Who We Are
ENR Scholars live as a community in Blackburn House on North Campus, take several
clustered courses with other ENR Scholars, and attend programs and lectures with
leading environmental researchers. In addition, ENR Scholars have the
opportunity to travel to exciting places to expand their knowledge of various
environmental issues, as well as pursuing outdoor recreational activities such
as hiking, camping, and sea kayaking!
A program for students of all majors and backgrounds, the
Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Scholars Program brings together
students who respect their surrounding environment and enjoy and appreciate the
natural world. ENR Scholars have the opportunity to create lasting friendships
and develop a deep understanding of current environmental issues, both in the
classroom and in the outdoors.
Additional features and benefits of the ENR Scholars program include:
- Access to a small, close-knit community
- Interaction with faculty, staff, alumni, and researchers
- Personalized academic and career advice
- Domestic and international travel opportunities
- Outdoor recreational opportunities
- Clustered courses with other ENR Scholars
- Environmentally-based community service projects
- Activities and other events with other Scholars groups as
well as All-Scholars events
Academics
1st Year
2nd Year and Beyond
Academics
ENR Scholars blend indoor classroom work with outdoor, real world
applications. Students have the opportunity to take a variety of courses
together which focus on environmental issues, basic ecology and
environmental science, and international environmental problems and
solutions. We encourage students from all academic majors to apply to ENR
Scholars since differing perspectives will help foster creative ways of
approaching the world’s environmental challenges!
Clustered courses are taught by faculty in the School of Environment and
Natural Resources (SENR) including past SENR Directors and international
scholars. Students will enjoy clustered recitation sessions and ENR
Scholars-only courses, which can range from environmental science or
wilderness first aid to global problem solving. ENR Scholars are also be
clustered in their freshmen English composition course.
1st Year
Students
take three clustered courses together. Students who are School of Environment
and Natural Resources (SENR) majors have their University Survey class together
as well. If students who are not SENR majors take all of the clustered courses
(first year and beyond), a minor in Natural Resources can be easily accomplished
with a few additional credit hours, including the ENR short-term study abroad
course and trip to Iceland. First-year clustered courses are as follows:
ENR 201: Introduction to Environmental Science
- This winter quarter course is an introduction to environmental science, the ecological foundation of
environmental systems, and the ecological impacts of environmental degradation by humans.
- Dr. Mohan Wali, tenured faculty member and past Director of the School of Environment and Natural
Resources, is the professor.
- This course is required for Environment and Natural Resources majors as well as for the Natural Resources
Management minor and counts as a natural science GEC for students in other majors.
ENR 203: Society and Natural Resources
- This course is an introduction to the interactions between humans, natural resources, and ecosystems from a
social science perspective
- Dr. Eric Toman, assistant professor of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, teaches this course.
- This class is taken spring quarter and students will schedule the same recitation session to facilitate
advanced discussion and out-of-classroom debate.
- This is a required course for SENR majors or minors, and fulfills a Social Science GEC for students in
other majors.
English 110: First-year English Composition
- This class provides practice in the fundamentals of expository writing, as illustrated in the student’s
own writing and in the essays of professional writers.
- This autumn quarter class is required for all majors at The Ohio State University, unless student
receives examination credit (ex: AP credit).
2nd Year and Beyond
ENR 367: The Making and Meaning of the American Landscape
- This class is an interpretation of the contemporary American landscape as a product of many interacting physical and socio-cultural forces.
- Dr. John Simpson, professor of Landscape Architecture and Environment & Natural Resources, teaches this course<
- This course is offered autumn, winter, and spring quarters; one ENR Scholars recitation per quarter is clustered.
- This class counts as a second writing GEC course, required for all majors; for SENR majors only, double-counts as a GEC Cultures & Ideas requirement as well.
ENR 400: Natural Resources Policy
- Students who participate in the Iceland study abroad program take ENR 694 during
the spring quarter, and register for trip credit through ENR 697.
- The course focuses on environmental problems and potential solutions in Iceland
as well as on cultural norms and traditions.
- Two hours of ENR 694 are earned for the seminar course and 3 hours of ENR 697
count are earned the study abroad portion of the program.
- This class tracks the conceptual and historic development, implementation and
evaluation of natural resource policies.
- This course is offered winter and spring quarters; one clustered ENR Scholars
recitation is arranged each quarter.
- ENR 400 is a requirement for all SENR majors and minors and counts as an
Organizations and Polities Social Science GEC course.
ENR 694/697: Iceland Study Abroad & Seminar Course
Students may take
additional ENR courses to fulfill major, minor or GEC requirements as desired.
Also, additional clustered courses can be arranged as student interest permits.
We encourage ENR Scholars to continue with environmentally-based coursework
relevant to all majors, such as ecology, ethics, and policy courses.
Participation and Involvement
First year students have
many great programs to participate in, and are expected to attend all mandatory
events which include meetings and the fall camping retreat. Other events, trips,
and programs are available for them to choose from and include lectures and
guest speakers, service projects and outdoor adventure type programs, such as
canoeing trips and hikes. If interested, students may also participate in
recruiting efforts and the ENR Leadership Council, which is responsible for
planning some of the group’s events and activities.
Second year ENR Scholars are expected to continue their participation in a
number of ENR Scholars events throughout the year, some of which may be planned
specifically for them. The majority of the students serving on the Leadership
Council are second year Scholars. They also have the opportunity to help recruit
for the program and to represent ENR Scholars and the Honors & Scholars Program
as a Scholars Ambassador. Second year students may also request to return to
Blackburn House, in order to remain a part of the ENR Scholars learning
community in the residence hall.
While the ENR Scholars Program is a two-year program, third and fourth year
students are encouraged to remain involved. Routes for their continued
involvement include participating in regular ENR Scholars meetings and events,
serving as mentors for incoming ENR Scholars, and assisting in the recruitment
and selection of incoming students.
FAQ
Do I have to be an Environment and Natural Resource major to be a part of the
program?
No - we welcome students from all majors and interest areas to be involved! The
only requirement is that students have an interest in learning more about the
environment and enjoy the outdoors. Students’ backgrounds can range from those
who simply love to hike and camp to those who want to be scientists, outdoor
educators, and administrators.
How many students participate in the program?
The average size of each incoming ENR Scholars cohort is approximately 40-50
students. This is an ideal size as it enables students to get to know each other
quickly and participate in a variety of workshops and programs.
Where do ENR Scholars live?
ENR Scholars live as a community in Blackburn House, a north campus residence
hall. Students are required to live together as freshmen on one of two floors
and may be roommates with other ENR Scholars. North campus residence halls house
students in four person suites that have private bathrooms, air conditioning, a
study room, and a bedroom. For more housing information, visit
http://housing.osu.edu.
Are ENR Scholars required to take all of the clustered courses?
In order to fully understand the nature and scope of environmental problems, ENR
Scholars take all clustered courses in the freshmen year. If a student has an
unavoidable conflict with another required course, arrangements can be made on
an individual basis. All clustered courses fulfill GEC requirements for
non-Environment and Natural Resources majors, depending on major. Also, by
enrolling in the clustered courses, a Natural Resources Management minor is
easily obtainable by taking a few additional courses (such as the Iceland study
abroad program!).
In what types of outdoor activities do ENR Scholars participate?
ENR Scholars participate in a variety of outdoor activities, including many
suggested by the group. Trips can be educational, such as the Bowling Green Wind
Farm, or recreational, such as camping, canoeing and hiking, just to name a few!
What are some additional benefits associated with being an ENR Scholar?
Students participating in the ENR Scholars program have many unique
opportunities! For example, students will meet prominent faculty members such as
Dr. Lonnie Thompson, and speakers from around the world, such as Dr. Wangari
Maathai, environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize Winner. Research presentations
and round-table discussions, tours of campus research facilities, travel and
environmentally-base community service projects are all examples of special
opportunities for our ENR Scholars.
How much time is required to be an ENR Scholar?
Like all Scholars Programs at The Ohio State University, ENR Scholars requires
approximately 10-15 hours of time each month. This time is distributed between
meetings, events, speakers, trips, and classes. Students are able to be more
involved as their academic work and social schedules permit; however, all
students must participate in the mandatory programs and events.
This sounds great! How do I become a member of ENR Scholars?
Like all Scholars Programs, the ENR Scholars Program is selective. Students must
apply to be admitted. The application can be accessed through The Ohio State
University Honors and Scholars website. Best of Luck!
How to Apply
The Environment and Natural Resources Scholars Program is selective, and you must apply to be considered. Successful candidates have a variety of qualifications including solid academic records, strong writing skills, significant participation in extracurricular and community activities, and a diversity of life experiences.
Please note: Only new freshmen who begin at OSU's Columbus campus during the autumn semester are eligible to apply for the Scholars Program. Students interested in the Scholars Program must complete the Honors & Scholars Application after applying to the university. The priority deadline is December 15, 2011; the final deadline is February 15, 2012. To complete the Scholars application you will need your OSU ID, which you receive after you apply to the university; allow one week to receive this ID via e-mail after submitting your admissions application.You do not have to be admitted to the Columbus campus to apply to the Scholars Program; however, you must be admitted to the University in order for your application to advance in the review process.
For additional information about the Environment and Natural Resources Scholars Program, please contact Susan Burks at 614.292.2265 or burks.39@osu.edu.