Environmental Studies

Degree: B.A.

Why Study This Program?

Millersville University's Environmental Studies concentration offers a comprehensive program of study that encourages students to pursue study in traditional resource-based issues of air, water, energy and land resources. Emphasizing physical geography and environmental topics, this concentration aims to fuse together both the social and natural sciences in order to create a well-rounded educational program for students.

Graduates of this program have been provided the foundation for further academic study in disciplines addressing geographic, environmental and international issues, or for immediate use in professional fields such as planning, public policy, law and environmental management.

Environmental Studies is a concentration within the Geography major. 

What Will You Learn?

This program's curriculum lays a foundation for the understanding and critical analysis of key environmental problems and their management. They incorporate student participation, hands-on activities, and both online and outdoor field experiences. Introductory courses include studies of the physical and biological operations of our world, and how humans interact with each other and their environment to shape unique places. Beyond the introductory level, students select various environmental topics for in-depth study, including climate change, ecology, energy, water resources, environmental policy and environmental impact assessment.

All environmental geography students are also required to either do environmental research project or take an environmental co-op under the advisement of a faculty member. Past student co-ops have been with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, individual county conservancies, private environmental consulting firms, nature centers, state parks, PA Agricultural Preserve Board, Lancaster Farmland Trust, Lancaster Planning Commission, Fort Indiantown Gap (endangered species management), Land Studies (stream restoration) and the Nature Conservancy. Recent student projects have focused on impact of Lancaster land use on the health of the Chesapeake Bay, on the progress of clean up of the Chesapeake Bay, and consumer attitudes and the use of PET and paper bags.