WHY CHOOSE THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES CONCENTRATION?
If you are concerned about the environment and want to "make a
difference," Towson University's interdisciplinary Environmental
Science and Studies (ESS)
Program is a natural choice for you. If you are intrigued by the
challenges of planning, regulation and policy, or if your are interested
in reaching out to the public through informal environmental education,
The Environmental Studies
Concentration draws
extensively upon the faculty all across campus, including the Fisher
College of Science and Mathematics, the College of Liberal Arts,
the College of
Business and Economics and the College of Health Professions. The training provided in the environmental studies
concentration prepares graduates for various entry-level environmental
positions in the public, private and nonprofit sectors and is excellent
preparation for advanced study.
Understanding and resolving environmental conflicts--conflicts that can tear communities apart--requires individuals with an interdisciplinary perspective. An interdisciplinary perspective enables you to develop effective and equitable environmental policies and regulations that the community accepts rather than sees as burdensome. These individuals are familiar with a broad range of perspectives and understand the interactions (and potential for conflict) between social systems and natural systems. Similarly, in order to effectively educate the public about the environment in an informal setting, one needs to understand the challenges that face the natural world, the complexities and functions of the natural world and how to present these concepts effectively.
To be prepared for such roles, students in environmental studies take courses with faculty representing a broad range of expertise, including geography, philosophy, political science, economics, health, and sociology as well as biology, chemistry, geology, ecology, mathematics and education. Faculty members are committed to helping students integrate their various areas of study, thereby enhancing each student's ability to become a skillful environmental problem-solver. Further integration of the various disciplines occurs during the research or internship opportunity that all students complete toward the end of their program of study. Many classes and seminars will focus on specific environmental problems in the adjacent urban/suburban environment and their impact on surrounding regions and the Chesapeake Bay, but the lessons learned from analyzing these local problems are adaptable to other locales and situations. top
LOCAL RESOURCES
Towson
University’s location allows students to take advantage of the diverse
environmental and geographic resources of the mid-Atlantic region. The
university is close to the Chesapeake Bay, the largest
estuary in North America. There are numerous environmental preservation,
conservation, and environmental education organizations in the
Baltimore-Washington area, including the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the
Nature Conservancy, Parks and People Foundation, Gunpowder Valley Conservancy, and many local
watershed organizations. There are also many private environmental
consulting firms in the region.
In addition to their interdisciplinary course work, students in the Environmental Studies Concentration select a course of study in one of five tracks. This specialization ensures that our graduates are well prepared for the challenges and demands of the workplace. Environmental Studies graduates are prepared to enter graduate school, professional training programs, or to work in business, governmental agencies, or nonprofit organizations involved in activities such as environmental consulting, "greening" of business and industry, environmental policy, geographical information systems and mapping, pollution prevention initiatives, environmental management, environmental education, environmental public outreach and environmental planning. top
The Environmental Studies concentration has five tracks: Environmental Geographic Analysis, Environmental Policy/Management, Environmental Health, Directed Environmental Studies, and Informal Environmental Education . Each track requires 72-81 credit hours with up to 23-24 of the required courses satisfying General Education requirements.
COMMON CORE REQUIREMENTS (37-39 units): All students in the program will complete a common core of course work establishing the scientific principles and mathematical skills needed as a foundation for more specialized study. They also will complete a coursework in the social sciences, and an upper-level internship or research course. Of the total credits in program requirements, a minimum of 23 credits may be used to fulfill General Education requirements (identified by an asterisk following the course number), effectively reducing the number of credits that apply solely to the Environmental Science and Studies major. Click the heading to see details.
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Natural Science (16 units)
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Mathematics and Statistics (6-8 units)
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Advanced Writing Course
One of the following (3
units)
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Environmental Geography,
Ethics and Health (12 units)
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EVERY STUDENT SELECTS ONE OF FIVE TRACKS (33-42 units): Click track to see details
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Environmental Geographical Analysis Track (33 units)
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Environmental Policy/Management Track (33 units)
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Environmental Health Track (33 units)
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Directed Environmental Studies Track (33
units).
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Informal Environmental Education (40-42 units)
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