Environmental Studies
Download the Program of Study PDF for this major >>
The world needs environmentalists! There are many opportunities for you to contribute. And UMM is uniquely located to get you started in environmental studies. We are situated at the headwaters of the Machias River Estuary. Our campus is surrounded by forests, fields, blueberry land, lakes, rivers and the Atlantic Ocean. Nearby are Acadia National Park, a spectacular park where numerous species of plants and animals live, including Peregrine Falcons; Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, where Bald Eagles nest; and the Bay of Fundy, home to many species of whales including the endangered Northern Right Whale. You can literally step out of the classroom and into a natural laboratory. Our faculty specialize in taking their students outdoors to enhance the UMM learning experience.
Why study Environmental Studies at UMM?
Hands-On Experience! Beyond your classroom studies you will have opportunities to pursue practical, work-based learning experiences in Environmental Studies. This can either be through cooperative education or internships, both of which can provide college credit. You could find yourself working at a government agency, an environmental consulting firm, an industrial plant, a national park, or a wildlife refuge.
Excellent Faculty! The UMM faculty members will serve as your advisors and guide you in structuring and completing the educational program which best suits your interests and future career goals. Their course offerings are rigorous and of the highest quality. From the beginning of your studies, you’ll work closely with your professors in the classroom, lab, and field. At UMM we take a personal approach to education…you are our focus.
The program focuses on the study of organisms in their natural environment and the interactions between people and the world in which we live. If you have other interests in environmental studies, you and your faculty advisor can work together to develop a self-designed concentration focusing on your special goals. These may include:
- Environmental Education
- Wildlife Biology
- Fisheries Biology
- Environmental Policy
- Human Ecology
- Avian Biology
Careers in Environmental Studies
UMM graduates have gone on to a wide range of careers in environmental fields. These include employment with:
- State and federal environmental agencies
- Private environmental advocacy organizations
- State and national parks
- Environmental education institutions
- Environmental consulting firms
- Pollution control agencies
- Environmental advocacy organizations
- Environmental departments in industrial settings
Many students continue their education through advanced degrees in graduate school. Our faculty are eager to help you explore your career interests and the many opportunities available in the environmental field.
Opportunities Abound at UMM
For example, you can combine courses in environmental studies with:
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Lab courses, a skill that is in high demand
- Our Secondary Teacher Certification program to teach at the high school level
- Our Recreation and Tourism Management program to become a park ranger
- Completion of the Wildlife Society Certification to become a wildlife biologist
- Hands-on experiences in wildlife rehabilitation and clinics
Take a Break!
We don’t work all the time, and you won’t either. Down East coastal Maine is a wonderful place for recreation. Mountain biking, hiking, backpacking, cross-country skiing, scuba diving, kayaking, and sailing are some of the many recreational opportunities available in our great outdoors. If you’ve wanted to learn some of these activities we’ll teach you.
Faculty
- Kevin Athearn, Assistant Professor of Natural Resource Economics
- Brian Beal, Professor of Marine Ecology
- Ellen Hostert, Associate Professor of Biology
- Tora Johnson, Director of Geographic Information Systems
- Gayle Kraus, Professor of Marine Ecology
- Alan Lewis, Professor of Ecology
- Douglas McNaught, Assistant Professor of Marine Biology
- Wendy Norden, Assistant Research Professor
- William Otto, Associate Professor of Chemistry
- Shallee Page, Associate Professor of Chemistry/Biochemistry
- Carlos Roldan, Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Physical Science
- Sherrie Sprangers, Associate Professor of Biology
- Noah Dean, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
- William Weigle, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics and Environmental Studies
- Gerard Zegers, Assistant Research Professor
Environmental Studies
University of Maine at Machias students and faculty are doing research studying the effects of the Machias Wastewater Treatment Plant on the growth and survival of soft-shell clams. This new endeavor is made possible through a five-year, $255,000 grant from the Maine Technology Institute (MTI).