SUNY Southampton announces three new majors

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The New York State Department of Education has approved three new majors for Stony Brook Southampton for the fall semester.

Ecosystems and Human Impact; Environmental Design, Policy and Planning; and Sustainability Studies will be added to the school’s existing three majors in Environmental Studies, Marine Sciences and Marine Vertebrate Biology.

Stony Brook Southampton has also refurbished several academic buildings and residence halls and expects to nearly double its number of students to 350 during the 2008-2009 school year, its second year in operation.

The Ecosystems and Human Impact major integrates ecology, biology, genetics, anthropology, human ecology and geography with an understanding of economics, ethics, and policy with a global perspective.

The Environmental Design, Policy, and Planning major teaches students to understand and address complex issues related to development, land-use, urbanization, and suburban sprawl.

The Sustainability Studies major prepares students to address the environmental, social, political, economic and ethical issues involved in transforming current societies to ones that are sustainable.

“Now we can really recruit students for the new majors,” said the Stony Brook Southampton dean, Martin Schoonen, who added that he hopes 200 additional students will take advantage of the new offerings next year.

Mr. Schoonen said that, in particular, he believes the planning related major will be useful to students entering municipal planning departments, while students who major in Ecosystems and Human Impact will be prepared for entry-level positions at non-government agencies and foundations that have programs in developing countries.

He added that sustainability majors could likely enter careers doing anything from energy audits for large corporations to environmental journalism.

Stony Brook University President Shirley Strum Kenny said that all the majors will also be compatible with a five-year bachelor’s degree/master’s degree in business administration program.

“I think it’s very important to continue in a direction focused on ecological sustainability in all its facets,” she said. “It’s a very interdisciplinary approach.”