Students with an interest in environmental issues have several options of study at Albright College:
- Concentration in environmental science
- Concentration or co-concentration in environmental studies
- Environmental chemistry track in the chemistry concentration
All environmental students must complete an introductory environmental seminar (Introduction to Environmental Issues, EVS 101) and a final junior or senior level seminar (Environmental Capstone Seminar, EVS 400) as part of their curriculum of study. The introductory seminar, preferably taken in the first year, allows entering students the opportunity to explore the different options of study and provides a shared foundation for the rest of their program. The capstone course encourages students from the different tracks to integrate the natural and social sciences in their approach to environmental issues, and to work together to apply their specialized knowledge in the pursuit of solving the complex problems facing society today.
Environmental Science
The interdisciplinary nature of the environmental science concentration (see interdisciplinary studies) allows students to address a wide range of contemporary questions through the natural sciences of biology, ecology, earth sciences, chemistry, and the social sciences including political science, sociology, economics, psychology and philosophy. The concentration is designed for science students wishing to pursue careers in environmental research/technology and resource management or pursue graduate study in an environmental field.
Requirements:
Environmental Science concentrators must take:
• EVS 101 and 400
• Seven courses within the science/math core:
- BIO 202 and either 201 or 203
- BIO 300 (fulfills general studies quantitative reasoning requirement)
- BIO 311
- CHEM 105 (fulfills general studies natural science requirement)
- CHEM 106 and 207
• Plus two courses from each of the following three groups:
- Biological Group: BIO 304, BIO 314, BIO 316, BIO 321, BIO 334, BIO 342, BIO 494
- Physical Science Group: BIO 312, EVS 205, EVS 310, EVS 315, EVS 320, EVS 325, EVS 365
- Socio-Political-Cultural Group: ANT/PSY 265, ANT 285, POS 214, POS 321, ECO 224, HIS 280, IDS 205, PHI 270, PSY 350, REL 280, SOC 291, EVS 260, EVS 298
Two of the four choices from the biological and physical science groups must be a field-based laboratory course. Students should be aware that some graduate programs in the environmental fields also require a semester of calculus and physics and two semesters of organic chemistry. Students are also encouraged to participate in an overseas field course (EVS 280 - Martinique Studies; EVS 298 - Ecological and Anthropological Field Study in Peru; SPP J51 - Protecting Endangered Species: Hawaiian Humpback Whale; IDS J61 - Subtropical Ecosphere). Students interested in this concentration should contact Professors Osgood or Mech in the Biology Department.
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Environmental Chemistry
Environmental chemistry is offered as a track within the chemistry concentration (see chemistry). This concentration provides students with a solid background in chemistry with a specific emphasis on the chemistry of the environment.
Requirements:
• EVS 101 and 400
• CHE 105, 106
• CHE 207, 208
• CHE 321, 322,
• CHE 323, 324
• CHE 420
• MAT 131 and 132
• PHY 201 and 202
• BIO 201 and 202
The following related courses are available as electives:
• BIO 311
• CHE 325, 326, 411 and 412
• Independent study in biology or chemistry (BIO 381, 481 or CHE 381, 481)
• Biology or chemistry internship experience (BIO 482 or CHE 482)
Students interested in the environmental chemistry concentration should contact Professor Pam Artz in the Chemistry Department.
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Environmental Studies
Students who wish to learn about the environment from the perspective of the social sciences and humanities may choose a concentration or co-concentration in environmental studies. This field of study is rooted in the liberal arts tradition of diversity and critical thought and requires coursework in the politics, anthropology, sociology and psychology of the environment as well environmental economics. In addition to a hands-on natural science, students may choose to study ecological history, religion and the environment and/or the application of philosophical ethics to the natural world.
Students concentrating in environmental studies also receive credit for experiential learning that may consist of study abroad, an internship or independent study arranged with an affiliated instructor.
This interdisciplinary concentration or co-concentration helps prepare students for careers in government, public advocacy, consulting, or for graduate study in law or other fields involving environmental issues.
Students interested in this concentration should contact Professor Barty Thompson, Director of the Environmental Studies Concentration (Sociology-Anthropology Department) or Professor Brian Jennings (Sociology Department).
Concentration in Environmental Studies
Required Courses (Only one of these can also fulfill the general studies social science or interdisciplinary requirement--students choose which course.)
• EVS 101 Introduction to Environmental Issues (general studies interdisciplinary)
• EVS 400 Environment Seminar
• ANT 204 Introduction to Anthropology (general studies social science) or ANT 285 Human Animal (general studies interdisciplinary or social science) or ANT 206 Food & Culture (general studies interdisciplinary or social science)
• ECO 224 Environmental Economics (general studies social science)
• POS 320 Politics & the Environment (general studies social science)
• ANT/PSY/IDS 265 Ecological Psychology (general studies interdisciplinary or social science)
• SOC 291 Environmenal Sociology (general studies social science)
• EVS 325 GIS
One environmental science course (above the general studies natural science requirement):
• BIO 311 Ecology
• EVS 205 Physical Geology
• EVS 310 Pollution
• EVS 315 Watersheds
• SPP J51 Protecting Endangered Species: Hawaiian Humpback Whale
One humanities course:
• HIS 280 Ecological History
• PHI 270 Environmental Ethics
• REL 280 Religion & the Environment
One additional course from either the environmental science group or humanities group above.
One experiential learning course:
• EVS 280 Martinique Studies
• EVS 282 or POS 399 Internship
• EVS 298 Ecological & Anthropological Methods in Peru (if not taken as methods course)
• SPP J51 Protecting Endangered Species: Hawaiian Humpback Whale
• Another off-campus experience, independent study or internship that relates to environmental issues and that is approved by an affiliated instructor
The experiential learning course may be replaced with one of the following social science courses with the approval of the director of the Environmental Studies Program:
• EVS 260 Environmental Science of Latin America
• POS 214 Public Policy
• POS 273 Globalization
• POS 302 Public Administration
• PSY 350 Animals in their Environment
• SOC283 Comparative Cultures of Peru
One statistics course (satisfies general studies quantitative reasoning requirement):
• ECO 207 Economics Statistics
• POS 207 Research Methods
• PSY 201 Research Design (must be taken in combination with PSY 200)
• SOC 211 Social Statistics
One methods course:
• EVS 298 Ecological & Anthropological Methods in Peru
• PSY 200 Research Design (must be taken in combination with PSY 201)
• SOC 212 Research Methods
It is recommended that students take BIO 202 (General Biology II) to satisfy the general studies natural science requirement
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Co-Concentration in Environmental Studies
Required Courses:
• EVS 101 Introduction to Environmental Issues (general studies interdisciplinary)
• EVS 400 Environment Seminar
• ANT 204 Introduction to Anthropology (general studies social science) or ANT 206 Food & Culture (general studies interdisciplinary or social science)
• ECO 224 Environmental Economics (general studies social science)
• POS 320 Politics & the Environment (general studies social science)
• ANT/PSY/IDS 265 Ecological Psychology (general studies interdisciplinary or social science)
• SOC 291 Environmental Sociology (general studies social science)
• EVS 325 GIS
One of the above courses can satisfy the general studies social science requirement and one can satisfy the general studies interdisciplinary requirement.
One humanities course:
• HIS 280 Ecological History
• PHI 270 Environmental Ethics
• REL 280 Religion & the Environment
One statistics course (satisfies the general studies quantitative reasoning requirement):
• ECO 207 Economics Statistics
• POS 207 Research Methods
• PSY 201 Research Design (must be taken in combination with PSY 200)
• SOC 211 Social Statistics
• MAT110 Elementary Statistics
It is recommended that students take one of the following science courses to satisfy the general studies natural science requirement:
• BIO 202 General Biology II
• EVS 205 Geology
• EVS 315 Watersheds
• SPP J51 Protecting Endangered Species: Hawaiian Humpback Whale
Students interested in environmental studies should contact Professor Barty Thompson, Director or Professor Brian Jennings.
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