Academics

The Classroom and Beyond

Are you ready to pursue your passions and design your own path? Academics at Sterling College let you craft a unique, personalized education in ecological thinking and action. In small classes—usually under 11 students—you’ll explore the critical issues of our day: humanity’s relationship with the natural world and each other, and the stewardship of our air, water, soil, food, and climate. You’ll have classes on campus in a laboratory or seminar room, on the side of a mountain, or in a barn or pasture.

Rigorous, Experiential & Place-based Academics

You’ll also work one-on-one with our academic and practitioner faculty to delve deeper into issues of environmentalism, education and sustainability. In independent studies and research projects , you’ll design learning objectives and explore issues in a hands-on, experiential way.

Faculty are drawn to the College to do more than just lecture—they are mentors and guides, constantly engaging with students in the classroom, in the field, and in the community.

Majors

Ecology

Posted January 13, 2016 by Tanner

Ecology Education rooted in forests, mountains, and rivers What are the habitat requirements for migrating songbirds that breed in the North Woods? How does geology affect forest composition and forest…

Environmental Humanities

Posted January 25, 2016 by Lou Lepping

What is Environmental Humanities? Taking an ecological perspective on the humanities means that students look at a broad view of the ways humans engage with nature—from regional and global literary…

Outdoor Education

Posted January 27, 2016 by Lou Lepping

GET OUTSIDE Expand Your Relationship with Nature As an Outdoor Education major at Sterling College, you will become comfortable learning and teaching in the outdoors at all times of year,…

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems

Posted January 26, 2016 by Lou Lepping

Cultivate your best self Shape a more resilient food and farming future The study of sustainable agriculture and food systems encompasses the range of interrelated processes, practices, institutions, and knowledge…

Self-Designed Major

Posted February 1, 2016 by Lou Lepping

Choose your own adventure with a Self-Designed Major! Sterling College tends to attract independent-minded souls, so it’s no surprise that many Sterling students choose our interdisciplinary Self-Designed Major. Actually, around…

NASA photo of a melting glacier by photographer Denis Felikson

Climate Justice

Posted January 25, 2016 by Lou Lepping

Climate Justice Minor What is Climate Justice? Should privileged countries and communities bear more responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions? What are the systems and interests perpetuating the carbon dioxide emissions?…

Draft Animal Power Systems Minor

Posted January 27, 2016 by Lou Lepping

Draft Animal Power Systems Sterling College is one of the rare places where you can get hands-on draft animal experience, working daily with these heavy animals. As a Draft Animal…

Natural History Minor

Posted February 23, 2016 by Lou Lepping

Natural History Minor How can we recognize the plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms with which we share the world? What are their lives like? How do species and whole…

Natural Resources Conservation Minor

Posted February 23, 2016 by Lou Lepping

Natural Resources Conservation Minor Sterling College students pursuing a minor in Natural Resources Conservation examine local and global conservation issues, including natural resources sustainability and biodiversity protection. Courses provide students…

Education Studies

Posted March 8, 2016 by Lou Lepping

Education Studies Minor The Education Studies minor is designed to allow students from a variety of majors (including self-designed) to enhance their professional portfolio with an immersion of courses that explore…

Environmental Humanities

Posted January 25, 2016 by Lou Lepping

Continuing Education

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Regardless of your flock - at Sterling College we look out for each other! That's what being part of the community is all about! #WhereSmallisBetter

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The Ecology Essentials for Everyone course is essential for anyone looking to understand how the world really works – with or without us humans. You'll develop a strong understanding of ecological principles, scientific thinking, and how to live more lightly on the Earth. Register today! Link on bio.

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These days, it seems that everyone has a better, purportedly more sustainable way to farm: organic agriculture, carbon-farming, regenerative agriculture, climate-smart agriculture, permaculture, and sustainable intensification. As alternatives to synthetic and extractive forms of industrial agriculture abound, it can be tough to tell which have real promise and which are green-washed nonsense (or worse).

Agroecology – an approach that blends natural and traditional science with a set of farming practices and a social movement – stands out among the alternatives. It fundamentally trusts farmers to work with nature to develop their own approaches that produce food while maintaining ecosystem integrity and avoiding depletion.

Our self-paced online course in agroecology is designed to empower farmers, gardeners and agriculture professionals alike - providing an invaluable understanding of agricultural sustainability and food movements for those who strive for social justice.

Link on bio.

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The present climate and ecological emergencies are a global problem that requires immediate action. We must work together to find solutions that will help to mitigate these crises. Enroll into Climate + Change self-paced and online. Starting at $49! Link on bio.

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Ivy Manner's Senior Year Research Project was entitled 'Ecological Building & Design' where she designed and built an outhouse from scratch, including felling, extraction, sawing, and building.

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New issue of our annual publication, Terrain, has dropped. Take a read, link on bio.

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Sterling offers more than just undergraduate degrees. We are quickly building a host of online curriculum for learners of all ages and levels. Co-created by communities, consulting scholars, and Sterling College educators, EcoGather intersects community, practitioner, and academic insights without privileging any one over the others. The resulting courses are accessible to and enriching for varied learners at all stages of adult life. Check it out at : http://ce.sterlingcollege.edu . EcoGather - education that makes sense in a world that does not.

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Countdown is on until our Southwest Field Semester starts! February 6th!

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Scenes from this year's Winter Expedition ❄️

photo credit: Ryan Conners

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Anonymous online review: "Sterling is an experience. It is not like your normal college where you get a bunch of textbook work. Being a work college, you have the opportunity to learn work ethics and skills through the work program and through some classes. It is for those who want to put the work in. The college is off the beaten track and thus relies on its student body to be there for each other be it for keeping paths open or picking potatoes. Also being such a small school, you can step into classes that help broaden your overall knowledge and help you become a better steward of the environment you live in.

From my time there I learned how to work and that from hard work comes celebration. I found my passion for outdoor education and made life long friends. I learned skills that are older than me, that help me in my daily life.

All in all, Sterling gave me a challenge that led to me becoming a well rounded person both in work and education."

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The kitchen is the keystone of Sterling College. All students are part of Sterling’s sustainable food systems, through farming, cooking, and eating. The curricular system and the kitchen are inextricably linked. So when we say that at Sterling everyone has a seat at the table, we mean it literally.

There is nothing institutional about cooking or eating at Sterling College. The College prides itself on local, healthy food made with love. Everyone at Sterling is part of that equation. The kitchen is cooperative and collaborative, students have a say, and dialog is welcome.

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Dig In!

Brandon Bless, Visiting Faculty in Sustainable Agriculture

Brandon Bless has a deep connection with Sterling College, even though his role as Visiting Faculty in Sustainable Agriculture is new. He was an adjunct faculty from 2013 to 2015….

Wildlife Conservation & Management Class: Electrofishing the Whitney Brook

The sun came out this morning as we turned off the Creek Road down into one of the cornfields of the Atwood Farm here in Craftsbury. The Wildlife Conservation and…

Hotel Cowlifornia by Jolwes Phanord

Jolwes Phanord, a current student at Sterling, self-designed an independent study about Environmental New Media. The whole point behind his independent study is using music as a simple way to convey environmental,…

The Classroom and Beyond

Rigorous, Experiential & Place-based Academics

Majors

Ecology

Environmental Humanities

Outdoor Education

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems

Self-Designed Major

Minors

Climate Justice

Draft Animal Power Systems Minor

Natural History Minor

Natural Resources Conservation Minor

Education Studies

Environmental Humanities

Continuing Education

Trustees Emeriti

Are you ready to remove the barriers between learning and living?

Come see how Sterling College can show you how.

Academics by the Numbers

Brandon Bless, Visiting Faculty in Sustainable Agriculture

Wildlife Conservation & Management Class: Electrofishing the Whitney Brook

Hotel Cowlifornia by Jolwes Phanord