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 ecosystems evolve and change through time? What does it mean to “read the landscape?”
These are the questions that naturalists find answers to every day, and through their work as interpreters, naturalists connect people with the natural world and teach others how to find answers to these questions for themselves.
Required courses are listed on minor checklist on the Advising Forms page.
Humans have been naturalists as long as we have been humans
The study and practice of natural history is fundamental to our existence as human beings and is foundational to our relationship with the natural world. Today, naturalists use field methods that emphasize observation, identification, description and interpretation. Natural History coursework blends natural sciences with training in field journaling, keeping species accounts and species lists, and related interpretive skills such as illustration and education.
The Natural History Minor is designed to complement studies in other areas such as Outdoor Education, Environmental Humanities, Sustainable Agriculture and related Self-Designed majors. A Natural History course of study can also be taken as an emphasis area within the Ecology major.
Naturalists find livelihoods as guides, park interpreters, environmental educators, outdoor program instructors, field technicians and conservation consultants.
Organizations Sterling Naturalists have worked for:
- EarthWalk
- Camp Denali
- Teton Science School
- Hulbert Outdoor Center
- Kroka Expeditions
- National Park Service
- North Woods Stewardship Center
Organizations Sterling College Graduates have worked for:
- The Nature Conservancy
- Vermont Land Trust
- U.S. Forest Service
- National Park Service
- American Museum of Natural History
- Howard Gardner School
- Teton Science School
