Environmental Policy
Environmental Policy examines the human dimensions of environmental problems. It addresses such issues as how human actions affect the environment; how societies adapt to changes in natural resource availability; and how individuals, nations, and international agencies respond to environmental hazards. Students should be prepared to deal with local, regional, and national differences in the use of resources; social and environmental aspects of health and illness; alternative strategies for environmental management; the ethical, moral, and legal dimensions of environmental and resource issues; and the roles of governmental and non-governmental agencies in environmental affairs.
Recommended Minors
- Political Science - equips students to understand political life, to be effective citizens, and to achieve positions of political leadership.
- Economics - prepares students to be able to apply the theory of economic issues and policies.
- Sociology - studies groups, the ways people behave in groups and how an individual's attitudes and actions are influenced by them.
- Psychology - courses can complement their overall liberal arts education.
Types of Employers
Non-Profit and Private
- Agricultural organizations
- Chemical manufacturers
- Colleges and universities
- Dairy industry
- Environmental consulting firms
- Food and beverage companies
- Food marketing chains
- Insurance companies
- Seed and grain corporations
Government Agencies
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Agronomy
- Bureau of Economics
- Department of Energy
- U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
- Department of Transportation
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Food and Drug Administration
Environmental Studies Graduates’ Positions
- Project Coordinator, Great Plains Institute
- Process Analyst, Agstar Financial Services
- Environmental Consulting Associate, Vieau Associates Inc.
- Protection Specialist, Environmental Protection Agency
- Environmental Consultant (Kate Sinner)
- The Nature Conservency, Lobbyist (Stephanie Pinkalla)
- Environmental Health Specialist, Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health (Sophia Walsh)
College of Saint Benedict
Saint John’s University
Dr. Derek Larson
Chair, Environmental Studies
SJU Peter Engel 235
320-363-3247
Jennifer Kutter
Department Coordinator
SJU Peter Engel 201
320-363-3163