Student Field Experience and Research
Each student in Environmental Studies takes three core courses. Each of these courses makes learning outside the classroom a priority. Here are some examples of what we have done just in the last few years.
In Environmental Studies 100: Visions of Nature
- Hiked and backpacked along the Laurel Highlands Trail
- Visited Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater
- learned how to write nature haikus
- Hiked the Appalachian Trail in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
- Canoed and water-tested on the Susquehanna River
- Gone out dredging on the Chesapeake Bay on a fishing boat
- Hiked old-growth forest in Cook Forest
- Observed Pennsylvania's elk herd in Elk County
- Visited with bats at the annual Environmental Studies BBQ at Canoe Creek State Park
- Kayaked and canoed at Prince Gallitzen State Park
- Camped and hiked at Shaver's Creek Environmental Center
- Hiked at Plummer's Hollow Nature Reserve
- Hiked at Bells Gap Game Lands
In Environmental Studies 200: Methods in Environmental Studies
- Students complete an annual team-building weekend at Shaver's Creek Environmental Center
- Students learn real-world skills such as grant-writing, statistical analysis and the interpretation of cultural artifacts
- Form student teams to complete a class research project and then present their findings to the entire class
- Create research projects that, each year, contribute to the ongoing "ecological footprint" to understand Penn State Altoona's impact and influence on the environment
- Conducted a study on energy use on houses around campus
Environmental Studies 400 is organized around a different topic each year. During the last few years in this course, students have:
- Traveled to Bulgaria to study the implications and difficulties of creating global policies associated with global warming and sustainable development
- Traveled to the Chesapeake Bay to learn about our place in the Bay's watershed
- Completed and partially implemented a watershed management plan for the Spring Run watershed, Blair County, PA
- Completed a feasibility study for the construction of a hiking trail up Wopsy Mountain, which is located just off the PSU Altoona campus
- Visited and analyzed new park policies implemented at the Gettysburg National Military Park.
- Created a natural assessment of natural aspects of the Mid-Atlantic
- Trip to Oil Creek State Park to see where oil was first drilled in the United States and learn about the impact of fossil fuel "discovery" on our environment
- Visited vernal pools to observe breeding salamanders and to observe the flight displays of breeding woodcock
- Traveled to Tussey Mountain Hawk watch to see the spring migration of golden eagles
- Explored Bear Meadows Natural Area -- a bog environment with some old growth trees and black spruce
Often, students have created their own field or research projects for additional course credit. Some of these projects include:
- Created a Web site with information on how Penn State could start a composting project
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT): monitoring turtle crossings, bat populations, conducting environmental assessments
- Clearwater Conservancy
- Assisting with research on the state endangered northern flying squirrel
- Ecology of eastern chipmunks in human modified environments
- Wetland delineation and monitoring on Penn State Altoona's campus
- Storm water discharge into Spring Run, Penn State Altoona
- Construction and maintenance of Water Garden, Penn State Altoona
- Field experience in Peru
- Culture and ecology of Pennsylvania deer hunting
- Charting the history of Altoona's public water system
- Transportation and the development of Central Pennsylvania
- Study of invasive species in the Great Lakes
Contact:
Dr. Ian S. Marshall
Professor of English
Arts and Humanities
Office: 128 Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts
Phone: 814-949-5107
Email:
WWW: http://www.personal.psu.edu/ism2
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