Opportunities

Off-Campus Study

Allegheny College is affiliated with several off-campus study programs which are relevant to either Environmental Science or Environmental Studies majors. Students interested in studying off-campus should speak with their advisors about the possibility of using off-campus courses in lieu of on-campus major requirements. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for any student interested in studying off-campus.

Programs include:

• Arava Institute for Environmental Studies: A semester or year-long program in sustainable development and peace at Kibbutz Ketura, Israel.
• School for Field Studies in Costa Rica: A semester-long first-hand study of ecological, social, and political aspects of sustainable development in Costa Rica.
• The Ecosystems Center: A semester of intensive terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem study in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
• Duke Marine Biological Lab: Semester-long study of marine ecology and policy. Part of the semester is spent at Duke's Beaufort Marine Station, and part at the Bermuda Biological Laboratory.
• Numerous other opportunities also exist.

A brief description of current Off-Campus Study programs is in the catalogue. Students should contact the Director of Off-Campus Study for more details.

Internships

50% of department majors participate in internships. Recent examples:

• Environmental geology: Moody and Associates, an environmental firm
• Conservation biology: Erie National Wildlife Refuge, Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
• Soil erosion: Crawford County Conservation District
• Land use planning: Crawford County Planning Commission
• Environmental chemistry: Free-Col Laboratories, Meadville, PA
• Environmental regulation: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
• Watershed management: The French Creek Project, Meadville, PA
• Industrial ecology: PPG Industries,Channellock, Inc., Meadville, PA
• Environment and religion: The Glinodo Center, Erie, PA
• Biodiversity monitoring Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology (PLE), Allegheny College GIS Lab
• Regional planning Crawford County Historical Society, Allegheny College GIS Lab

For more information contact Marcia Findlay, the Environmental Science Internship Coordinator, or visit the Environmental Science Internship web page.

Field Studies

Allegheny is ideally located for study of natural environment and areas affected by human activity. Nearby field-study areas include: Allegheny National Forest, Erie National Wildlife Refuge, Presque Isle State Park, Geneva wetlands, numerous lakes and streams, and Avtex Brownfield Redevelopment Site.

Major Collaborative Investigations

Several award-winning and nationally-recognized initiatives provide collaborative faculty-student investigations and activities:

• Center for Economic and Environmental Development (CEED): Fosters studies and action in sustainable economic and environmental activities in Northwest Pennsylvania. Projects include the Meadville Community Energy Project, Sustainable Forestry, ecotourism, Industrial Ecology and Art and the Environment.
• French Creek Project: Affiliated with Allegheny, this project works to protect French Creek and its watershed.

Graduate School

About 55% of our majors eventually attend graduate or professional school. About 20% go on directly, with a 85% acceptance rate. Recent schools include:

• Yale University
• Stanford University
• Cornell University
• Duke University
• University of California
• University of Michigan
• University of Washington
• University of Minnesota

Popular fields of graduate study:

• Environmental Science: ecology/pollution research, natural resources, wetlands ecology.
• Environmental Studies: public policy, environmental law, global environmental goverance, resource management, land use planning, education, industrial ecology, ecological economics, environmental education.

Career Data

• About 80% of our majors seek jobs directly after graduation, and many secure work immediately in their fields.
• Popular fields with a bachelor's degree: private environmental consulting, non-profit environmental action, hazardous waste management, state and federal resource management, and the Peace Corps.
• Popular fields with advanced degrees: environmental consulting, higher education, research science, environmental law, environmental engineering, non-profit environmental organizations and industry.