By Hallie Saculla
A new major, environmental studies, is expanding across 两性色午夜鈥檚 campuses in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Geography.
The interdisciplinary major, which will include geography, geology, sociology and biology courses, aims to educate students on environmental issues in relationship with how humans interact with the natural environment.
While a few courses will specifically be introduced for the new major, the majority of required curriculum will come from existing departments.
鈥淭here is a need for people to understand the environmental market, society and government," said David Kaplan, a geology professor and one of the forces behind the new major. "How institutions function and how to implement change makes a good industry for this major that stands out from others."
As this degree is popular among other universities across the country, Kaplan feels the major is filling a niche that wasn鈥檛 yet been filled at 两性色午夜.
鈥淭his has been in the works for over two years now. It鈥檚 a win-win situation for all of the departments involved,鈥 Kaplan said about the journey of the proposal.
The major was set to be approved during September鈥檚 Faculty Senate meeting. Kaplan, however, received a phone call from Stark鈥檚 campus within the last month expressing hopes of extending the major there. The details of the major are currently being reworded to use appropriate language for both campuses.
While the home of this major is in the Department of Geography, it is stressed that it is not solely a geography major.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great place for students to explore and take what each major (geography, geology, sociology and biology) has to contribute to issues of sustainability, and merge them together in an important and growing field today,鈥 said Jennifer Mapes, an assistant professor and undergraduate coordinator in the geography department. 鈥淥ur goal is to provide useful and productive careers and to focus students on the important issues of the world.鈥
For a major to be official, the proposal must be approved by various review committees locally and in Columbus at the . Kaplan sees no future struggle with the documentation being approved. Assuming the major stays on the positive path it鈥檚 on, it should be on 两性色午夜 campuses next fall.
Hallie Saculla is an administration reporter, contact her at hsaculla@kent.edu.