Mission, Goals, and Core Values

The Environmental Studies (ENST) Program develops and delivers instruction and scholarship in environmental studies / science using an interdisciplinary approach to increase environmental literacy and to provide students with the professional and technical skills for successful environmental careers.

This mission is supported by the following goals:

• To advance basic environmental literacy among students to facilitate understanding of the nature, scope, and complexities of present and impending environmental problems.
• To prepare specialists to serve as a resource to the region with expertise in environmental management, consulting, education, policy, and leadership.
• To expand the university's role in providing environmental expertise and education to the region.

The Environmental Studies Program has the following learning outcomes:

• Students will possess fundamental understanding of current environmental issues;
• Students can describe the various perspectives that different constituencies bring to environmental issues;
• Students can make informed decisions (e.g., voting and other life choices) that take into account relevant environmental issues;
• Students will develop critical thinking skills necessary to carry out scientific research and assess and develop policy choices;
• Students are conversant in techniques and vocabularies of diverse environmental disciplines and can integrate knowledge from different perspectives;
• Students possess good oral and written communication skills; and
• Students have depth of knowledge in an area of specialization.