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Environmental Studies

The Environmental Studies Program at Roanoke College engages you in:

  • investigating pressing environmental problems from the local to the global level
  • gaining insight into your relationship with nature
  • shaping your role in creating an equitably sustainable world 
Students in waders carry out research in a river

THE MAJOR & MINOR

We're proud to offer both a major (B.S. degree) and a minor in environmental studies:

students in forestCORE CURRICULUM

  • Intro to Environmental Science (with lab)
  • Intro to Environment and Culture
  • Intro to Environment and Society
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Environmental Practicum

TRACKS

  • Environment, Society and Science: Environmental Social Sciences grounded with scientific literacy
  • Conservation and the Earth's Critical Zone: Scientific exploration of environment, emphasizing Ecology and Earth Science

Major Checksheet

Minor Checksheet

Real-World Learning

  • New Courses

    Students planting trees
    • Environmental Justice
    • Conservation Science (with lab)
    • Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
    • Critical Zone Science (with lab)
    • Sustainable Cities
    • Sustainability and Spirituality in the Pacific Northwest

  • Research and Internship Opportunities

    students in d.c.
    • Urban agriculture
    • Appalachian Trail Conservancy internships
    • Environmental justice
    • Food systems and farming: scientific, sociological and political science research
    • Critical Zone Science; land use impacts at the Calhoun Critical Zone Observatory, Sumter National Forest, South Carolina
    • GIS-applications to environmental problems
    • Community ecology and invasive species in Roanoke Valley
    • Societal impacts of mountaintop removal
    • Native Americans, indigenous cultures, Asian religions and environmental thought

The Environment Center

Roanoke College's Environment Center is an outdoor classroom and research laboratory. By connecting with it, our students expand their world. Learn more.

Students bird watching
RC student teaching younger children in summer youth camp
Student smiles while kneeling down in the grass
Students gathered along a grassy swale
environment center map

  • RC Sustain Meeting

    All are invited to RC Sustain, a group of staff, faculty, and students seeking to make the campus more environmentally sustainable.

    Date:
    October 12, 2023
    Time:
    12 - 1 p.m.
    Location:

    Pickle Lounge (Colket Center)

    RC Sustainevent image

  • RC Sustain Meeting

    All are invited to RC Sustain, a group of staff, faculty, and students seeking to make the campus more environmentally sustainable.

    Date:
    November 9, 2023
    Time:
    12 - 1 p.m.
    Location:

    Lucas 125

    RC Sustainevent image

The Latest

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