Environmental Studies

The Environmental Studies Program focuses on the interactions of humans and the natural environment. Specifically, the Program studies the structure and functioning of natural systems and the ways that human social, political, and economic activity affects those systems.  Campus/community environmental partnerships and the natural diversity of the Gunnison Valley provide wonderful learning laboratories for ENVS students to understand complex environmental problems and to investigate sustainable solutions. 

Academic Goals Include:

• Developing students' capacities for interdisciplinary critical thinking, problem solving, and communication.
• Applying the diverse research methods of the social sciences and natural sciences to understand and analyze local, national, and international environmental issues.
• Fostering an understanding of the literature of the environment and ethical questions in environmental decision making.
• Enhancing career and graduate study opportunities in environmentally related disciplines.

Applying classroom learning, ENVS students have:

• Led efforts towards Western's signing of the Environmental Charter.
• Worked with Student Government Association to pass a Sustainability Fund to enhance campus environmental projects.
• Encouraged President Jay Helman to sign the President's Climate Commitment.
• Coordinated major service projects with environmental organizations and public lands agencies.
• Completed Senior Capstone projects, which have ranged from a wilderness plan for the Black Canyon National Park, to a campus organic garden, to environmental education in local schools, to researching a carbon tax for the Gunnison Valley, to helping envision the new environmentally responsible home for Environmental Studies.
• Travelled to Kenya to install solar panels, build environmental education facilities, and study rainforest issues.