Environmental Studies

Director: Peter J. McCormick
Email: mccormick_p@fortlewis.edu

Coordinator of Environmental Policy Minor: Bradley T. Clark

Professors: Janine M. Fitzgerald, David A. Gonzales, Andrew J. Gulliford, and Larry K. Hartsfield

Associate Professors: Bradley T. Clark, Cynthia E. Dott, Peter J. McCormick and William (Scott) White

Assistant Professors: Rebecca L. Austin and Rebecca J. Clausen

Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary degree program that provides students with the cultural, political, and scientific background for careers focused on environmental issues. Environmental Studies is unique in that it unites a broad array of disciplines, and students take courses in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities in order to gain a broad understanding of human and environmental relations, policy, and problem solving. The curriculum includes introductory coursework in Environmental Studies and distribution requirements in Human-Environment Relations and Policy and in Scientific Literacy. The knowledge gained in the curriculum is applied in a series of upper division research and experiential courses (ENVS 320 , ENVS 395 , ENVS 410 and ENVS 496 ). This four-semester capstone experience for Environmental Studies majors requires at least 150 hours of community-based learning and research and directed research through the Environmental Colloquium and Senior Seminar courses. These opportunities allow students to develop expertise in a particular aspect of Environmental Studies and provide them with valuable field experience that will guide them and set them apart from the competition in their career pursuits.

The major is designed to prepare students for graduate studies or careers in environmental management, public policy, environmental justice, government, and law, to name a few, as well as careers in policy, tribal government, environmental management, sustainability, regional planning and local food production, for example. Students will be introduced to numerous career options through courses like Introduction to Environmental Studies and Community Internship.

Environmental Policy Minor

The Environmental Policy minor would be an excellent addition to any major at Fort Lewis College - except Environmental Studies. By completing the Environmental Policy minor, students can enhance their preparation for graduate school or a career in areas such as environmental management, public policy, environmental justice, government, law, and tribal government or law. As described for the Environmental Studies major, the Environmental Policy minor is interdisciplinary and is designed to prepare dynamic leaders who can negotiate the ecological and sociocultural aspects of complex environmental problems. Students are strongly encouraged to work closely with their advisors to ensure they design a course of study that best suits their career goals and fulfills all perquisites and general education requirements in a timely fashion. Students interested in completing the minor should contact the Program Coordinator to learn about the courses, internships, and practicum opportunities.

There are two required components to the minor:

1. Students select 18 credits from a list of existing courses representing the diverse perspectives on environmental policy (see below).

2. Students must take PS 130 at the beginning of their minor-related coursework and ENVS 395 during their junior or senior year. The latter course is one in which students and faculty of varied backgrounds come together to work on joint projects related to local, regional, or national environmental concerns.

Major and Minor in Environmental Studies:

Environmental Policy Minor

Environmental Studies Major