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Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
That first-grader who organizes his family’s recycling bins and sets up a backyard compost unit seems almost destined for a major in environmental/environmental health engineering. People with a devotion to environmental causes know it long before college; they not only believe in the ideals of preservation and conservation, though. They live them out. Keeping our air and water clean, developing systems to minimize health risks from hazardous waste, and promoting regulations for industries all fall under environmental/environmental health engineering. In this major, you’ll learn about the impact of different industries on the environment, possible strategies for reversing damaging effects, ways to provide potable water and reduce air pollution, and the safest methods of waste disposal. You’ll tackle the specific ways that our environment affects our health and what measures we can take individually and as a society to . Special interests might include hydrology, hazardous substance treatment, hydraulics, or geostatistical modeling. Some programs will even have you drafting mock legislation that, for example, protects wildlife reserves. According to Tufts University, environmental health has three components: biological, physical, and social. By the time you’ve completed your studies, you’ll be better able to understand the health-to-environment relationship and how it can (and should be) optimized. Studies in environmental/environmental health engineering involve many different, often overlapping fields: infectious disease, biology, chemistry, biostatistics, epidemiology, toxicology, nutrition, and math. In most programs, you’ll enhance your classroom knowledge with hands-on research and laboratory work.
Preparation
You’ll best prepare yourself to be an engineer with courses in math, chemistry, physics, biology, and other sciences. The higher the level, the better. (You’ll get a head start in your college course work by taking calculus and trigonometry.) Computer courses are also important. Look into environmental clubs at your school or local volunteer work that would give you experience with environmental concerns.
Epidemiology
EpidemiologyThough we haven’t yet found a cure for AIDS, we do know some of the things that lead to its transmission, like unprotected sex and shared hypodermic needles, and we have reason to believe that it originated through blood contact with monkeys in West Africa that were consumed as food. Those important discoveries—as well as thousands of others—were made by epidemiologists. Epidemiology is, according to the University of Alabama, “the study of the distribution and determinants of diseases in human populations.” If you choose to major in epidemiology, you’ll be studying the origins and causes of diseases, as well as the demographics most affected by them and those most at risk. You’ll study factors such as environment, occupation, and nutrition to determine their relationships to specific diseases. Through an exploration of the external factors that cause disease you’ll learn how to identify, prevent, and control infectious diseases. Statistical methods will be used to investigate health issues as you develop the ability to analyze and interpret the research of others and eventually perform independent research of your own.
Though you may not be asked to specialize as an undergraduate, knowing some of the specialized fields within epidemiology is important. The University of Pittsburgh, for example, offers specializations in chronic disease epidemiology, women’s health epidemiology, infectious disease epidemiology, psychiatric epidemiology, and alcohol epidemiology. You’ll gain a basic understanding of some or all of these areas in your undergraduate studies. Epidemiology is, in many ways, a multidisciplinary field, dealing heavily with biology, chemistry, pathology, psychology, and medicine. You’ll draw from these fields during your studies and interact and work with experts in these fields once you begin your career. Epidemiology deals with humans from preconception through old age—the whole life span is rich with opportunities for research and study. Your efforts in college and beyond might pave the way for vast improvements in our quality of life.
Preparation
Building a strong foundation in the sciences is vital to getting a head start on your epidemiology major. Bulk up on with courses in biology and chemistry, and be sure to take advantage of any laboratory components offered. Math courses will be valuable as well—you’ll be doing a lot of work with statistics in college. Health courses might be useful, as well as humanities courses that will help you improve and strengthen your reading, writing, and communication skills.
Equine Studies
Equine StudiesYou know those movie scenes with an elegant horse running free on a deserted beach? Someone carefully trained that horse to run on that beach and appear spontaneous and carefree, yet stay perfectly in line with the tide and throw off just the right amount of spray while taking great care not to create an ugly shadow or bump into the camera crew. Someone else groomed him, fed him, cared for him, and was ready to nurse him back to health should he happen to get sick. And chances are, someone else trained the actor who’s riding him, should there be one. Those are exactly some of the things you could be doing after a major in equine studies. During your studies, you’ll start off learning about horse anatomy and physiology, various breeds, and diseases and illnesses. You’ll learn how to care for horses through proper nutrition, health care, and fitness. You’ll also examine equine lameness and how it’s treated. Then there’s equipment—how to choose it and how to maintain it. And of course, the fun part: how to ride, train, and handle horses skillfully. You might learn about jumping and dressage, how to “cut” a horse, or how to rope calves. Some programs include courses on horse showmanship. You might even get a little experience in rodeo! Your studies will also lead you into the arena of stable and horse management—the real business side of horses—including how to keep accurate records, how to manage a farm or stable, and the accompanying safety concerns. In addition, you’ll develop the ability to give instruction to others and pass on the joy of riding. An equine studies major is as specific as they come—most students enter with at least tentative goals in mind for post-graduation pursuits. Jobs in this field vary from region to region, which is another aspect of this major to consider. The skills you learn will make you a valuable asset to any horse institution, and you’ll be prepared to someday, perhaps, set up a business of your own.
Preparation
Building a strong foundation in the sciences—especially biology—will give you a good head start in your equine studies major. Math courses will be valuable as well. A good selection of humanities courses—English, history, languages, religion, psychology—will also be useful. Good reading, writing, and oral communication are vital to any future business career, so be sure to take courses that will help you strengthen your skills. If your community offers any opportunities for volunteer work with animals, take advantage!
Ethnic Studies
Ethnic StudiesEthnic studies grew out of the civil rights movements and growing social consciousness of the 1960s. Ethnic studies majors take a multidisciplinary approach to studying the lives and experiences of groups originating from Africa, Asia, and the Americas. You’ll take classes in the social sciences to achieve a better understanding the socioeconomic, historical, and political context of people of color in the United States, as well as explore the subjective experiences of minority groups through literature and art. The objective is to heighten society’s awareness of the gifts, struggles, and needs of ethnic communities; the ultimate goal is to improve living conditions and balance social power. Ethnic studies majors definitely develop and hone writing, researching, and critical thinking skills. Expect to undertake an independent project during senior year on a topic of your choice. If you focus on a community where English is a second language, you’ll learn to speak and write in that language.
Preparation
To get ready for this major, focus on English and history classes. Taking three or four years of Spanish (or another language) would also be smart.
European History
European HistoryBefore we delve into the European facet, let’s say that as a history major, generally speaking, your goal is to study the past in order to gain perspective on the present—pretty straightforward, but not as easy as it sounds. You’ll learn how to think critically about historical events and cultures and apply what you learn to the analysis of our world. History isn’t set in stone—it’s always open to new interpretations, critiques, questions, investigations, and analyses. And as a student of history, you’ll be involved in those processes. As with any humanities major, you’ll learn how to communicate your ideas, both spoken and written, persuasively and skillfully. History majors become experts on the world and how it has taken shape—and they use their expertise in a wide variety of fields. Your studies in European history might take the form of a major in some colleges and as a concentration or minor in others. If you’re romanced by the Renaissance and the Reformation, you’ll be right at home while you examine the lingering effects of each. War, conflict, angst, pain, triumph, and victory will all play a part in your whirlwind education, spanning from the rise and fall of the Napoleonic Empire, the Versailles treaty, and the rise of Fascism through the French Revolution, World War I, and World War II. You’ll dissect the role the U.S. has played in European affairs and vice versa. By studying these and other fascinating aspects of European history, you’ll gain a new understanding of the culture, attitudes, and politics of modern Europe. Summers in Europe may not be a mandatory, or even optional, part of your studies in this major, but it’s a great excuse to get away anyway. Field trip!
Preparation
A solid background in the humanities will be your best preparation for a European history major. Fill your schedule with challenging courses in English, philosophy, religion, and of course, history. Take classes that will help you improve your writing and speaking skills. Language courses will be a great addition to your schedule—some European history programs might even require several semesters of a foreign language, so getting a head start now is a good idea.
Experimental Pathology
Experimental PathologyPathology is the study of diseases and what goes wrong within the body as a cause of them. This may not sound inherently glamorous, but a major in experimental pathology might pave the way for a future of amazing discoveries, even a cure for cancer. You’ll be studying the nature of diseases and how they can attack tissues, organs, and the body as a whole. You’ll become knowledgeable about diseases on all levels, from the molecular to the cellular and more. And by learning about diseases in such great depth—and the factors and processes that lead to them—you’ll be on your way to helping create more effective ways to prevent and treat them in the future. Experimental pathology majors learn how to perform skillful research so they can someday make advances in the field. How to use laboratory equipment, how to interpret and analyze data, and how to communicate your findings effectively are all topics that will be covered. You’ll study research from the past and how it has shaped the field, and you’ll gain an understanding of exactly where we are in the realm of disease and where we need to go. Pathologists pursue careers involving molecular genetics, tumors, neurochemistry, immunotoxicology, or cancer, to name a few possibilities. It’s strange to think that if experimental pathologists got so good at their jobs that they wiped out all disease, they’d actually perform themselves out of a career—but actually, that’s the goal! Although experimental pathology is frequently a specialization in graduate or medical school, many schools offer undergraduates the chance to pursue studies in this area as well. The depth and breadth of your study will, of course, deepen and widen as you move further in your schooling.
Preparation
To best prepare for a major in experimental pathology, get a solid foundation in science and math courses including calculus, biology, chemistry, and physics. Courses that include laboratory work are especially valuable. Scientists must also be good communicators, so take humanities courses like English and languages to strengthen your reading, writing, and speaking skills.
Experimental Psychology
Experimental PsychologyAre you curious about the relationship between video games and violent children? Do you suspect that computers and road rage might be connected? Well, if you’re intrigued by these ideas, consider a major in Experimental Psychology. As an Experimental Psychology major, your main concern will be research. Topics of research are limitless—they’re bounded only by your imagination and curiosity. Students often work with one or more faculty members on research projects, but as your experience grows, many programs will give you the opportunity to begin projects of your own choosing. In all cases, you’ll be involved with conceptualizing the experiment, designing it, running it, and, eventually, documenting and analyzing your findings. In addition to your research, Experimental Psychology will also expose you to the world of psychology in general. You might take courses in cognitive psych, social psych, biology, chemistry, child psych, or any number of other fields. Once you learn the basics of each psychological field, you’ll be able to design relevant and valuable experiments, and you’ll begin to see what your research and the research of psychologists from the past and present contribute to the discipline.
Preparation
If your high school offers any psychology courses, taking them would be a great way to learn the basics of the field—the kinds of stuff you’ll learn in Psych 101. Other science courses, such as chemistry and biology, will be valuable, as will math courses—especially statistics. Since you’ll be doing a lot of research, hone your reading and writing skills so you can write up your findings in impressive papers.