over the world. A list of approved programs is available through the Off-Campus Study Office. For more information on ES study abroad opportunities see: http://www.colby.edu/environ/beyond/notable.html

Research Opportunities. Colby places considerable emphasis on integrating student research into the curriculum. Significant research opportunities exist in required and elective ES courses, including the foundation and capstone courses. Many ES students undertake independent study, honors, and senior scholar projects and participate in the annual Colby Undergraduate Research Symposium. Summer and academic year research assistantships are available that enable students to work with faculty on specific environmental research projects.

Internships. Students may apply for field experience credit for research conducted off campus during the summer or January. Colby’s Environmental Studies Coordinator and program faculty help students to match the internship opportunity to their individual academic programs. A limited number of stipends are available to help support internships. For more information on internship opportunities see: www.colby.edu/environ/intern/

Campus Greening. Colby has active student environmental groups and an Environmental Advisory Group that advises President Adams on issues related to campus sustainability. Members of the Environmental Studies Program, both students and faculty, are active members of this committee and participate in many other Green Colby initiatives. For details see: www.colby.edu/green/. ES students have also extended campus sustainability initiatives to local communities.

Facilities. The entire Mayflower Hill campus has been designated by the Maine legislature as a State Wildlife Management Area. A 128-acre part of the woodland (Perkins Arboretum) has been established as a wildlife sanctuary. The College also owns the Colby-Marston Preserve in the Belgrade Lakes area, a 34–acre tract containing a kettle-hole bog, which has been classified as a Registered Natural Landmark by the United States Department of the Interior. Students have access to excellent, well-equipped laboratory and GIS facilities in the science complex and in the Diamond Building. Please see: www.colby.edu/academics_cs/gis/.

Careers. Major corporations, federal and state agencies, private and public organizations, educators, and consulting and legal firms employ ES majors. Many ES graduates are hired immediately by businesses, schools, consulting firms, non-profit activist organizations, government agencies, or research institutions. Some of our graduates enroll in top graduate programs immediately after Colby. Others choose to work in their field of interest for a few years, but most pursue graduate degrees at some point.