The college capitalizes on its location by offering many field trips. We also strongly encourage our students to carry out scientific research.
Many students choose to do field work.
There aren't many schools with such a diverse environment in which to study, all within just a few hours of campus. Recently, our international field courses studied environmental problems in Ecuador and in Oaxaca, Mexico. Environmental Science is such a diverse field that some students decide to work with one or more professors to create a Self Designed Major that fits their academic interests more closely than the standard paradigm. Several students have created Self Designed Majors in Conservation Biology, possibly the only program of its kind in the country. Our faculty strengths are in conservation biology, animal ecology, water and waste water analysis, water management and use, remote sensing and geology.