The Department of the Environment, Geography and Marine Sciences provides students with hands-on learning experiences both in and out of the classroom, especially in the form of student-faculty research collaborations or faculty-supervised research projects.
Students take part in a wide variety of environmental and geographic courses and activities in order to learn about socio-ecological systems and gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge field data collection methods and technologies, lab-based data analysis procedures, and state-of-the-art data visualization processes and technologies.
Our department has particular strengths in coastal and marine research, sustainability science, and applied geographic information systems and technology. We aim to engage our students in collaborative research projects in a local as well as an international context. Our faculty and students have engaged in projects focused on coastal resilience and environmental hazards in Connecticut, sustainable food systems in Iceland, geo-political change in Central America, urban change in Central Asia, and environmental and social justice in South Africa.
What We Offer
- Strong ties to the Werth Center for Coastal and Marine Studies, with research in the fields of coastal pollution, storm impacts and coastal erosion, water quality, plastics in the marine environment, and coastal and marine food systems
- Educational programming and research on Outer Island, one of the Thimble Islands in the town of Branford
- In cooperation with the Office of International Education, the department offers a semester-long undergraduate student exchange program with Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom, as well as a short-term summer session study abroad program to Iceland and a short-term winter session study abroad program to South Africa.
- A state-of-the-art GIS and Geospatial Technology Lab, featuring the latest GIS, spatial analysis and remote sensing software
- A drone UAV (drone) laboratory
- An active academic club with field trips and participation at annual conferences in geography, environmental studies and marine and coastal sciences
- Research and community outreach in collaboration with CELSE (Center for Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Education)
From the Chair
Welcome to the Department of the Environment, Geography, and Marine Sciences at Southern Connecticut State University. Our department prides itself on providing students with hands-on learning experiences both in and out of the classroom, especially in the form of student-faculty research collaborations or faculty-supervised research projects. The department is highly interdisciplinary, and faculty members have a diversity of academic backgrounds that has prepared them to engage students with cutting-edge research in environmental studies, geography, marine science and science education. I invite you to visit our website to get to know our amazing faculty members, explore current student-faculty research opportunities, and learn more about our innovative program offerings. I hope that browsing our website will provide you with a glimpse into what our department has to offer in terms of learning, research, and preparation for postgraduate success.
If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via email or phone or by stopping by the department office on the third floor in Jennings Hall (JE343).
Dr. Vincent Breslin
Environment, Geography, and Marine Sciences