Environmental Studies and Sustainability, Bachelor of Arts
Program Coordinator:
James Buthman (Political Science)
Teaching Faculty:
Jason Antrosio; Karl Seeley; Stefanie Rocknak; Richard Barlow; Min Chung; Lisle Dalton; Katharine Kreisher; Mark Kuhlmann; David Griffing; Bradley Fest; Ryan Ceresola; James Buthman; Zsuzsanna Balogh-Brunstad; Peter Fauth; Amy Forster Rothbart; Kevin Schultz; Chad Anderson; Timothy Vatovec
Program Steering Committee:
Zsuzsanna Balogh-Brunstad (Geology); Peter Fauth (Biology); Amy Forster Rothbart (Political Science); Kevin Schultz (Physics); Chad Anderson (History); Karl Seeley (Economics);
Major
Environmental Studies and Sustainability
Minor
Environmental Studies and Sustainability
About
The interdisciplinary major in Environmental Studies and Sustainability draws on the humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences. The Environmental Studies and Sustainability major provides an interdisciplinary framework for studying some of the most compelling struggles of our time. Such a major takes advantage of Hartwick’s pre-existing liberal arts structure while allowing for the study of the real-world issues shaping modern sustainable practices. This major is well-positioned to meld the liberal arts and experiential learning to educate students to become conscientious citizens in a new era of sustainable awareness. With an Environmental Studies and Sustainability major, Hartwick will be working to fulfill its promise as “a future-directed college, focusing on educating people in ways that will make them effective and contributing citizens to the world of their future.”
By completing a degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainability, students will gain a competitive foothold in an expanding job market in “green careers.” Our graduates benefit from our strong liberal arts education and a degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainability would allow them to gain a competitive foothold within an exciting and expanding job market. In recent years the need for employees with degrees in environmental areas and sustainability has been increasing.
The Environmental Studies and Sustainability major exposes students to a breadth of understanding as well as a depth of knowledge in the following ways:
Breadth. In order to effectively address environmental issues and create or discover solutions, students will need to draw from a broad base of thinking. The Foundation Courses requires students to take courses that provide sufficient breadth in a variety of discipline areas.
Depth and Concentrations. The major provides disciplinary depth as students take upper-level courses in their chosen area in order of concentrations to provide greater opportunities to develop a comprehensive understanding and ability to use the intellectual tools of the discipline.
Experiential Component. The major requires all students to participate in an internship or field-based experience so that they are able to apply knowledge in a hands-on, real-world experiential study. The requirement is met through an approved internship, independent study, or J Term program.
Capstone Senior Project. All students within the major complete a capstone senior project during their final year of study. The capstone project will apply the broad interdisciplinary nature of the major to identify a relevant environmental or sustainability issue and use the knowledge and tools from coursework to address the issues. The use of the Pine Lake Environmental Campus as a case study is encouraged.
Program Objectives
Understand existing and emerging environmental and sustainability issues affecting the natural world and society.
Identify environmental and sustainability issues and analyze the potential impact these issues could have on natural and human systems to proactively engage the world in a problem-solving manner.
Utilize a broad base in the liberal arts, combined with the specific training within the major to examine, analyze, and critically engage emerging issues and develop the capacity to create sustainable solutions to these issues.