Environmental Studies

Introduction

Chair: Michael Medler

The social sciences and humanities are necessary complements to environmental science in understanding and solving environmental problems. Environmental scientists use the tools of natural science to understand and describe natural systems and their disturbances. Social scientists, historians, philosophers, artists and writers add their descriptive and analytical skill to understanding how cultures and societies can and must respond to the challenges of building and maintaining sustainable societies on a foundation of finite and renewable natural resources.

This department’s programs allow students to link their interest in the environment with social science and humanities disciplines. Programs include geography, planning and environmental policy, environmental education, environmental journalism, and environmental economics. These programs direct students to specific environmental career paths or provide an excellent background for advanced study in law, environmental education and interpretation, public administration and resource management. The Institute for Global and Community Resilience is also in the department.

Faculty

The work of this department is largely interdisciplinary, though geography maintains a strong disciplinary identity. Department faculty are trained in anthropology, geography, education, natural resources management, urban and regional planning, law, political science, and related fields. Active research work allows faculty to remain current in the rapidly evolving field of environmental and natural resources management. Department academic programs draw heavily upon the expertise of colleagues in other units of the University, such as the departments of political science and economics.

Department Resources

Department facilities support applied student learning in the 30-computer spatial analysis lab with a complete suite of state-of-the-art GIS, cartography, and remote sensing software, GPS receivers, and extensive local data sets. Facilities also include the planning studio, the map library, and the environmental education lab. Experiential learning is emphasized in many of our programs, taking students into the field where they apply their skills and knowledge to current problems. Student work has received recognition from national and statewide organizations for exceptional problem-solving solutions, which use geographic information systems and computer-aided design.

Faculty

MICHAEL J. MEDLER (2002) Chair and Associate Professor. BS (philosophy), MS (environmental studies), University of Oregon; PhD (geography), University of Arizona.
TROY D. ABEL (2006) Associate Professor. BS, Indiana University (public health); MPA, George Mason University (public policy analysis); PhD, public policy and science and technology policy).
ANDREW J. BACH (1995) Associate Professor. BS, MA (geography), University of California-Davis; PhD (geography), Arizona State University.
GIGI BERARDI (1995) Professor. Department of Environmental Studies: Policy, Planning, Education and Geography, BA (biology), University of California at San Diego; MS (natural resources conservation), PhD (natural resources, policy and planning), Cornell University.
PATRICK H. BUCKLEY (1987) Associate Professor. BS (civil engineering and geology), University of Notre Dame; MA (economic geography and South Asian studies), University of Washington; PhD (economic geography), Boston University.
JEAN O. MELIOUS (1996) Associate Professor. BA (government and environmental studies), St. Lawrence University; PhM (urban design and regional planning), University of Edinburgh; JD, Harvard Law School.
JOHN C. MILES (1968) Professor. BA (anthropology), Dartmouth College; MA (recreation and park management), University of Oregon; PhD (education), The Union Institute.
SCOTT B. MILES (2007) Assistant Professor. BS (civil and environmental engineering), Washington State University; MS (civil and environmental engineering), University of Massachusetts-Amherst; Post-graduate Diploma (geographical information systems), University of Edinburgh; PhD (geography), University of Washington.
DEBNATH MOOKHERJEE (1961) Professor. BSc, MSc (geography), University of Calcutta; PhD (geography), University of Florida.
O. EUGENE MYERS (1995) Associate Professor. BS (human ecology), Western Washington University; MA, PhD (psychology and human development), University of Chicago.
DAVID A. ROSSITER (2005) Associate Professor. BA (Honors), University of British Columbia; MA (geography); PhD, (geography) York University.
BRADLEY F. SMITH (1994) Professor and Dean. Huxley College of the Environment. BA (political science and international relations) and MA (political science and public administration), Western Michigan University; PhD (School of Natural Resources and Environment), University of Michigan.
PAUL STANGL (2007) Associate Professor. BS (liberal arts) Kansas State University; MCRP (city and regional planning), Rutgers University; PhD (geography), University of Texas-Austin
THOMAS A. TERICH (1973) Professor. BA, MA, California State University-Los Angeles; PhD (geography), Oregon State University.
WENDY WALKER (1991) Visiting Senior Instructor. BA and K-12 Teaching Certificate (geology), Western Washington University; MS (religion), Florida State University.
GRACE WANG (2002) Associate Professor. BS (political economy of natural resources), University of California-Berkeley; MS, PhD (forestry), University of Minnesota.
NICHOLAS C. ZAFERATOS (1999) Associate Professor. BA (economic and regional geography), State University of New York; MS (urban and regional planning), Western Washington University; PhD (urban planning), University of Washington.

Adjunct Faculty

DWIGHT BARRY, Education Outreach Coordinator, Peninsula College, PhD (environmental science), University of North Texas.
JAMES S. DARLING, Vice President/Principal, Maul Foster Alongi
JAMES DAVIS, President of Conservation Partnership Center, PhD (ecology/ etymology), University of California-Berkeley.
PAUL DINNEL Resident Scientist, Shannon Point Marine Center. PhD (fisheries), University of Washington.
JERRY FREILICH, Research and Monitoring Coordinator, Olympic National Park, PhD (aquatic ecology), University of Georgia.
JEFFREY GIESON, North Cascades Institute.
DON HUNGER, Associate Vice President for Agency Affairs, The Student Conservation Association.
CLIFFORD G. RICE, Wildlife Biologist, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington.
MICHAEL G. STONER, Environmental Manager, Port of Bellingham. MS (forest soils), University of Washington.
SUZANNE STROM, Marine Scientist, Shannon Point Marine Center. PhD (biological oceanography), University of Washington.

Affiliated Faculty

RANDALL S. BABCOCK, Professor, Department of Geology.
DANIEL L. BOXBERGER, Professor, Department of Anthropology.
DEBRA J. SALAZAR, Professor, Department of Political Science.
MAURICE SCHWARTZ, Professor Emeritus, Department of Geology.
STEPHEN D. SULKIN, Professor and Director, Shannon Point Marine Center.

Graduate Study

For concentrations leading to the Master of Education or the Master of Science degrees, see the Graduate School section of this catalog.

Environmental Studies

Introduction

Faculty

Department Resources

Faculty

Adjunct Faculty

Affiliated Faculty

Graduate Study

Undergraduate Degrees and Programs

Graduate Degrees and Programs

Environmental Studies Courses