At a Glance

The environmental science program at Carthage cross-trains natural scientists who can function in the world of policy and policy analysts who can shape the natural world. With an emphasis on hands-on learning and service, students approach environmental issues from multiple angles.

Major

  • Environmental Science

Tracks

  • Environmental Conservation
  • Environmental Analysis
  • Environmental Policy

View Degree Requirements

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Choose Your Focus

Students majoring in environmental science at Carthage may specialize in one of three tracks:

  • Environmental Conservation
  • Environmental Analysis
  • Environmental Policy

Because of the program’s interdisciplinary nature, it is easy to combine a major in environmental science with a second major in one of the core disciplines of the program, such as biology or geospatial science.

  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1653,2257/36225_Julia_Peters_24.rev.1667422136.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1653,2257/36225_Julia_Peters_24.rev.1667422136.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1653,2257/36225_Julia_Peters_24.rev.1667422136.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1653,2257/36225_Julia_Peters_24.rev.1667422136.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1653,2257/36225_Julia_Peters_24.rev.1667422136.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1653,2257/36225_Julia_Peters_24.rev.1667422136.jpg" alt="Julia Peters" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1653,2257/36225_Julia_Peters_24.rev.1667422136.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1653,2257/36225_Julia_Peters_24.rev.1667422136.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1653" data-max-h="2257" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “My favorite class has to be Social Welfare Policy Analysis with Professor Danielle Jarvis. The course gave me a whole new perspective on some of the issues in our society, including environmental justice.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2137-julia-peters">Julia Peters</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,106,2694,2801/37405_7279_163701665847155.rev.1680051246.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,106,2694,2801/37405_7279_163701665847155.rev.1680051246.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,106,2694,2801/37405_7279_163701665847155.rev.1680051246.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,106,2694,2801/37405_7279_163701665847155.rev.1680051246.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,106,2694,2801/37405_7279_163701665847155.rev.1680051246.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,106,2694,2801/37405_7279_163701665847155.rev.1680051246.jpg" alt="Grace Condit" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,106,2694,2801/37405_7279_163701665847155.rev.1680051246.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,106,2694,2801/37405_7279_163701665847155.rev.1680051246.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2694" data-max-h="2695" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “My biggest piece of advice is to stay open-minded and put yourself out there. You never know what opportunities could arise.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2355-grace-condit">Grace Condit</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1440,1441/36234_MaryHelen_Prince_24.rev.1667503154.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1440,1441/36234_MaryHelen_Prince_24.rev.1667503154.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1440,1441/36234_MaryHelen_Prince_24.rev.1667503154.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1440,1441/36234_MaryHelen_Prince_24.rev.1667503154.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1440,1441/36234_MaryHelen_Prince_24.rev.1667503154.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1440,1441/36234_MaryHelen_Prince_24.rev.1667503154.jpg" alt="For MaryHelen Prince?s student voices profile" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1440,1441/36234_MaryHelen_Prince_24.rev.1667503154.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1440,1441/36234_MaryHelen_Prince_24.rev.1667503154.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1440" data-max-h="1441" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Environmental science is perfect for people who want to learn from hands-on experience. The labs we do are unlike any other major. One day, you’re waist-deep in a river; the next, you’re walking around gathering mushrooms.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2141-maryhelen-prince">MaryHelen Prince</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AT CARTHAGE

Interdisciplinary Focus

Students take courses integrating biology, chemistry, economics, geospatial science, and political science. As a result, they learn how to approach complex problems using methodologies and philosophies from multiple disciplines. The program graduates students who are well-versed in both the science and politics of environmental issues.

Student collecting samples from the Pike River. Hands-on Learning

Students in all tracks can conduct research independently and guided by faculty. The program emphasizes hands-on learning and community service. Students work in regional study sites that include prairies, forests, bogs, and wetlands. The Carthage campus is itself an arboretum and wildlife sanctuary divided by the Pike River. Some classes include opportunities to work with members of the local community, such as schools, parks, or conservation organizations.

 

original research

Research is built into the Carthage experience through the required senior thesis and options such as a paid summer program. Environmental science students can propose sustainability projects for the College or collaborate with scientists nationwide in the Ecological Research as Education Network and the Macrosystems Ecology for All Network.

Research at Carthage

 

Special Academic Program

ENGINEERING

In this dual-degree program, you will spend three years at Carthage and the final four to five semesters at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland or Washington University in St. Louis.

3+2 engineering program

 

Where Carthage environmental science graduates go

Alumni have found positions with employers such as:

  • Argonne National Laboratory
  • Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
  • Shedd Aquarium
  • U.S. Forest Service
  • GHP Environmental + Architecture
  • AmeriCorps – Conservation Corps
  • California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • The Wildland Trekking Company

Others have continued their studies at top graduate programs in environmental engineering, freshwater sciences, and environmental health sciences.

Hear from Carthage environmental science alumni

 

Scholarships for Environmental Science Students

Those intending to major in environmental science can apply to enter the Math/Science Scholarship competition. Two full-tuition scholarships are awarded each year and are renewable for four years. 

Math/Science Scholarships