People, Place, and Purpose: Environmental Studies in a Complex World

FAIN: AK-255368-17

Oakton Community College (Des Plaines, IL 60016-1256)
Marian Staats (Project Director: October 2016 to October 2022)

A two-year curriculum development project to revise existing courses and develop new ones, that incorporate  experiential learning in environmental studies.

The overall goal of this project, People, Place, and Purpose: Fostering a Nuanced Understanding of a Complex World Through Environmental Studies is to foster an interdisciplinary understanding of environmental issues through an integration of humanities and scientific approaches, enabling students to have a transformative experience with their natural environment while developing reverence, respect, and love for where they live. The proposed project will expand and enrich the student experience in the Environmental Studies Concentration by increasing course offerings as well as retooling current courses. Through a specialized summer field experience, students will have the opportunity to deeply engage with issues around environmental studies in the Midwestern and Western United States.