Environmental Science
Bachelor of Science Major
Identify and understand the environmental consequences of humanity’s impact on our world. Get experience under your fingernails as you do original research on our College farm or in our forests, river, or fields. At Warren Wilson, you won’t have to wait to make a positive impact — you’ll do it while you’re here. And when you graduate, you’ll be ready to lead efforts to solve the world’s most serious climate-induced challenges.
You may travel the Blue Ridge Parkway to study forests at varying elevations or examine the water samples you collect from the Swannanoa River in our labs. No matter what you do here, you’ll gain the confidence that comes with having improved our environment and solved problems, firsthand.
Why Environmental Science at Warren Wilson?
- A Vast Classroom: Our campus—your classroom—is on 1,000+ acres of farm, river, and forest nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Western North Carolina, one of the most biodiverse regions in North America.
- Key Location: Asheville, N.C.—a.k.a., “Climate City”—is a hub for professionals in climate data, regenerative agriculture, and innovative climate solutions.
- Alumni Connection: Our alumni have leadership roles at local organizations who will host your community-engaged courses and connect you with internships and applied research opportunities.
- Helping After Disaster: The environmental consequences of Hurricane Helene made Warren Wilson an epicenter for the study of climate impacts, recovery efforts, and solution-focused mitigation strategies.
Every student will complete community-engaged coursework, an internship, and original research as part of their major
A Sample of Our Partnerships
- National Park Service
- Forest Service
- American Chestnut Foundation
- Hemlock Restoration Initiative
- Department of Environmental Quality
- NC Wildlife Commission
- Mountain True
- Hickory Nut Gap Farm
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Buncombe County Soil and Water
Concentration in Ecological Forestry
Forests are vibrant ecosystems dramatically affected by the decisions society makes. You may choose the Ecological Forestry concentration that allows Environmental Science majors to focus on how forests function and how to keep them healthy.
See how Environmental Science students put our education into action
Internship
While interning with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Harlow Higgins discovered a new way to test swimming areas for E. Coli—a dangerous type of fecal coliform. Typical testing takes 24–48 hours, but Higgins found the link between fecal coliforms and turbidity, which provided immediate results and quick answers about whether water is safe for swimming. Harlow’s internship led to a full-time position with the DEQ after graduation.
Community Engaged Course
Students in Intro to Environmental Science worked with the Revitalization of Traditional Cherokee Artisan Resources (RTCAR) to transplant river cane from areas around campus to locations near the Qualla Boundary in order to reintroduce the important native plant closer to the Cherokee Artisans who use it.
Work
You can work on any crew as a student but many Environmental Science majors choose to be on crews such as:
- Forestry
- Bio/ENS
- Farm
- Garden
- Information Technology Services
- Data Science
- Climate and Sustainability
Study Abroad
In the course Indigenous Land Use In Borneo: Food, Farming, and Forest, students traveled to Borneo for three weeks with faculty to study tropical ethnobiology and Indigenous farming and land use in the rainforests of Borneo.
Research
In our American Chestnut nursery on campus, students in classes and conducting independent research projects implement testing of the American Chestnut for viability of seedlings and their resistance to diseases.
Group Senior Capstone
Seniors work in teams with a faculty mentor to address a pressing environmental issue. This group project is meant to mirror how scientists work today—collaboratively and across disciplines.
Popular Courses
Forest Biology
Forests are biological ecosystems with their own unique structures, compositions, and species interactions. To examine them firsthand, you’ll spend lots of time exploring the woods with your peers, focusing on the temperate forest systems of Southern Appalachia.
Aquatic Ecology and Water Pollution
You’ll master the organizational principles of aquatic ecosystems. Learn theories relating to the flow of energy and matter and how these have shaped adaptations for life in different aquatic environments. Test the samples you collect in the lab. Your studies will focus on water pollution sources, effects, detection, and control.
Silviculture
You’ll learn about and examine the many silvicultural systems used in the United States while focusing on the eastern U.S. forests. You’ll compare and analyze each system with the most important species, economics, management objectives, and environmental protection topics in mind.
Eric Griffin, Ph.D
Research Interests
- Forest Ecology
- Plant-microbe interactions
- Community ecology
“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! ”
Liesl Peterson Erb, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- Conservation biology
- Wildlife ecology
“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.”
Liz Benavides, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Animal Science/Animal Physiology
- Plant-based anthelmintics (de-wormers)
- Animal Endocrinology
“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!”
Alisa Hove, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Mating system evolution
- Plant-fungal interactions
- Evolutionary responses to environmental stress
“Warren Wilson College provides seemingly endless opportunities to work in collaborative settings with students who take an active role in their own learning. ”
Amy Boyd, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Pollination biology and ecology
- Population dynamics of an endangered cactus species
- Floristics of the Blue Ridge mountains
“Warren Wilson is a place where we are engaged lovers of learning and of connecting what we learn to the world. It’s also a community where we can be whole people with diverse interests, where I can not only be scientist but artist, musician, gardener, mother.”
Mark Brenner, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Aquatic Ecology
- Nutrient cycling in ecosystems
- Mycoremediation
“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.”
Olya Milenkaya, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Biodiversity Conservation
- Wildlife Behavioral Ecology
- Invasive Species
“I love teaching at Warren Wilson because the students challenge me to dig deeper and think harder. And I return the favor: we push and support each other in our learning. ”
“I went to school at Warren Wilson and got to explore not only my academic interests, but my outdoor interests as well. I learned to paddle here, among other things, and I love being back giving folks the chance to explore and experience the outdoors in the setting I fell in love with these activities.”
“Some of my fondest memories of Warren Wilson are rooted in the blend of community and nature.”
Keaton Scanlon
(she/her)
Scientific Researcher of ethnobiology and agroforestry at Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research, Inc
Major, Minor, Concentration, Crews
- Fulbright Scholar (agroforestry research in Senegal)
- Environmental Studies B.S. with a Ecological Forestry Concentration
- Bee Crew
Jane Margaret Bell
(she/her)
Water Resources Planner for Land of Sky Regional Council
Major, Minor, Concentration, Crews
- Environmental Studies Major
- Crews: Admissions, Garden, Writing Center, Campus Support
Jane’s first job after graduation was working in Warren Wilson College’s Conservation Genetics Lab.
Where Our
Graduates Go
- Department of Environmental Quality
- Yale Forestry School
- WK Dickson & Co.
- Southside Community Garden
- Grassroots AID Partnership
- University of New England in Australia Ecology PhD Program
