A new environmental studies minor focusing on relations, issues, philosophies and interactions with the environment is being offered at ETSU.
The planning for this minor began about two years ago, as several teachers of classes related to environmental studies expressed an interest in forming a new minor. They noticed that many of the same students were taking environmental studies classes.
Joel Hillhouse, a psychology professor and director of the new program, says the response was positive. “Administration was very interested when we approached them,” he said.
ETSU started a minor program instead of a major to test the waters, Hillhouse said. “The university wants to see how interested students are in it,” he said.
Waiting to see the success of a minor program is vital, considering the work that has to be done for a new major. “When you start a major, you have to start a new department,” he said.
It is difficult to see how successful a minor is because students do not put the emphasis on it the way they do a major, Hillhouse said.
Class enrollment does not reveal a lot, as many students are taking many of these courses anyway as electives. He said that the success of environmental studies will not be seen until students start graduating with the minor.
Success will have to be determined before a lot of new courses are added to the curriculum. Some current courses include human ecology and environmental education, integrative seminar in environmental studies, environmental philosophy, public health law and air pollution.
Hillhouse said that there are some good courses currently in development including one that will allow students to view and study the Grand Canyon.
He said that many different areas of study could benefit from an environmental studies minor. These include majors in journalism, psychology, biology and pre-law. This type of field has several career options including environmental engineering, law, advocacy and journalism.
He said that job opportunities were also a factor in deciding to start this new program. “We had to research job outlook,” he said.
Hillhouse said that areas like this are dependent on this type of work. Several local groups have formed an interest in the program, he said. One of these includes the Appalachian Sustainable Development, which works in several different counties in Virginia and Tennessee on treatments and solutions to serious environmental issues.
Hillhouse said that one of the main goals in starting the environmental studies program was to “create a minor that is fun.”
He said that they are planning many different outdoors activities for classes including hiking, bird-watching and canoeing. Several service-learning projects are also in the works.
One thing that Hillhouse wants to make sure is that the new environmental studies minor is not confused with the current environmental management major that is offered. The minor is more physical, including environmental handling and treatment.

Author