Letter from the Chair of Environmental Studies

Dear prospective EVST student,

Welcome to the Grenfell Environmental Studies program!

We are glad that you are interested in our program. How is Environmental Studies distinct from other environmental fields of enquiry such as Ecology, Environmental Science or Sustainable Resource Management? Environmental Studies is a relatively new academic field: the first Major in Environmental Studies was offered in 1965 at Middlebury College in the United States. It is unique and exciting because it systematically studies human interaction with the environment, both in its negative aspects (pollution, depletion of natural resources) and in its positive aspects (restoration, conservation, stewardship). Environmental Studies encourages students to become engaged with big questions and real problems that span conventional disciplinary boundaries.

At Grenfell we offer a multidisciplinary Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies that is available both as a major and as a minor. The program includes courses from numerous disciplines such as geography, economics, political science, environmental science, ethics, physical education, folklore, religious studies, and more. These courses provide a solid foundation for rigorous, critical and creative thinking that can inform interpretation and policy decision-making. Our program encourages both theoretical and practical exploration of environmental issues, as we believe that

“We care for only what we love. We love only what we know. We truly know only what we experience”.
(Steven Bouma Prediger)

You can choose between two concentrations: environmental perspectives and outdoor pursuits. The environmental perspectives concentration is designed to help you develop a comprehensive theoretical understanding of environmental issues, while the outdoor pursuits concentration allows you to experience nature and acquire valuable outdoor skills in a way that respects our treasured wilderness environments. The program also offers travel grants which are available for Environmental Studies students to do overseas field courses. In 2010-2011 three EVST students traveled to Belize to do a field course there.

Our program benefits from its location in Western Newfoundland, where the economy is mostly resource-based and focused on the environment. The place is quiet and beautiful. The wilderness terrain is unique in North America. You can explore it on your own or take advantage of the Grenfell Outdoors Club which provides guided outdoor adventures for the whole university community.

You can join your fellow students or your professors in all year round outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, canoeing, camping, caving, rock climbing, ice climbing, cross country skiing, downhill skiing/snowboarding, backcountry skiing and snowshoeing.

Grenfell campus is a relatively small and close-knit academic community, where professors are accessible and friendly. The program is home to eleven permanent faculty members and five other cross-appointed faculty from other areas of study. They are all experts in their fields, with a passion for teaching, research and the environment. They are dedicated to their students, and practice an open door student relationship policy.

What can you do with a Bachelor in Environmental Studies? The multidisciplinary nature of our program is a solid stepping stone for a variety of careers. Our graduates are employed in a variety of jobs both in the province and in the rest of Canada. Some of the career options for our graduates are: Environmental education; Park interpretation; Journalism, Communication; Environmental consultant; Policy and planning; Environmental Impact Assessment; Outdoor recreation and Adventure tourism, among others. Another option after graduation is to proceed to graduate school. Soon you will be able to do it on our campus, once the Master of Arts in Environmental Policy program begins in the fall of 2012.

I look forward to welcoming you to our Environmental Studies family. Please contact me if you have any questions about our program.

Yours,
Gabriela

Dr. Gabriela Sabau, Chair, Environmental Studies
Phone: (709) 637-6200 ext. 6472
Fax: (709) 639-8125
Email:gsabau@grenfell.mun.ca