Environmental Science
Students work with faculty advisors to devise self-designed majors. Coursework in the major builds upon students’ experiences in the general education curriculum while providing students with pathways to deepen their knowledge or further develop their passion in a particular area of study.
Studying Environmental Science at Antioch College
Environmental Science combines many facets of the biological, chemical, physical, and quantitative sciences in the study of natural systems. Some of the most critical challenges in the 21st Century relate to understanding environmental trends and human-induced changes on our planet. The Earth is a giant puzzle, and its systems are changing rapidly. Environmental Science allows us to understand these changes in space and time, and helps us understand and predict future challenges.
Through a combination of coursework, Co-operative Education jobs, and independent student research, the Environmental Science program at Antioch College helps students gain proficiencies in: applying quantitative and discipline-based skills for environmental problem-solving, writing and speaking effectively to communicate issues in the field, and gaining real-world experience in environmental science problem-solving. Students design their own degrees and can choose from courses in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Math, and Physics, as well as other subjects that complement a Liberal Arts education. Additional coursework may be accessed through the SOCHE cross-registration program, where Antioch students can enroll in a limited number of courses at nearby institutions. To complete their degree, each student pursues a senior project of their own design, supported by Antioch Faculty, to investigate a topic in Environmental Science. Located in Ohio’s Miami River Valley, the Antioch College campus is surrounded by forest, streams, meadows, rivers, wetlands, and other natural resources to enrich your education and recreational experience.
Designing Your Major
Course options when designing a major in Environmental Science
| Course No. | Title | Credits |
| Environmental Science | ||
| ENVS 105 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 4 |
| ENVS 205 | Ecology | 4 |
| ENVS 220 | Aquatic Biology | 4 |
| ENVS 230 | Soil: A Living System | 4 |
| ENVS 330 | Conservation Biology | 4 |
| ENVS 335 | Field Plant Ecology | 4 |
| ENVS 339 | Ecological Agriculture | 4 |
| ENVS 360 | Ecosystem Ecology with Forest Lab | 4 |
| Biology and Chemistry | ||
| BIO 101 | Principles of Biology | 4 |
| BIO 210 | Botany | 4 |
| BIO 220 | Introductory Molecular Biology and Genetics | 4 |
| BIO 230 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| BIO 410 | Integrative Physiology and Advanced Biochemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 105 | General Chemistry I + Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 160 | General Chemistry II + Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 205 | Organic Chemistry I + Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 220 | Environmental Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 330 | Organic Chemistry II + Lab | 4 |
| CHEM 340 | Biochemistry | 4 |
| Humanities and Social Sciences | ||
| PECO 315 | Environmental Economics | 4 |
| PHIL 221 | Environmental Ethics and Political Theory | 4 |
| Mathematics | ||
| MATH 102 | Explorations in Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning | 4 |
| MATH 105 | Introduction to Statistics | 4 |
| MATH 150 | College Algebra | 4 |
| MATH 151 | Precalculus | 4 |
| MATH 155 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 160 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 205 | Intermediate Statistics | 4 |
| PHYS 160 | General Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 260 | General Physics I | 4 |
| Research and Special Topics | ||
| SCI 101 | Foundational Topics in Sciences | 4 |
| SCI 270 | Special Topics in Science | 4 |
| SCI 297 | Independent Scientific Research | 1 to 4 |
| SCI 299 | Independent Study | 1 to 4 |
| SCI 370 | Special Topics in Science | 4 |
| SCI 397 | Advanced Scientific Research | 1 to 4 |
| SCI 399 | Advanced Independent Study | 1 to 4 |
| SCI 470 | Advanced Special Topics in the Sciences | 1 to 4 |
Real-World Student Work Experiences
Students gain valuable real-world work experience through our Cooperative Education program, and document their insights on Antioch Engaged: our journal of social practice & professional engagement
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Valerie Benedict ’18 at Northshore University Health System in Chicago, ILby Valerie Benedict on February 4, 2021
At the beginning of this co-op, I embarked on a journey into a foreign world. I had next to no experience with allopathic medicine and all of my experience in health care was from my practice of bodywork therapies (more specifically, craniosacral therapy). Previously, I
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Emergency Medical Technician Training: Ben Timmester ’22 at Miami Township Fire and Rescueby Ben Timmester on May 27, 2020
This winter I’ve had the opportunity to serve as the Special Projects Coordinator at Miami Township Fire-Rescue (MTFR), located in Yellow Springs. MTFR is mostly a volunteer-based department that provides “Advanced Life Support (ALS) emergency medical transportation, fire prevention and suppression, rescue services, and safety
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Learning about Life in Bellows Falls, Vermont: Morgan Hayslip ’21 at Chroma Technology Inc.by Morgan Hayslip on March 21, 2020
I have been in Bellows Falls, Vermont, at Chroma Technology, Inc., a company founded by Antioch alumnus Paul Millman, ’68. To say that this has been an experience is an understatement. I have started to grow as a person. I have made some new friends
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Finding Purpose Close to Home: Sophie Singer ’22 at Glen Helen’s Trailside Museumby Sophie Singer on January 28, 2020
Glen Helen Nature Preserve was donated to Antioch College by alumnus Hugh Taylor Birch in 1929, in memory of his daughter Helen. 90 years later, it still stands as a testament to the values that Antioch students seek to uphold: community, experiential learning, and diversity
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The hills are alive with the sound of … microscope filters: Noah Greer ’22 at Chromaby Noah Greer on May 14, 2019
Hello, my name is Noah Greer and for my first co-op as an Antioch Student, I decided to head east to work for Chroma Technology. Chroma is an employee-owned business three miles from an ancient milling town called Bellows Falls. When I first arrived in
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Veterinary Medicine In Guatemala: Maria Lopez ’21by Maria Andrea Lopez on November 9, 2018
I’m working with a veterinarian in my native land of Guatemala. Most of his work is focused in Santa Cruz del Quiche. He is the only veterinarian of the Quiche department, it is a small town elevated at 2,021 above sea level. Some of my
Faculty
Recent News
Richard Hauck ’17 Accepted to Two Master’s Programs
After graduating with a self-designed major in Bachelor of Science: Ecology and the Human Environment with Spanish Language focus and earning magna cum laude, Richard Hauck ’17 has been accepted into two master’s programs at Arizona State University.
Explorations Through Co-op: Jen Ruud ’18
Although Jen Ruud ’18 majored in Environmental Science at Antioch, their Co-ops provided opportunities for exploration in different fields.
Joan Argetsinger Steitz ’63 Awarded Wolf Prize in Medicine
The Wolf Prize in medicine was awarded to three scientists—Lynne Maquat, Adrian Krainer, and Joan Steitz ’63—on February 9, 2021, whose research in messenger RNA (mRNA) enabled the development of the COVID-19 vaccines.
