The challenge of maintaining and creating a sustainable environment is one of the most pressing problems facing our society and world today. The Environmental Studies minor draws information, ideas and concepts from the natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities to deal with complex and interdisciplinary environmental issues. The minor provides a breadth of coursework and the conceptual tools for analyzing environmental issues; it is applicable for students majoring in any academic discipline.
Environmental Studies
Spring Term at Alma is a one-month immersion on a single academic topic that offers learning experiences not typically available during the more traditional 15-week fall and winter terms. For example, during Spring Term ‘07 students explored important cultural sites in China, worked to restore a Jewish Holocaust cemetery in Poland, analyzed ethic politics in Scotland, and studied medieval literature in London.
Graduate Profile
Stephanie Smith
Graduation: 2004
Major: Biology
Stephanie Smith knew she wanted to work in science, but it was consultation with her faculty advisor, Murray Borrello, that helped her decide on environmental consulting.
“The most rewarding experience I got from the environmental science department was the one-on-one attention and hands on learning from various projects,” the 2004 graduate says.