Environmental Studies

The major program in environmental studies seeks to introduce students to the ways in which human beings, both individually and in groups, interact with and modify the biosphere.

It is the mission of the environmental studies program to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about earth and its resources, both natural and social. Since the program is essentially interdisciplinary, it aims to give students in a liberal arts setting grounding in the traditional disciplines that relate to environmental issues, and also asks students to make the connections between disciplines that are necessary to deal with those complex issues. After completing the environmental studies major, students should be aware of the constraints imposed by both natural laws and economic, ethical, political and social forces on the solutions to any environmental problems.

The environmental studies program is intended to prepare students for a variety of career options after graduation, including graduate study in such fields as environmental science or industrial hygiene, environmental law, elementary or secondary school education, or employment in federal or state government natural resource or regulatory agencies, environmental consulting firms, private industries concerned with solid or hazardous waste management or remediation, and environmental citizen advocacy organizations

For more information, contact:
Dr. Charles Gowan
Chair, Environmental Studies Council
Randolph-Macon College
P.O. Box 5005
Ashland, Virginia 23005-5505
(804)752-7293
cgowan@rmc.edu