Environmental Studies
Geographic Setting
Our field-oriented curriculum takes advantage of the unique environmental setting of our region and provides opportunities to work with local agencies.
Environmental Studies Practicum Opportunities
The ES program encourages and gives academic credit for work experiences with local environmental agencies and organizations. Opportunities include working with the USDA, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service (Crater Lake), local watershed councils, Jackson County, local city and county planning departments, state and federal agencies, and local environmental organizations. Practicum and work-study experiences with the Environmental Studies program lead to contacts and job offers upon graduation with these same organizations.
The following quote from a local land management agency representative illustrates the philosophy of the Environmental Studies degree:
"We use a team approach in natural resource management. Our scientists rarely work independently from other science or social science disciplines. We look for employees who are comfortable with the concepts from a variety of disciplines and can work together on complex resource-related projects." (Bureau of Land Management)
Here is a list of previous practicum experiences of ES students.
| Project Type | Cooperating Agency/Organization | |
|
GEOGRAPHY Air quality Climate modeling Land use planning Mapping (GIS) |
Jackson County Health Department Jackson County and local cities Jackson County GIS Services |
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BIOLOGY Coho inventory, recovery Poplar trees, water reclamation Wetlands investigation Noxious weed removal North Mountain Park stewardship |
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Rogue Valley Council of Governments City of Medford City of Ashland, WISE Project Bureau of Land Management, Rogue River National Forest Ashland Parks and Recreation |
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|
EDUCATION Environmental education Environmental education North Mountain Park |
Bear Creek Watershed Council Education Partners Oregon Stewardship Ashland Parks and Recreation |
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GEOLOGY Ground water data analysis Geology field mapping Sediment analysis Earthquake public awareness Geology of North Mountain Park |
Jackson County, WISE Project Jackson County and Oregon Geology and Mineral Industries SOU, Jackson County SOU, local schools, local cities Ashland Parks and Recreation |
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|
WATER RESOURCES Rural and urban surface water quality Water quality data analysis Watershed protection Watershed analysis field work |
Jackson County and local cities Rogue Valley Council of Governments Bear Creek and Evan's Creek Watershed Council Upper Rogue Watershed Council |
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|
SUSTAINABILITY Urban growth, agriculture Urban growth issues support GIS projects |
Rogue Valley Council of Governments SOU, Jackson County |
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National Recognition
Outside Magazine highlighted the Environmental Studies Program and Southern Oregon University as number twenty in their "top forty universities to learn, live, work, and play."