New Major

Environmental Studies Major Introduced

Beginning in the fall of 2007, Franklin College will be offering a new major in Environmental Studies. The major provides students with an interdisciplinary education, helping them to think more critically about, analyze, and better understand tough environmental issues facing today’s society. It prepares students for careers in government, non-profit conservation, consulting, as well as graduate degree programs. Since environmental issues involve and result from interactions among ecological, socioeconomic, and institutional factors, students complete a course of study that span several disciplines, including environmental science, economics and political science. The major requires students to first complete a set of foundation courses in the various disciplines. Then, students complete an upper-level interdisciplinary core and develop a concentration that reflects their individual interests and career goals. Additionally, students need to complete an internship, individual research project or thesis that further complements their area of interest before graduating.

“Environmental issues represent some of the largest challenges that societies face today. We need people in the workforce across a broad range of fields that are environmentally literate and understand the complexities of these issues,” stated Professor Brack Hale, Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Science. In recognition of this need, as well as interest in the student body for such a major, Professor Hale worked closely with Dean Zanecchia and Assistant Dean Starcher; the Curriculum Committee, Professors Cappiello, Parsons, Rocourt, Schlein, and Stanford; as well as student representative Nicholas Hasko, in developing a program that matches Franklin’s academic strengths with the exceptional resources that Lugano and Switzerland offer.

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