Environmental Studies

• Gain an edge with undergraduate research
• Be challenged by a rigorous curriculum
• Learn from award-winning professors
• Work in state-of-the-art facilities

Travel

As an Environmental Studies student at Converse, you can participate in study-travel programs to explore the diversity and complexity of organisms and their natural habitat both abroad and in the country.  Our study-travel students have been to:

• Costa Rica
• Ecuador
• Galapagos Islands
• The American Southwest

Students experienced the rainforests of Costa Rica while studying the biological diversity, ecology, and environmental science of Costa Rica with Dr. Doug Jensen. Activities included hiking in the rainforests, zip lining through the forest canopy, sea kayaking, and watching howler monkeys. Students also volunteered at a local school and learned to prepare Costa Rican foods.

Class Excursions

As part of the Environmental Studies curriculum, you will journey to local and regional habitats to examine plants, animals and ecosystems. You will learn to identify and observe organisms and their functions in their natural habitats.

Research

Participation in scientific research is an invaluable way for you to experience first-hand how scientists learn about the world. Working independently or side-by-side with faculty mentors, our students perform research, much of which is presented at state, regional, and national conferences, often winning awards.

In fact, Converse is a leader in the state in the number of student/faculty research proposals funded by the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (SCICU) consortium. Some of our student research topics include:

• Presence of toxic chemical wastes in waterways in Georgetown County.  
• Potential toxic effects of herbicides on animals within the environment.  
• Using aquagels to remove heavy metal contaminants from water.
• Fern Floras of Spartanburg and Georgetown Counties.
• Methods of controlling an invasive plant species.
• Upper Cretaceous Plant diversity of South Carolina (70 million years ago.)
• Cellular and molecular responses of plants to stress.
• Evaluation of genetic damage caused by pesticides in mammalian systems.
• Evaluation of the prevalence of liver flukes in South Carolina deer populations.
• Effectiveness of food additives at reducing cancerous growth.

Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary field and the courses taught at Converse reflect its diversity. Through the Environmental Studies program, you will learn information and take courses that span biology, chemistry, economics, politics and sociology. As an environmental studies student, you will learn how the choices you make affect your own health and that of the environment around you. Additionally, our coursework will provide you practical experience through an internship or research program.

The Environmental Studies program complements many majors at Converse, from Economics, to Biology, to Creative Writing. Knowledge and perspective about issues and concepts of our natural world will be helpful to you in the career of your choice!

Sample Courses

• Ecology
• Environmental Chemistry
• Hazardous Waste and Public Policy
• Environmental History
• Environmental Literature

View the Environmental Studies Major requirements.

View the Environmental Studies Minor requirements.

Course Offerings & Academic Catalogs