Our interdisciplinary science and policy degrees prepare students in a liberal arts tradition to understand connections between human beings and the Earth environment. Finite resources and tremendous population growth are challenging us to address significant quality of life issues, for ourselves and for future generations. Graduates of this program are prepared to bring empirical science into larger conversations about the future of their communities and the world.
Drake offers motivated students an exceptional number of options in environmental areas for a school its size. We began in March 1998 with six majors, and we now have 35 ENSP majors and several students pursuing independent majors such as Environmental Policy and Environmental Writing.

Environmental Science & Policy students at Drake are trained in classical science disciplines but also develop the additional ability to synthesize information across disciplines. We teach technical skills including:
  • quantitative laboratory and field methods
  • statistical analysis
  • scientific operation of geographic information systems (GIS)
We also develop social context via coursework in economics, politics, conflict resolution, environmental law, and ethics.
Field work is a key component of the science degree, featured in biology, geology, and environmental classes. Iowa is near the geographic center of the continent, and the location is a good base for exploring a diversity of ecosystems and human communities during frequently offered weekend, semester break, and summer trips to places like Central America and Washington, DC..

Environmental student making observations to help develop conservation plans for the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

 Our program also connects students with exciting environmental projects such as:
Drs. Buising and Christiansen have helped create a new research greenhouse and Biodiversity Center on our campus, giving ENV students access to additional GIS workstations, lab benches, and museum collections of biological materials. Even first year students often take on independent research projects at Drake.

Students interested in Environmental Policy have excellent opportunities in Des Moines (the state capital), where the current Mayor and the former Governor are Drake graduates, and several state-wide NGO's have their headquarters. In Des Moines, students have a special opportunity to meet every presidential candidate during election years as they pursue votes in Iowa's early caucuses. Drake students can participate in our Washington Semester program, linking students to American University in Washington, DC, to be in the center of the national political landscape for 15 weeks. We have also developed a new major in Environmental Policy in order to give ENV students additional career options.

Students interested in Environmental Law can take up to two law classes from the Drake Law School during their senior year with normal registration. We are currently developing a 3+3 program that would allow highly-qualified students to earn both a Drake bachelor's degree and a Drake law degree in six years. Contact Associate Dean Jerry Anderson for details. In 1999, we started a new interdisciplinary program in Law, Politics, and Society that considers law in a larger social context.

Majors have found many internships with organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, Science Center of Iowa, and Iowa Environmental Council, and/or design and conduct individual research projects mentored with Drake faculty.

In 1998-99, ENSP students completed projects involving:
  • bluebird conservation at a county park
  • bioremediation techniques for oil spills
  • breeding biology of grassland birds
  • a review of children's environmental literature
  • policy analysis of the best conservation status for Iowa's unique Loess Hills province

In 1999-00, students secured permission to remodel a Drake dorm room using sustainability thinking, started a community plan for an undeveloped ravine near Drake, and judged high school science fairs.

 

 
In 2003, ENSP students worked with the Drake Environmental Action League (DEAL), a campus club, to celebrate Earth Day.  Local organizations such as the Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club were invited to set up booths alongside tables of some of the professors who provided refreshments (organic food from local businesses).  The day was a great chance for some community involvement, education, and of course some some fun!  The highlight of the festivities was a game of soccer with a giant Earthball.
Study abroad options, including special Drake connections at several schools in Australia, England, China, Mexico, and elsewhere, are encouraged for each student to enhance development of a global perspective (usually taken sophomore or junior year). A second language is an asset for all ENSP majors (Drake offers French, German, Japansese, and Spanish). Even with a study abroad experience, Drake ENSP majors can easily complete their degree in four years (sometimes including one summer). You can read some letters from Joe Heffron ('02), who has studied in Thailand.
Upon graduation, many students will seek direct employment in a variety of environmental roles:
  • consultants who help prepare environmental assessments and impact statements
  • interpretive naturalists
  • land-use planners
  • field or lab technicians monitoring air, water, soil, and biodiversity
  • legislative aides
  • media specialists
  • park rangers/managers
  • public servants
  • staff members in conservation organizations
  • visitor center/museum specialists
Graduates may also elect to continue academic work in graduate or professional schools including:
  • biology
  • chemistry
  • conservation biology
  • ecology
  • environmental education
  • environmental law
  • environmental science
  • environmental policy
  • geography; global change
  • hydrology
  • journalism
  • marine science
  • natural resource management
As the field expands, those professionals with a Master's degree will have the broadest spectrum of environmental career possibilities.

Students in this field tend to have an interest in the outdoors, above average abilities in more than one science, strong communications skills, and enjoy being a member of a team. Many like critical thinking exercises, designing experiments, and detecting patterns in complex data, and might say they "see things other people miss", "think big", or "love to explore." Some choose this major to understand the basic science behind environmental issues and then specialize in another area (journalism, law, policy, or public administration) for their graduate work, so that they have a combination of skills and great career flexibility.

You're invited to meet some of our current students on-line, or come by for a visit in person.  Feel free to contact any of our faculty with questions or to arrange a visit.