Natalie McNeely ’25 earns scholarship to advance biology, environmental studies
Natalie McNeely ’25 of Neenah, Wisconsin, has received a scholarship from the Garden Club of Greater Milwaukee. The competitive scholarship is awarded to students in […]
“This opportunity provided me a great insight on the future of renewable energy as well as my own possible career interest in the energy sector. Right after this fellowship, I got interested in energy policies and volunteered as a researcher writing memos for the Wisconsin Climate Task Force committee, specifically under the Energy, Housing and Infrastructure subcommittee.”
Shreeya majored in environmental studies and minored in computer science at Ripon. While enrolled as a student, she participated in a fellowship with the Summer Institute on Sustainability and Energy.
Shreeya Gautam '21, Market Insights Coordinator at Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA)
Achieve More
130
ACRES TO EXPLORE AT CERESCO PRAIRIE
14:1
AVG STUDENT:FACULTY RATIO
Department Mission Statement
This interdisciplinary program of study transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. The core includes an introductory course and courses in chemistry, ecology, philosophy and environmental economics. The program also requires the student to take advanced courses in disciplines such as the natural sciences, mathematics and computer science, social sciences, fine arts and humanities. Environmental studies majors do a senior project and complete an individualized learning experience or off-campus experience. The core courses provide the necessary background for environmental decision-making. The elective courses provide exposure to a knowledge base that will allow students greater insight into important environmental issues.
At a Glance
Environmental Studies majors at Ripon study environmental issues from a range of perspectives. From conducting research in the Ceresco Prairie to Philosophy and the Environment to exploring the natural and cultural history of Devil’s Lake State Park, students take a core set of courses and select additional areas of interest to explore within the major.
Expect to Experience
- A customized major created by selecting courses in anthropology, art, biology, chemistry, communications, economics, history, mathematics, philosophy, political science and sociology
- Advanced courses in disciplines like the natural science, mathematics, social science, art and humanities
- Off-campus field work or an internship to complete your senior project and gain exposure to methodologies and knowledge important to the environmental studies field
- One-on-one mentorship from accessible and approachable faculty for individual research experiences and planning for the future
Leave Empowered To
Students who complete the biology program graduate with the skills necessary to:
- Pursue a career in research, conservation, sustainability, education, biology, government, business, law, medicine, social services or park and recreation
- Excel in advanced professional and graduate programs
- Leverage a vast professional network of alumni through professional contacts made available by our lifelong relationships with alumni
Latest News
Ben Grady publishes paper about plant research in digital journal
Ben Grady, associate professor of biology and director of environmental studies, is the co-author of a paper published by Phytoneuron, a venue for digital publication […]
Visiting scholar will speak on humanities, environmental studies Sept. 29 at Ripon College
“The Environmental Humanities, the Sciences, and Environmental Justice: Reflections from the Crossroads,” a presentation by Rob Nixon, guest author and professor in the humanities and […]
Faculty
Byron, Colleen
Professor of Chemistry, L. Leone Oyster 1919 Chair in Chemistry
Grady, Benjamin R.
Associate Professor of Biology, Director of Environmental Studies Program
Hauge, Soren
Patricia Parker Francis Professor of Economics
Jeffries, Paul
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Chair of Philosophy Department
Khan, Memuna
Professor of Biology, Chair of Economics and Business Management
Martin, Steven
Professor of Communication, Chair of Communication Department
Advising
Ripon College faculty and professional staff are dedicated to helping you reach your goals, whatever they may be and however often they may change along the way. It’s part of our value statement to you.
As a student at Ripon, you will be assigned a faculty adviser based on your area(s) of interest. You will meet with your faculty adviser throughout your time as a student to discuss your current aspirations, plan your course schedule and plot a future trajectory. We also work collaboratively with Ripon College Career and Professional Development to help match your interests and skills to concrete goals and construct a plan for professional success offering personalized career counseling, off-campus learning opportunities and an online job board with potential to connect with local, national and international employers.
Advising at RiponRequirements
Featured Course: ENV 236 Communication and the Environment
The role of communication as it relates to the environment, focusing on communication strategies by institutions, corporations, environmental movement leaders, scientific experts, politicians and the public to describe and influence human interactions with the environment.
| Requirements for a Major in Environmental Studies | |
|---|---|
| Core Courses | ENV 120 Environmental Studies, ENV/PHL 243, ENV/BIO 247, ENV/ECO 332, ENV 500 Senior Studies, CHM 100 Global Chemistry or 111 Organic Chemistry I or 112 Structure and Reactivity, MTH 120 Elementary Statistics or PSC 211 Research Design and Statistics |
| Elective Courses | Complete 10 elective credits OR three courses from among the following courses. Students must take at least one course from two of the following three categories*: 1) Natural Science & Mathematics (BIO 228 Plant Diversity, BIO 336 Green Wisconsin, BIO 341 Animal Behavior, BIO 450 Intensive Field Studies or CHM 211 Analytical Chemistry: Equilibrium and Quantitative Analysis; 2) Social Sciences (ANT 222 Anthropology and Contemporary Global Issues, ECO 361 Development Economics I, ECO 461 Development Economics II or SOC 216 Consumer Culture); or 3) Fine Arts and Humanities (ART 190 Sculpture I, ART 194 Three-Dimensional Design, CMM 236 Communication and the Environment Martin, HIS 248 U.S. Environmental History, HIS 285 Global Environmental History, HIS 385 Natural Disasters in World History or PHL 353 Human Rights) 3) Complete an in-depth program of study, either through Individualized Learning Experiences (ILE), a substantial Off-Campus Experience (OCE), or an In Focus course that has a substantial environmental component: |
| Additional Criteria | Students wishing to pursue graduate work in environmental studies are encouraged to take additional courses in an area of specialty (e.g., anthropology, biology, chemistry, economics, mathematics, politics and government, and sociology).
Note: A student may not both major in Environmental Studies and minor in Environmental Biology. |
| Requirements for a Minor in Environmental Studies | |
|---|---|
| Core Courses | ENV 120 Environmental Studies |
| Elective Courses | 16 credits of coursework designated for the major in at least three different departments, with a minimum of 2 credits per department. At least 4 credits must be at or above the 300-level. |
Career Tracks
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Unique Opportunities
Ripon College is here to provide unique experiences that will enhance your studies.
Flora and Fauna of the Boreal Forest
More than 1/4 of the earth's forests are boreal forests, but only 12% are protected. Learn what makes these forests special, and their deep history, flora and fauna. These forests are known as essential nurseries for more than 325 species of birds and are homes to the charismatic megafauna of our continent including wolves, bear and moose. Learn what threatens their existence and what is being done to protect them. Students will spend the first week on campus gaining background knowledge for the remaining two weeks at a field station located in the boreal forest. Activities include canoeing and hiking, while course expectations include field quizzes, independent projects, discussions with invited speakers and assigned readings.
Optional Teaching Certification
Through the Department of Educational Studies, certification in environmental science is available in secondary education (grades 4-12).
Collaborative Research Opportunities
Research opportunities and internships, in collaboration with Ripon College professors, are available in areas such as avian ecology of eastern bluebirds, developmental biology, virology, aquatic ecology, neuroscience and more. Paid summer internships are available through our Summer Opportunities for Advanced Research (SOAR) Program, and often this collaborative work is published.
Featured Alumni
Mark majored in biology and environmental studies while at Ripon College, giving him the tools he needed to fulfill his passion to protect the environment. Mark is currently a superintendent at ENCAP, an environmental consulting firm, where he uses his extensive hands-on experience with plant and wildlife species of the Midwest to manage planting, installation, management and controlled burns.
"You can’t teach passion; you can only plant the seed. With knowledge from my Ripon College professors, the seed was planted. I was exposed to a wide variety of studies, economics, ethics, philosophy, anthropology, environmental studies, art and science — all of which play a part not only in the career but also in the life that I have chosen for myself."
Mark DeDina '07, Superintendent at ENCAP
In her time at Ripon, Vanessa majored in environmental studies and with the help of Ripon faculty, spent six months interning in Bangkok, Thailand, where she researched environmental issues in Southeast Asia and the Salween River. She went on to receive her master’s degree in conservation biology and sustainable development from University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Ph.D. in geography, focused on environmental politics, natural resources and development geographies, from York University, Toronto, Canada. She is now an associate professor in the Department of Social Science at York University and maintains an honorary senior research fellow position at the University of Melbourne.
"The other students I lived and studied with and the support of professors were instrumental in moving forward in my studies. Most of my work is teaching and doing research on human-environmental problems, particularly around water governance and people’s participation in decision-making."
Vanessa Lamb '03, Associate Professor in the Department of Social Science at York University
Facilities
Franzen Science Center Coming Fall 2024!
Breaking ground in spring of 2023, the Franzen Science Center is a complete renovation of Farr Hall including 19,000 square feet of new construction featuring new laboratory, classroom and collaboration spaces throughout. The space, originally built in 1961, is designed to meet the STEM learning needs of science students today and with the flexibility to adapt to needs in the future. Click here to learn more about Ripon's ongoing investment in our campus.
Farr Hall of Science
Home to the science department, Farr Hall contains classrooms, labs, faculty offices, Bear Auditorium and a greenhouse. The greenhouse features three climate-controlled rooms that allow us to raise temperate, tropical and desert plants in their native conditions. Labs are dedicated to cell culture, molecular and cell biology, microbiology, physiology, histology, aquatic research and the study of animal specimen. Additional shared, collaborative research spaces will be available after the remodel.
Ceresco Prairie Conservancy
Arguably one of Ripon’s most valued teaching environments, the Ceresco Prairie Conservancy is 130 acres of native prairie, oak savanna and wetland habitat in the making. The area, which serves as a place of study as well as recreation, is the subject of numerous student research projects concentrating on various plants and animals. It also is part of the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Glacial Habitat Restoration Program, a partnership between the DNR and Ripon College, aimed at the restoration of the conservancy’s prairie grasses and forbs. “We often name things for what we take away, such as naming a housing subdivision for the lost sand hill crane habitat it replaces,” says Ellen Barth ’80, DNR wildlife biologist. “I think it’s neat that the Ceresco Prairie Conservancy is named for something we are putting back into the landscape.”
Professor Emeritus of Biology George "Skip" Wittler serves as the director of the conservancy project and works with the DNR in the management and restoration of the land, which has 3.5 miles of public trails and the Patricia Kegel Environmental Classroom, west of Ripon’s Willmore Center.