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Environmental Science

Alaska is among the very best places in the world today to study environmental science and begin a career as an environmental scientist. Alaska offers a superb natural laboratory for field-based environmental investigations. Moreover, the northern regions of the globe contain some of the largest protected wilderness areas on the earth. They are rich in natural resources and wildlife populations, sparsely inhabited by people, and ecologically fragile. They are also characterized by conflicting claims and rights of international organizations, governmental entities, private enterprise, and indigenous peoples.

In the coming decades many of the most significant environmental issues will stem from the northern regions where the need to develop resources and the need to protect relatively untouched wilderness intersect dramatically.This is already evident in Prince William Sound, Tongass National Forest, Eastern and Western Siberia, and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), where nationally prominent issues have emerged and are continuing to emerge.

The need has never been greater for environmental scientists who understand specifically northern issues, who can accurately collect and analyze environmental data, and who are knowledgeable about environmental policy.

Students in Environmental Science may select from two majors:

• Environmental Science provides a solid foundation in the natural sciences, coupled with laboratory and field techniques.
• Environmental Policy and Planning draws upon environmental science and management, particularly those areas that involve the exploration for, and sustainable economic development of, natural resources.

Recent Environmental Science graduates have found positions with environmental consulting firms, entry level positions in recreation programs and not-for-profit agencies, private industry positions, and environmental science positions with municipal, state, and federal agencies. Students have gone on to graduate school in many areas, including environmental law and advocacy.

Active Learning

Examples of active education as practiced in the Environmental Science Department:

• Field-based Experiential Learning
  1. engage in "real work" for community partners (e.g. Alpenglow Ski Area)
  2. consultation about & creation of interpretive natural history panels
  3. field-based wilderness skills training
• Project Based Learning
  1. wilderness research projects
  2. in-class research projects
• Discussion Based Learning
  1. cooperative & collaborative problem-solving
  2. in-class discussion of course concepts
• Text Engagement
  1. engaged in text-based learning
  2. independent literature reviews
• Cooperative Learning
  1. peer review of research proposals
  2. peer review of projects & presentations
• Activity Based Learning
  1. wilderness classes in field for 20 days
• Service Based Learning
  1. various courses have service/volunteer component
  2. community activities; trail clean up
• Student Directed Learning
  1. independent study opportunities
  2. student practica opportunities
  3. students create own business plan
• Discovery/Research Based Learning
  1. senior project research
  2. individual practica opportunities
• Values Critique/Clarification
  1. values exploration through journal writings
  2. values exploration through in-class discussions
• Application of Knowledge/Skills Learning
  1. outdoor education/student leadership & teaching
  2. volunteer opportunities at public schools
  3. student-directed teaching
• Interdisciplinary Learning
  1. integration of many disciplines in outdoor education, natural history, etc.
  2. interdisciplinary learning via wilderness field courses (e.g., ecology, meteorology, geology, wildlife biology, etc.)
• Model/Case Based Learning
  1. case study readings and reviews
• Spiritual/Psychological/Cultural Self Study
  1. personal reflection journals & discussion
  2. professional ethics discussion
• Creative Expression
  1. student presentations
  2. interpretive panel development