Understanding the world so we can change how we live in it

Major: Environmental Studies
Minors: Environmental Studies

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”

Native American Proverb

The environmental studies program at Lycoming College is an interdisciplinary course of study that approaches environmental challenges through the lens of the humanities and social sciences. While our environmental science program trains students in the natural sciences to research and measure environmental change, environmental studies prepares students to understand, communicate, and shape society's response to it. With coursework spanning biology, environmental science, English, anthropology, business, political science, and economics, students examine how culture, law, policy, media, and economics all influence the environment. This broad, interdisciplinary foundation prepares students to engage with the social, ethical, and political dimensions of environmental issues, equipping them for internships and careers in non-profit organizations, educational institutions, conservation groups, and government agencies, as well as graduate study in fields such as environmental law or environmental policy.

Student Opportunities

  • Pursue internships with non-profit organizations, government agencies, law offices, and advocacy groups that address environmental issues.
  • Engage in public outreach and community-based projects that translate environmental research into accessible, actionable information.
  • Collaborate with faculty across disciplines on projects examining the social and cultural dimensions of environmental change.
  • Get involved with the Lycoming Environmental Awareness Foundation (LEAF) and Outdoor Leadership Education (OLE) programming.
  • Build practical skills in writing, policy analysis, and communication that translate directly into environmental advocacy and nonprofit work.
  • Gain firsthand exposure to environmental science methods and data through coursework alongside Environmental Science majors, strengthening your ability to speak across disciplines.

Why Lycoming?

  1. Courses are taught by faculty with doctoral degrees who provide in-depth knowledge, close mentorship, and individualized advising.
  2. Small class sizes allow for in-depth discussion and applied learning opportunities that sharpen students' critical thinking and communication skills.
  3. The campus is within close proximity to abundant natural resources, such as the Susquehanna River West Branch and tributaries, Robert Porter Allen Natural Area, the Waterdale Environmental Education Center, and the Lycoming Biology Field Station, located just a few miles from campus in Northcentral Pennsylvania.
  4. Students can supplement their studies by getting involved in student organizations, such as the Lycoming Environmental Awareness Foundation (LEAF), and participate in Outdoor Leadership Education (OLE) programming.
  5. Students can benefit from existing relationships with conservation, policy, and advocacy organizations such as the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Lycoming Audubon Society, the Susquehanna Heartland Coalition for Environmental Studies, the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper, Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy, Lycoming County Conservation District, Williamsport Municipal Water Authority, and Rider Park.
  6. The interdisciplinary curriculum allows students to pair environmental studies with a second major or a minor, such as political science, business, or English, to sharpen their focus toward a specific career path.

Why Lycoming is the Right Choice →