Environmental Studies
The Environmental Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences provides students with an education in Environmental Studies that takes full advantage of Pacific University’s liberal arts curriculum. In this program, students and faculty have opportunities to pursue interests that span a wide range of disciplines. Many faculty affiliated with the program are based in the disciplines of biology, chemistry and environmental science but choose to apply their knowledge to environmental problems that cross traditional boundaries.
Students in the Environmental Studies Program conduct research in unique nearby surroundings such as the coniferous forest of the John Blodgett Arboretum, the riparian corridors of the Gales Creek and Tualatin River watersheds, and the 300-acre Fernhill Wetlands. The B Street Permaculture Project is a working laboratory of sustainable food production that directly addresses the human component of environmental problem solving. Regionally, there are many exemplary resources available within a one- to two-hour drive of campus such as the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, Tillamook and Willapa Bays, and the forests of the Coast and Cascade Ranges. The proximity of Pacific University to study sites both wild and human-influenced is one of the main strengths of the Environmental Studies program.
The Environmental Studies Program offers two degree options: a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with an emphasis in either Biology or Chemistry and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies.
The Environmental Biology emphasis focuses on field and laboratory approaches to environmental problems such as the conservation of rare or declining species or the restoration of degraded habitats. Environmental Biology stands apart from a traditional biology degree in the way that it integrates interdisciplinary core courses with a mission-oriented, problem-solving methodology. Students completing this major have the analytical skills and technical background necessary to compete in the job market for environmental biology positions or to continue with advanced studies in a graduate program.
The Environmental Chemistry emphasis couples core study in chemistry with specific environmental science and policy courses. The core courses provide a theoretical background for understanding the chemical processes that control the distribution of contaminants in the environment. The program emphasizes an understanding of atmospheric, groundwater and aquatic chemistry and includes the analytical and statistical methods to study them. Field activities in a variety of nearby study areas are included. Students graduating with this major are well qualified to directly enter the job market and will have excellent credentials for entry into graduate programs.
The Environmental Studies degree is designed to provide students with the skills they need to gain employment with environmental organizations, public agencies, or businesses with an environmental agenda. The curriculum is interdisciplinary in nature, with students taking courses from a broad array of studies including political science, business and economics, psychology, philosophy, history, biology, chemistry, geology, computer science, and environmental science. This degree also requires student internships in areas that deal with environmental policy, economics, education, and outreach . Students completing this program may go on to professional schools in law or journalism or would be qualified to apply for over 17 graduate programs in Environmental Studies.