Environment, Sustainability & Society

OVERVIEW OF THE INTERDISCIPLINARY MAJOR

The interdisciplinary major in Environment, Sustainability, and Society (ENSS) combines classes in the humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences to offer students a broad base of study. At the same time, students explore areas of interest and prepare for careers through an internship and a research project about real-world issues shaping modern sustainable and environmental issues and practices.

Please note: Hartwick College focuses on offering fall, January, and spring term undergraduate courses in person, however, circumstances may require us to offer a small number of courses in this department through distance education. In times of emergency, following regulatory guidelines, all classes may temporarily need to be delivered through distance education, including online. We also offer a slate of courses online in the summer to help our students make progress toward their degrees. With support from an academic advisor, students needing particular courses may have other online options as well. If you have questions about the way courses are delivered in your program, please contact your Department or Program Chair.

WHY MAJOR IN ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY, AND SOCIETY?

By completing a degree in Environment, Sustainability, and Society, students will gain a competitive foothold in an expanding job market in “green careers.” In recent years the need for employees with degrees in environmental areas and sustainability has been increasing.

Students can find jobs in diverse areas such as:

Hartwick College students with farmer learning about chickens

Conservation or education specialist for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation;

Non-profit organizations focusing on sustainability, farming, or environmental issues;

Green urban planner working with municipal governments to reduce GHG emissions;

Forest ranger in the Adirondack or Catskill Park.

Hartwick College alumna Tarrah Skye Smith teaching among CA Redwoods

Director of sustainability or chief sustainability officer for an organization or company;

Green energy specialist;

Environmental education;

Environmental public relations.

Hartwick College student during soil sampling

Ecotourism;

Environmental engineering;

Other new and emerging fields.

"I moved to Boulder Creek, California to continue teaching. Fifth graders come for a week of science camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains surrounded by redwood trees. I teach them lessons on forest ecology, stream ecology, soil health, climate change, and fire ecology. I really enjoy my time getting to learn all about the natural environment and sharing my love of nature with the next generation."

Tarrah Skye Smith '21

Naturalist, YMCA Camp Campbell

Exciting Student Outcomes

Hartwick environment, sustainability, and society students complete internships and independent studies and are well-prepared for employment or graduate school.

Internships

Summer Internship at the Department of Environmental Conservation, Islip, NY
Lia Teitelbaum ’23

Energy Efficiency Intern at the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company, Ludlow, MA
Matthew DeCurzio ’23

Laboratory Intern at Water Pollution Control Utility, Morristown, NJ
Sebastian Stauss ’23

Climate Smart Community Coordinator at the Village of Sherburne, NY
Tyler White ’21

Graduate School

Masters in Food Studies Program, Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA
Rebecca Nathan ’19

Law School, Charleston School of Law, Charleston, SC
Eric Schweitzer ’19

Employment

Naturalist at YMCA Camp Campbell, Boulder Creek, CA
Tarrah Skye Smith ’21

Senior Engineering Technician at NYSDOT, Sherburne, NY
Tyler White ’21

Inside Sale Representative at Beacon Building Products, Los Angeles, CA
Rachel Mumma ’20

Senior Site Specialist at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Gales Ferry, CT
Connor Hart ’19

ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY, AND SOCIETY REQUIREMENTS

Considering a major or minor in Environment, Sustainability and Society? Here’s what it takes.

Review all the requirements in the College Catalog.

ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY, AND SOCIETY COURSES

Review the current course offerings in the College Catalog.

ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY, AND SOCIETY SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES

Environment, Sustainability, and Society majors have many opportunities to conduct fieldwork and research, study off-campus, or complete internships.

Faculty

Zsuzsanna Balogh-Brunstad

Professor of Geology & Coordinator of Environment, Sustainability & Society
607-431-4734

Chad Anderson

Assistant Professor of History & Coordinator of Individual Student Program (ISP)
607-431-4617

James Buthman

Associate Professor of Political Science
607-431-4586

Peter Fauth

Professor of Biology and Department Chair
607-431-4754

Amy Forster Rothbart

Associate Professor of Political Science and Coordinator of the First Year FligthPath Experience

Kevin Schultz

Associate Professor and Department Chair of Physics

Karl Seeley

Professor of Economics and Department Chair
607 431-4628

Timothy Vatovec

Lecturer in Environmental Science & Sustainability/Lecturer in Flightpath
607-431-4696

Still Have Questions?

Contact Dr. Zsuzsanna Balogh-Brunstad, Associate Professor of Geology and Environmental Sciences &
Coordinator of the Environment, Sustainability, and Society Major
balogh_brunz@hartwick.edu