Environmental Studies at Swarthmore College

Welcome to Swarthmore College's Environmental Studies concentration. Begun in 1993, the concentration allows students to assemble an interdisciplinary minor to complement their regular departmental major or a special major. Concentrators must complete a total of six courses in Environmental Studies, at least one of which must be in Environmental Sciences, and at least one of which must be in Social Sciences/Humanities. At least three courses must be outside the student's major. All concentrators take a Capstone seminar in the Spring of the senior year that is taught by a faculty member and counts as the sixth course.

The E.S. concentration was created in response to student petitions for a broad-based introduction to Environmental Studies that would also serve as preparation for possible graduate work. Courses offered by environmentally-interested faculty through their respective departments are used as the basis for the concentration. As issues related to the environment have become more prominent in different fields, both new and continuing faculty have developed and cross-listed new E.S. courses. Likewise, the focus of student interest in the environment changes and is reflected in the course offerings. The links below provide a view of the experiences of some of its participants, but the Environmental Studies concentration is an evolving program. Like this web site, its future shape depends entirely upon those who contribute to it.

Faculty:

  • Hans Oberdiek (Philosophy) - Coordinator
  • Elizabeth Bolton (English)
  • Tim Burke (History)
  • Carr Everbach (Engineering)
  • Jose-Luis Machado (Biology)
  • Arthur McGarity (Engineering)
  • Rachel Merz (Biology)
  • Carol Nackenoff (Political Science) - on leave 2007-2008
  • Frederick Orthlieb (Engineering)
  • Colin Purrington (Biology) - on leave 2007-2008
  • Richard Valelly (Political Science)
  • Mark Wallace (Religion) - on leave 2007-2008
  • Larry Westphal (Economics)

NEWS

Details on Swarthmore's Own Envrionmental Foreign Study Programs - Eastern Europe and Africa

 

Summer Research Project Support awarded each Spring: James H. Scheuer Environmental Fellowship to support student's involvement in environmental projects and research.

 

Environmental Scholarship Available: Morris Udall Fellowship (several Swarthmore Environmental Studies students have been successful in this national competition in recent years)

 

Swarthmore College purchases wind-generated electricity.

Environmental Studies Program - Includes information and REQUIRED electronic forms for applicants to the minor (Course or Honors)

Environmental Course Offerings - Current and Future – course and honors minors: courses and events

  Links for All Students requesting COURSE CREDIT in Environmental Studies:

Faculty-a listing of some of the professors in E.S.

Alumni-Student Connection - makecontact with anE.S. alum or current student

Course Listings- from the Registrar's website (seelistingof current offerings elsewhere)

Graduate Programs in E. S.

Other Undergraduate E. S. Programs

Environmental Links

Upcoming Lectures/Talks

Send message to Swarthmore College Environmental Studies

last updated 11-28-07

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