Environmental Studies

Affiliated Professors: Claycombe, Iglich, Leahy, Neal, and H. Smith; Affiliated Associate Professors Jakoby and Marx; Affiliated Assistant Professors: Hardy (Coordinator) Semu; Assistant Professor: Becker.

Areas of particular teaching interest: Professor Hardy: environmental policy, natural resource management, and watershed management; Professor Iglich: filed biology, environmental health; Professor Leahy: comparative politics of Western Europe, developing and communist nations, methodology of comparative politics; Professor Marx: physics education research, energy; Professor Neal: judicial process, political theory, and American political behavior; Professor Semu: globalization and international development, urban studies; Professor Smith: state and local governments, public administration, national and Maryland elections;

Environmental problems arise from the complex interactions between ecological and physical systems and the social, economic, political and cultural forces that shape the world in which we live. Finding solutions to environmental problems requires well-trained scientists, researchers, policy makers, planners, resource managers, and other specialists who can understand these system interactions and who can develop solutions that draw from a variety of disciplines. To help meet this challenge, our mission is to promote environmental sustainability through an interdisciplinary academic program anchored in both the natural and physical sciences and in the social sciences.

The area of environmental studies explores the relationship between humans and their environment. Since environmental concerns are often complex and broad in scope, we designed the Environmental Studies Department to offer students a liberal arts experience that addresses a diversity of environmental issues, while providing detailed training in specific fields. After graduation, students may pursue graduate studies in a number of disciplines or follow career paths as policy analysts, environmental consultants, environmental health specialists, environmental scientists, urban planners, science educators, and naturalists. Our graduates will serve in a variety of local, state, and federal government roles, as well as contribute to for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

Specializations in the ENV Major

Students majoring in ENV can choose from several program tracks including Environmental Policy or Environmental Science with an emphasis in either Biology or Chemistry.

After finishing six of the EPS core courses, students may elect one of two strategies:

They may complete the remaining EPS major requirements, choosing additional courses from the Policy specialization or from the Science specializations as indicated below;
They may elect to complete the major requirements for a specific discipline, which through advisement includes selections with environmental relevancy (Political Science or Economics).

Completion of six of the core group also serves as the requirements for the Minor in Environmental Policy and Science.

Internships

McDaniel College’s location in the greater Washington-Baltimore region allows us to offer a number of valuable internship opportunities through government and consulting agencies. We also hope to encourage students to take part in the institution’s Washington Partnership Internship Program. Additionally, there are many opportunities for students to take part in internationally based courses and internships, for example, the Field Studies Program, SIT and the Political Science Semester in Washington, D.C. (either through the American University or through George Washington University).

Honors in Environmental Studies

Honors in ENV will be awarded to graduating seniors who have earned at least at 3.50 grade point average in all courses take in the major and who are recommended by the Department. Recommendation is based on the evaluation of a guided research or internship project completed and presented by the student in their senior year. Students must discuss guidelines with their advisor.

National Honors:

The Green Leaf National Honor Society is a national honor society established to recognize and reward the brightest students throughout the country who are studying some aspect of the natural environment as college undergraduates. Juniors with a 3.75 overall GPA and seniors with a 3.50 overall GPA may apply to the Green Leaf National Honor Society. All applicants must submit, along with the application form available from the Environmental Studies Program, an official copy of their current transcripts, and two letters of recommendation, a one-page resume, and a two to three page personal statement.