Our Strength
Earth is the only home we have. Helping students understand how our planet functions, the limits of Earth’s resources, and the capacity of humans to alter global processes for the common good, are the goals of the Furman program in earth and environmental sciences.
The strength of the Furman program in earth and environmental sciences is its emphasis on undergraduate teaching in both classroom and research settings, which provides excellent preparation for graduate school and professional careers. The department also has a strong tradition of laboratory and field experiences. Small classes result in plenty of individual attention, and faculty members are known for their interest in and camaraderie with students. In addition, because Furman is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and only four hours from the Atlantic Coast, it provides students the opportunity to study many geologically diverse regions.
The department’s upper-level students often conduct independent research projects under individual faculty supervision. These projects, ranging from tectonics to watershed analysis, allow students to explore in-depth a topic that interests them. Many Furman EES students have presented the results of their research at professional meetings, and two majors have received Best Student Poster awards at recent meetings of the Southeastern Section of the Geological Society of America.
During the summer, earth and environmental sciences students frequently participate in internship programs at research institutions, government agencies and environmental consulting firms. Others may remain at Furman, where they receive stipends to work as research associates with faculty.
The Liberal Arts Connection
Earth and environmental sciences students study Earth’s history, theinternal and surficial processes that mold the planet, and the impact of human activity on Earth. This field of study is thus both a historical and a quantitative science.
Earth and environmental scientists are employed in such fields as environmental science, natural resource management, civil engineering, petroleum exploration, mineral resource exploration, and oceanography. The rise in human-induced environmental problems, however, also requires a solid background in the humanities. One of the greatest opportunities for students to blend a solid science background (math, chemistry, physics and biology in addition to geology) with a background in the social and political sciences is in the field of environmental science. As a liberal arts university, Furman provides this background. The study of earth and environmental sciences can also lead to a career outside the sciences. The growing human population has led to unprecedented depletion of geologic resources, increasing waste production, and development of communities on marginal land, making them subject to natural disasters. This has resulted in increased environmental tensions on the local, state, national and international level and forced great changes in approaches to resource management, environmental policy and international relations.
A solid background in earth and environmental sciences, combined with a liberal arts education in sociology, political science and economics, would prepare students for careers in such areas as urban and regional planning, resource management, international relations, or with numerous private and government agencies. It would also be a good start toward a career in environmental law or environmental mediation/conflict resolution.