Program Website

The Environmental Science Department is a multidisciplinary effort organized through the Department of Geography and Environmental Science. As the need to preserve the earth's natural resources becomes inevitable, both geography and environmental science are fields of critical demand. Although environmental science is a relatively new interdisciplinary field, it is diverse in scope ranging from the art, science and policy related to topics including agriculture, ecosystems, economics and toxicology. Career opportunities abound for environmental scientists.

Faculty

Faculty are involved in the campus Environmental Responsibility Council, as well as in local to international programs for reforestation and development, assessment of ecosystems function, and energy policy consultation. Coursework is informed by the award winning research and activism of our member faculty, who are dedicated to active and experiential learning programs off campus, both in central Florida and abroad.

• J. Anthony Abbott, Ph.D., University of Minnesota; Associate Professor Specialty area: political ecology, Latin America, sustainability Current research: renewable energy systems and policy, carbon accounting, sustainable agriculture.
• William Jay Ball
• Cynthia C. Bennington, Ph.D., West Virginia University; plant population genetics and evolutionary biology
• Bruce C. Bradford, (Chair) Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University; Professor Specialty area: population dynamics; human-environmental interaction in Russia Current research: changing demography of the Russian Federation.
• Paul J. Croce, Ph.D., Brown University; American politics and culture, political and ideological trends, popular culture, environmental issues, science and religion
• Terry M. Farrell, Ph.D., Oregon State University; ecology and environmental science
• Melissa A. Gibbs, Ph.D, University of Delaware; developmental biology and spring fish ecology
• William Tandy Grubbs, Ph.D., Duke University; Physical chemistry, study of polymers and their properties by laser interferometry and various forms of spectroscopy
• Anne M. Hallum, Ph.D, Vanderbilt University; founder of the Alliance for International Reforestation, which works in Central America; author of a book and a dozen articles on Religion and Politics; winner of the Hand Award for Community Service
• Peter G. May, Ph.D., University of Florida; vertebrate and insect ecology, ecology, natural history of birds (website)
• Mary Sanders Pollock, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin; Victorian literature, nature writing, science writing
• Kimberly D. S. Reiter, Ph.D., University of Virginia; historian of Ancient and Medieval eras who specializes in religious movements of the early Roman Empire and Roman Britain, and in environmental history.
• John K. Schorr, Ph.D., Brown University; community-based research, sociology of disaster
• Alicia S. Schultheis, Ph.D., Virginia Tech University; molecular ecology, freshwater macroinvertebrates
• Kirsten Ann Work, Ph.D, University of Oklahoma; aquatic ecology and conservation
• John T York, Ph.D., University of Minnesota; Inorganic chemistry, computational modeling and synthetic studies of small molecule activation by biologically inspired transition metal complexes

Special Features

Both geography and environmental science curricula take full advantage of Stetson University's unique location in Central Florida. The immediate area is noted for its natural beauty, mix of biodiverse landscapes, unique freshwater systems, and innovative environmental policy. We are lucky that geographers and environmental science majors benefit from a mix of ecosystems and environmental management institutions, useful for local and regional research. Most our majors conduct their research for their Senior Project locally.

Course Information

Because of its multidisciplinary nature, course descriptions leading to a degree in Environmental Science are found by referencing individual departments such as Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English, Geography and Environmental Science, History, Mathematics, Political Science, Religious Studies, and Sociology. The major provides students great freedom for interdisciplinary scholarship and opportunity for a second major.

Internship Opportunities

Students participate in internships with public or private institutions to hone skills and apply experience.

Career Opportunities

• Geographic information scientist (GIS)
• computer mapping
• environmental consultant
• teacher/professor
• environmental law
• impact assessment specialist
• environmental engineering

Alumni Highlights

• Stuart Bartlett, Field Scientist, DEP (Jacksonville, FL)
• Brenda Brooks-Solveson, Graduate Student in Environmental Science, Florida Gulf Coast University
• Catherine Ciak, Aquatic Ecologist, National Park Service's Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network
• Jennifer Cotch, Senior Environmental Scientist, DEP (Orlando, FL)
• Sherry Gardner, Conservation Information Assistant, Nature's Conservancy Florida Protection Department (Altamonte Springs, FL)
• Kiryssa Kasprzyk, a Research Assistant with the Indiana Geological Survey at Indiana University
• Melissa Knight, a Peace Corps volunteer who aided her local community by designing watershed management units for reforestation and agriculture projects
• Kirsten Marshall Mattson, Environmental Educator, Low Country Institute (Beaufort, SC)
• Paulina Pfarrer, Environmental Analyst, Geo-Centers (Washington, D.C.)
• Sam Rabin, Ph.D. Candidate, Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
• Lauren Staly, Environmental Scientist, DEP (Orlando, FL)
• Kevin Sullivan, GIS specialist, Taylor Engineering (Jacksonville, FL)
• Jack Vitek, Record Coordinator for International Game Fish Association, (Miami, FL)
• Matt Zirkelbach, Graduate Student in Environmental Studies, Florida International University

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Scholarships are available to students studying Environmental Science. Two Environmental Science majors, Brenda Brooks-Solveson and Heather Grove have received the prestigious Morris K. Udall Fellowship, awarded nationally to high-achieving students committed to the environment.

Contact:
J. Abbott
386-822-7008
tabbott@stetson.edu

Full Time Faculty: 16

Degrees Offered:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science

Our Graduates Attend:

• Baylor University
• Florida Atlantic University
• Florida Gulf Coast University
• Florida International University
• Indiana University
• Princeton University
• Rhode Island School of Design
• Stetson University College of Law
• University of Central Florida
• University of Colorado-Boulder
• University of Florida
• University of Georgia
• University of South Florida
• University of New Mexico
• Clark University

Our Students Intern at:

• City of DeLand
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection
• Florida State Parks System
• U.S. Geological Survey
• Various private environmental consultants
• Volusia County Department of Environmental Management
• USDA
• FL Fish and Wildlife Commission