There are ample opportunities to enhance your studies in environmental studies through independent research, off-campus study, and internships. These programs are integral to a Knox education, teaching you how to apply your skills in real world situations.
Student Research and Creative Projects
Many of our majors—and minors—pursue College Honors or other research and creative projects. Some even present or perform their work at national and international conferences. Here are a few recent projects:
- "Alluvial sedimentology of an archaeological transition at Sai Island, Sudan," Danika L. Hill '14, environmental studies and chemistry major.
- "Alternative Land Use: A Solution to the Socioeconomic Cause of Deforestation in Guatemala," Dan Pers '10, environmental studies and biology major.
- "Superfund: Process and Public Relations," Megan Butler '08, environmental studies major.
- "Movements to the Wilderness," Sarah Kilch '06, environmental studies and creative writing major.
- "Feeding the Future: How Childhood Experiences Shape Adult Cooking Habits and Why We Need to Reclaim Our Kitchens," Jessica Lee Johnson '12.
- "An Environmental Evaluation of Air Pollution from the Railroad in Galesburg, IL," Sarah Komicki '10.
- "An Ethical Evaluation of Herbicide Use in Restoration Ecology," Chelsea Marie Bagot '07.
Off-Campus Programs
Our students take advantage of numerous off-campus study programs. Many study abroad programs focus on environmental issues and may be of interest to students concentrating in Environmental Studies.
- School for Field Studies—programs deal with environmental issues such as conservation ecology, sustainable tourism, cultural heritage and resource management. Students can study in 10 different countries and over twenty different programs.
- Oak Ridge Science Semester -- Specialties at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory include basic research in the natural sciences, and a variety of areas in the social sciences including urban development, environmental impact and energy resource availability. The program includes an interdisciplinary seminar and an advanced course in a relevant discipline.
Internships
There's no better way to explore the possibilities of life after Knox than internships. Recent internships by environmental studies students include:
- Salmon Conservation and Restoration Intern, Sitka Conservation Society, Alaska. Michael Belitz, '14, environmental studies and biology major.
- Intern, Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, Illinois. Corey Palmer '07, environmental studies major.
- Kayaking Intern, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine. Sarah Kilch '06, environmental studies major.
- Naturalist Intern, Wildlife Prairie State Park, Hanna City, Illinois. Ryan Arch '06, environmental studies and biology major.
- Wetland Intern, V3 Companies, Woodridge, Illinois. Abigail Letzter '05, environmental studies major.
- Wetland Intern, V3 Companies, Woodridge, Illinois. Colleen Bohlin '05, environmental studies and American studies major.
