BA MAJOR

What You’ll Study

This interdisciplinary major starts with foundational courses in Environmental Science, Environmental Policy and Justice, Environmental Education, and Math. Then you’ll select from a wide range of courses based on your interests.

We’ll focus on how our current social and political systems affect the natural world around us and how we can work within those systems to combat the harm being done. Partnering with our local community, you will complete hands-on projects to make our area more sustainable. In doing so you will learn how to uplift people to uplift the planet, skills that you will use in your future career.

Concentration

If your interest is in communication, education, and advocacy for environmental issues, you can choose to narrow your studies with the Environmental Education concentration.

Building on the core of the Environmental Studies major, you’ll focus on learning how to engage with diverse stakeholders for conservation. You’ll learn how to educate, communicate, and advocate for environmental solutions with diverse audiences from youth to adults.

Honors Program in Natural Sciences

Environmental studies majors can opt to participate in the honors program, which grants honors recognition on your degree. To graduate with honors, you must earn a 3.5 GPA, complete an independent research project or internship, and present your work to the faculty.

This interdisciplinary major focuses on how our social and political systems influence how we work. This program might be for you if you’re interested in the interaction of subjects like:
Environmental policy
Environmental justice
Political ecology
Environmental History
Education
Park interpretation
Sociology
Community activism
Urban gardening

Explore Classes in This Program

21st-century environmental work is personal and political; scientific and poetic; local, regional, and global! And maybe most of all: terrifying and hopeful. With our southern Appalachian ecoregion for a classroom, you’ll deepen your understanding of today’s intersectional environmental problems and solutions in the classroom and the community.

This course focuses on the interrelationship between natural and social environments. Although the course covers a broad range of issues, emphasis will be given to the development of environmental sociology; various perspectives in environmental sociology; environment and culture; environmental justice; the interrelationship of ideology, materialism, and the environment; global environmental issues; and environmental activism.

Guided by case studies in successful environmental protection, you’ll apply your interdisciplinary skills and knowledge to help plan and carry out an environmental protection project in the region.

Still curious? See the Curriculum

I am more guide than teacher; I love guiding intelligent, passionate students as they help change the world not just after they graduate, but as part of their educational experience.

Liesl Peterson Erb, Ph.D.

Meet Liesl Peterson Erb See all Natural Sciences Faculty

As a field biologist, I always say our best laboratories are right out the back door of the science building. Within a 5 minute walk we have 3 ponds, a trout stream and 600 acres of Forest.

Mark Brenner, Ph.D.

Meet Mark Brenner See all Natural Sciences Faculty

Teaching and learning at Warren Wilson is not for the faint of heart! And some days I wake up tired. But the strong-hearted, active-minded students and educators, busy together in this beautiful valley and beyond, send me home energized every day.

Amy L. Knisley, Ph.D.

Meet Amy L. Knisley See all Natural Sciences Faculty

The best part of the job is watching students graduate with a strong portfolio of experiences and find meaningful work connecting people to places.

Mallory McDuff, Ph.D.

Meet Mallory McDuff See all Natural Sciences Faculty

I believe my responsibility is not only as an instructor but as a mentor and a resource for the future. My classes are not just an experience with a grade; they are an opportunity to build social capital.

Joshua Earl Arnold, Ph.D.

Meet Joshua Earl Arnold See all Natural Sciences Faculty

Everywhere you look there's a story to be told here at Wilson. It's my job to help guide my students to see these stories and learn how to best share them with the world.

Peter Erb, MA

Meet Peter Erb See all Natural Sciences Faculty

Warren Wilson has some of the most accessible experiential learning opportunities of any college campus in the country. It is one of the primary reasons why I wanted to be here as a faculty member, particularly when the forest is a stone’s throw away from the classroom!

Eric Griffin

Meet Eric Griffin See all Natural Sciences Faculty

Faculty Member Liz Benavides stands smiling outside of Orr Cottage.

At Warren Wilson, I have most enjoyed learning from my students as much as I am teaching them. Their wealth of experiences has not only been valuable in my lessons, but I have learned so much from them as well!

Liz Benavides, Ph.D.

Meet Liz Benavides See all Natural Sciences Faculty

I believe curiosity is the seed of hope. I approach education as a way to cultivate my students' curiosities about the world and how they can engage with it.

Jeffrey A. Keith, Ph.D.

Meet Jeffrey A. Keith See all Natural Sciences Faculty

Warren Wilson students crave a challenge. I am continually amazed at the enthusiasm with which our students throw themselves into an endeavor, whether it be a physically exhausting service trip or an intellectually stimulating research question. Wilson students tend to say “bring it.”

David Abernathy, Ph.D.

Meet David Abernathy See all Natural Sciences Faculty