“Designed for and restricted to graduating seniors in the Department of Environmental Studies, the Capstone Experience focuses upon specific environmental issues, questions, or perceptions of current significance in the general context of environmental sustainability. In order to achieve critical analysis of the topic from interdisciplinary perspectives, students will apply concepts and data gained from prior coursework in the department’s disciplinary bases and especially in the department’s four Distribution Groups. Primary and secondary research and seminar papers will provide the basis for informed discussion, culminating in a final paper or project.” – UNE Catalog
This course is designed for and restricted to seniors graduating in the Department of Environmental Sciences or Studies. This capstone course focused on specific environmental issues, questions, and perceptions, such as how we can move into a more sustainable future and emphasize sustainability for future generations to better the world and environment. Throughout the course, students completed weekly assignments surrounding issues of sustainability with readings and questions to be answered and discussed during class. A team project was also conducted during the course where students had the opportunity to explore an area of their choosing – my group chose Wildlife Habitat & Conservation: How Roads Impact Wildlife – and deliver a presentation to the class discussing a specific issue in their area of choice, how this issue is present today, and solutions working towards resolving the issue. To wrap-up the course and synthesis everything we had done throughout the semester, students had to write a final paper discussing sustainability and what it meant them; this paper also had to incorporate issues with sustainability we see today, such as climate change, and focus mainly on resolving a key issue the student perceived as a component for moving into a sustainable future.
This course provided me with an excellent capstone completion in my environmental studies. I was able to link together everything I had learned throughout my years being an environmental student, such as understanding what it meant to be sustainable and what was important to have a sustainable future. This course also provided me with key skills, such as being able to create a full class presentation and teach the class about an issue that is impending in our world today. I was able to also focus on sustainability and what it meant to me, giving me adequate knowledge and information for my future career in wildlife management and conservation. This is course that prepares students for their careers after they leave UNE within the environmental department, and gives them important information regarding sustainability and how we can all live in a sustainable world if we work together, as a whole.
