Summer Environmental Program In Europe Seeks Students

BLACKSBURG, Va., Oct. 7, 2002 --What do you get when you combine a summer in Europe, up to seven credits towards graduation, and a chance to learn about the unique challenges of the environment and sustainable development? You get the benefits available to the students who participate in the Summer Environmental Program in Europe.

The class work won't be a push-over, but students will have plenty of time to experience the European culture around them, said Jim McKenna, professor of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences.

"This summer is going to be much more experiential...a lot more time in the field, and less formal classroom time," says McKenna, one of the professors teaching portions of the policies and practices course. "I want to take advantage of being in Europe, and better use the location and resources."

The program from May 12 through June 12 will be based at Virginia Tech's Center for European Studies and Architecture (CESA) in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland. It offers students the opportunity to earn up to seven credit hours towards graduation through various courses. The program's theme is "Environment and Sustainable Development," and it includes Sustainable Development in European Cities, a 3-credit class; a 2-credit Policies and Practices of Green Space Management class; and a 2-credit Environment and Sustainable Development Economics course.

Additionally, students will learn to compare economics and environmental policies of the U.S. and European Union nations, which will allow them to gain an appreciation of how cultural, economic, and political factors influence the physical environment and environmental policy.

In addition to McKenna, instructors for the courses are Waldon Kerns, professor of agricultural and applied economics, and Richard Rich, professor of political science.

Study abroad with the environmental program includes travel through Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Some of the planned excursions involve day trips, long weekends to cities and sights in both Western and Eastern Europe, and hiking in the Lake Lugano region adjacent to the CESA campus in Canton Ticino. Students will have the opportunity to travel extensively, both as a group or independently, as classes will be concentrated from Monday to Thursday.

This particular program is ideal for students in Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences; Environmental Science; Environmental Policy and Planning; International Studies; Political Science; Public and Urban Affairs; and Environmental Engineering.

The estimated cost of trip is $4,500 plus tuition, and includes airfare, ground transportation, a Eurorail train pass, and food and lodging.

McKenna said that while there is no application deadline at this time, a listserv of students showing interest is being created, and they will be invited to an evening informational session sometime in the next month, at which point more details will be available. Interested students, or those with questions, should contact program coordinator Jim McKenna at jamckenn@vt.edu.