• Mission Statement
• The Student Experience
• Internship Opportunities
• Career Opportunities & Graduate School
• Differences between Conservation Science and Environmental Science
• Attention High School Students
• The Curriculum

Environmental science is a rapidly expanding interdisciplinary field which emphasizes the investigation and analysis of the four major features of the earth system - the land, the water, the atmosphere, and all living things. In addition to studying each of these features individually, most often inquiry is made into the interaction between components, which emphasizes the impact of human activity on the natural environment.

It is apparent that our environment is showing signs of stress, as evidenced by problems which are local, regional, and global in scale. Educated professionals will be needed to deal with concerns such as oil spills in otherwise pristine environments, heavy-metal contamination of water and soil, land-fill leakage, acid rain falling in lakes and streams, reduction of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and the effects of increased levels of UV-B radiation due to stratospheric ozone depletion.

Muskingum College offers an interdisciplinary major which allows students to gain a solid grounding in the physical sciences (chemistry, geology, hydrology, physics and climatology) complimented by at least a modest exposure to biology and ecology. Although the primary focus of environmental science is investigation for the sake of improving our understanding of the natural world and the interactions between features of the earth system, motivation for the study of environmental problems and formulation of solutions to these problems regularly requires an understanding of the political, economic, and ethical aspects involved. Consequently, courses in disciplines outside the natural sciences are an important part of the major.

Muskingum College is located in a hilly unglaciated portion of east-central Ohio and offers a variety of unique field opportunities for students majoring in environmental science. Most notably, The Wilds, a 9,154-acre wildlife preserve near Cumberland, Ohio (about 18 miles south of New Concord) is receiving international attention for its cur-rent and future role in the captive breeding of endangered species.

The Wilds is situated on reclaimed stripmined land donated by American Electric Power and the Ohio Power Company, and we anticipate that it will provide an array of research and internship opportunities for environmental science majors with an emphasis in biology, chemistry or geology. The Wilds is currently home to a few species of captive African ungulates including Przewalski horses and zebras, as well as the endangered North American red wolf.

The McAllister Biology Station, owned by Muskingum College, is a 57-acre farm located near Otsego, Ohio. The station, which is located on reclaimed coal land, provides a diversified outdoor laboratory for chemical, ecological and geological studies. Currently Muskingum College is working closely with Muskingum Area Technical College (MATC) in Zanesville, Ohio, to facilitate the transfer of course credits and to enhance opportunities for cooperative intern-ships between the two institutions. We anticipate that students majoring in environmental science will have the opportunity to work with students and professors at MATC in specialized areas of environmental science.

This flexible, yet rigorous major will prepare students to enter a variety of exciting career fields after graduation. Some examples of specific jobs one might pursue include work as an environmental consultant, government service in agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Forest Service, work for a non-profit organization such as the World Wildlife Fund or The Nature Conservancy, laboratory analysis of environmental pollutants, and environmental education.

Alternatively, students may chose to continue their education and earn advanced degrees by attending graduate or professional school in a number of more specialized programs including those in environmental law, engineering, scientific research, and economics.

Conservation Science and Environmental Science are both important new lines of interdisciplinary inquiry. Together, they provide powerful tools for addressing the host of environmental and biotic issues we face at the dawn of the 21st century. Muskingum College is pleased to offer distinctive majors in both of these exciting fields. Each program draws on our strong science tradition at the college and informs their action oriented pursuits with our liberal arts values. Yet, important differences define these disciplines and their associated programs.

Environmental Science emphasizes the investigation and analysis of how the four major features of the Earth's natural environment (the earth, waters, atmosphere, and living world) are linked and interact. In addition, there is often an emphasis on understanding how the natural environment is impacted by human activity. As an example, let us suppose a team of scientist has been called in to work on a lake experiencing acid rain. The environmental scientist will be very interested in studying a number of questions including things like: what's causing the rain to be acid? How will water chemistry in streams flowing from the lake be affected? Will weathering rates of rocks and thus soil formation be changed? Other examples of current problems studied by environmental scientists include groundwater contamination, changes in the cycling of nutrients in the ocean, and global climate change. Given the emphasis on analysis of physical processes, environmental science students require a solid grounding in the physical sciences (chemistry, geology, hydrology, physics and climatology) complimented by at least a modest exposure to biology and ecology. Although the primary focus of environmental science is investigation for the sake of improving our understanding of the natural world and the interactions between features of the earth system, workable solutions often require a contextual understanding of social, political, and economic dimensions related to the problem at hand.

Conservation Science is generally more "mission-oriented." Its emphasis is on providing information, principles and intellectual tools that can be used to formulate decisions or recommendations which directly impact a focused goal -- the maintenance of biological diversity. To return to our example of the acid lake system then, a conservation scientist would be more specifically focused on designing strategies to ameliorate declines in important populations or preventing the loss of whole species (e.g., the conservation scientist might explore strategies like adding buffering chemicals to the lake water to halt fish kills). Like environmental scientists, conservation scientists must also consider human impacts, but, mostly from the standpoint of considering how a sustainable strategy for helping fish populations can be developed that will not adversely affect local and regional populations of humans. To continue with our example, let's suppose fish are found to be declining due to acid rain and the acid rain is traced to emissions from regional factories. Ultimately, if lake fish are to be protected, a conservation biologists would have to help develop economic incentives that confer value on healthy fish communities (e.g., perhaps helping establish sport fisheries). As is the case with Environmental Science, Conservation Science also requires a solid grounding in the social sciences (particularly ethics, economics, political science and sociology). In contrast to environmental science, natural science training in conservation requires a much stronger emphasis on biology and ecology, rather than physical sciences.

Professionals in both disciplines are often motivated by aesthetic appreciation for the inherent beauty and value of the natural world. Indeed, there is enough overlap between the disciplines that the same individuals often work in both fields. It is also important to note then that training received in preparation for one field will almost certainly prove valuable in the other. Both majors feature interdisciplinary curriculums centered around a rigorous core designed to prepare students for exciting careers in a broad number of professional areas including: teaching, research, government service (e.g., management positions within the National Park Service, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service, United States Biological Service, as well as state and local positions), work with non-profit organizations (e.g., World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife Federation), law and global commerce (e.g., environmental law, consulting). In addition, faculty leaders in the Environmental Science and Conservation Science at Muskingum work together closely to coordinate activities for the benefit of students in both programs. Interested students should arrange to see faculty advisors from either program for further information.

Each student majoring in Environmental Science will complete:

1. the Core Courses
2. the Environmental Applications
3. the Group I electives
4. one track of specialization in either biology, chemistry, or social science and the accompanying electives for that track

Biology Track

Required Courses - 18 hours
Vertebrate Natural History, Bio 232 (3)
Intro. to Cell and Molecular Biology, Bio 226 (3)
General Ecology, Bio 308 (4)
Microbiology, Bio 312 (4)
Aquatic Ecology, Bio 358 (4) OR Genetics and Evolution, Bio 306 (4) OR Molecular Biology, Bio 375 (4) OR Conservation Biology, CVSC 331

Elective Courses - 12 hours
Microeconomics, Econ 215 (3)
Macroeconomics, Econ 216 (3)
Economics of Developing Countries, Econ 341 (3)
International Economics, Econ 361 (3)
Topics in Economics, Econ 411 (3) - Environmental Economics
American Political System, Pols 110 (3)
Intro. to World Politics, Pols 130 (3)
Topics in Public Policy, Pols 320 (3)
Topics in International Politics, Pols 350 (3)
Environmental Ethics, Phil 331 (3)
American Environmental History, Hist 385 (3)
Environmental Sociology, Soc 370 (3)
Global Issues and Values, Rel 393 (3)

Required Courses - 21 Hours
Chemical Safety, Chem 200 (1)
Organic Chemistry I & II, Chem 213, 214 (8)
Physical Chemistry I, Chem 315 (4)
Analytical Chemistry, Chem 335 (4)
Intermediate Calculus, Math 220 (4)

Elective Courses - 12 hours
Microeconomics, Econ 215 (3)
Macroeconomics, Econ 216 (3)
Economics of Developing Countries, Econ 341 (3)
International Economics, Econ 361 (3)
Topics in Economics, Econ 411 (3) - Environmental Economics
American Political System, Pols 110 (3)
Intro. to World Politics, Pols 130 (3)
Topics in Public Policy, Pols 320 (3)
Topics in International Politics, Pols 350 (3)
Environmental Ethics, Phil 331 (3)
American Environmental History, Hist 385 (3)
Environmental Sociology, Soc 370 (3)
Global Issues and Values, Rel 393 (3)

 Geoscience Track

Required Courses - 19 hours                                                                                   
Oceanography, Geol 200 (4)
Landform Evolution, Geol 220 (4)
Weather and Climate, Geog 321(3)
Mineralogy, Geol 301 (4)
Petrology, Geol 302 (4)

Elective Courses - 12 hours
Microeconomics, Econ 215 (3)
Macroeconomics, Econ 216 (3)
Economics of Developing Countries, Econ 341 (3)
International Economics, Econ 361 (3)
Topics in Economics, Econ 411 (3) - Environmental Economics
American Political System, Pols 110 (3)
Intro. to World Politics, Pols 130 (3)
Topics in Public Policy, Pols 320 (3)
Topics in International Politics, Pols 350 (3)
Environmental Ethics, Phil 331 (3)
American Environmental History, Hist 385 (3)
Environmental Sociology, Soc 370 (3)
Global Issues and Values, Rel 393 (3)

Required Courses - 18 hours
Microeconomics, Econ 215 (3)
Macroeconomics, Econ 216 (3)
Economics of Developing Countries, Econ 341 OR
International Economics, Econ 361 OR
Topics in Economics, Econ 411 (3)
Intro. to World Politics, Pols 130 (3)
Topics in Public Policy, Pols 320 (3)
Topics in International Politics, Pols 350 (3)

Elective Courses - 11 hours
Two (8 hours) from:
General Ecology, Bio 308 (4)
Aquatic Ecology, Bio 358 (4)
Genetics and Evolution, Bio 306 (4)
Molecular Biology, Bio 375 (4)
Conservation Biology,CVSC 331 (4)
Organic Chemistry I, Chem 213 (4)
Organic Chemistry II, Chem 214 (4)
Physical Chemistry I, Chem 315 (4)
Analytical Chemistry, Chem 335 (4)
Oceanography, Geol 200 (4)
Landform Evolution, Geol 220 (4)
Weather and Climate, Geog 321 (3)

One (3 hours) from:
American Political System, Pols 110 (3)
Environmental Ethics, Philosophy 331 (3)
American Environmental History, Hist 385 (3)
Environmental Sociology, Soc 370 (3)
Global Issues and Values, Rel 393 (3)