Environmental Science • Carthage College

At a Glance

Students in the Environmental Science Program at Carthage focus on the study of the problems that arise when human beings interact with physical and natural environment.

Major

Environmental Science

Tracks

Environmental Conservation
Environmental Analysis
Environmental Policy

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The program seeks to train natural scientists who can function in the world of policy, and policy analysts who can shape the natural world.

Choose Your Focus

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

Conservation and Ecology
Environmental Policy Analysis
Water and Life

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/0,200,1402,1601/36110_4591_163701665847155.rev.1667178296.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,200,1402,1601/36110_4591_163701665847155.rev.1667178296.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,200,1402,1601/36110_4591_163701665847155.rev.1667178296.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,200,1402,1601/36110_4591_163701665847155.rev.1667178296.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,200,1402,1601/36110_4591_163701665847155.rev.1667178296.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,200,1402,1601/36110_4591_163701665847155.rev.1667178296.jpg" alt="Mary Gargano-Price" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,200,1402,1601/36110_4591_163701665847155.rev.1667178296.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/48/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,200,1402,1601/36110_4591_163701665847155.rev.1667178296.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1402" data-max-h="1401" 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> “Earth sciences, in general, is a growing field of opportunity and pragmatism. So much of our world depends on our ability to conserve and create sustainable lifestyles, making what we do crucial for future generations.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2135-mary-gargano-price">Mary Gargano-Price</a> ’23</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>
<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>

WHY STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AT CARTHAGE?

Interdisciplinary Focus

Students take courses that integrate 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.

Hands-on Learning

Student collecting samples from the Pike River. Students in all tracks have many opportunities to conduct research, both 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.

Carthage’s Invasive Species Working Group gives students an opportunity to monitor invasive species in southeast Wisconsin, led by professors Tracy Gartner and Scott Hegrenes. Students also serve the community through programs like the Prairie Restoration course, in which students work with a local nature center and high school to positively impact the environment and further environmental education.