Environmental Studies addresses a broad range of issues concerning the relationship of human beings with the natural world. Understanding these issues requires that knowledge from diverse disciplines be brought together, and new modes of thinking be developed. At Illinois Wesleyan, the Environmental Studies Program is designed to provide students with a basic knowledge of the scientific concepts, the societal factors - cultural, political and economic - and the ethical dimensions behind environmental issues. The program includes both interdisciplinary courses and courses that address environmental issues from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, and offers both a major and a minor degree. Students intending to major or minor in the program should consult with the Environmental Studies Director Dr. Abigail Jahiel, Department of Political Science, or Environmental Studies Associate Director Dr. Given Harper, Department of Biology, to determine the best course plan for their area of interest.
The Environmental Studies Program at Illinois Wesleyan University seeks to inform and influence the general university community as well as educate our majors and provide them with specific skills for environmental work.
With regard to the broader university community, the Program aims to:
- produce environmentally literate graduates, broadly aware of the types of environmental problems facing our world and the impact of their own actions on the environment
- develop an attitude of care and stewardship toward the environment among Illinois Wesleyan graduates
To achieve these goals, the program recognizes that the university itself must act as a seat of learning and a model of environmental stewardship. The Program thus works to encourage faculty from across the campus to interweave a sensitivity to the environment throughout the university curriculum. It also works to assist itself in creating a campus which functions in an environmentally responsible way.
In educating Environmental Studies students, the Program aims to provide:
- an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of the field of environmental studies and an ability to bridge the language gap between disciplines so necessary for effective work in environmental improvement and protection;
- a basic understanding of the societal issues – cultural, political, economic – shaping the formation of environmental policy in this country;
- critical thinking skills about environmental issues;
- the necessary background – in conjunction with course work additional to the minor – to pursue graduate studies in some area of Environmental Studies