Stony Brook Southampton Taps Atlantic Ocean, LI Waterways as Living Laboratory Resources for Innovative New Major
Coastal Environmental Studies Major is First of Its Kind in the US
SOUTHAMPTON
, N.Y., November 23, 2009 – Using its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean as a living laboratory resource, Stony Brook Southampton has established a Coastal Environmental Studies major – the only program of its kind in the country. The Coastal Environmental Studies major, leading to a Bachelor of Science degree, recently earned approval from the New York State Department of Education.
| Stony Brook Southampton students have Long Island’s oceans and bays from which to learn, with vessels leaving the campus Marine Station daily. |
“This exciting new major combines our cutting-edge environmental curriculum with our unique location on the Atlantic Coastline,” said Stony Brook Southampton Dean/Vice President Mary Pearl. “It is theory and practice, providing students with the ability to help understand and solve the pressing environmental issues affecting our coasts.”
With grounding in courses ranging from marine science to ecosystems and environmental policy, the Coastal Environmental Studies program aims to create scientists and leaders alike. Students not only have Long Island’s oceans and bays from which to learn – with vessels leaving the campus Marine Station daily – but also area aquifers, Central Pine Barrens and the 82-acre Hamptons campus itself, full of rare plant and tree species.
“ Eastern Long Island provides the perfect laboratory to address the precarious nature of our world’s coasts, and to help us seek to find solutions before it’s too late,” said program faculty director Dr. Michael Sperazza. “This really exemplifies acting locally while reaching globally.”
Coupled with Stony Brook Southampton’s growing inventory of innovative environmental majors – Ecosystems and Human Impact; Environmental Design, Policy and Planning; Sustainability Studies; Environmental Studies; Marine Science, and Marine Vertebrate Biology – Coastal Environmental Studies further exemplifies Stony Brook Southampton as the nation’s only stand-alone campus devoted to sustainability and a national model of sustainability in education.
Now in its third academic year, Stony Brook Southampton has developed an inter-disciplinary, 21st century curriculum that closely addresses all the complicated facets of sustainability, offering students not only a world view of the issues that the planet now faces, but also hands-on experience in solving these issues.
The campus is accepting applications for fall 2010 for freshmen and transfers. For further information about Stony Brook Southampton’s programs of study, contact the Admissions Office at 631-632-5035 or visit www.stonybrook.edu/southampton.
