As a result of its location, Rhodes students have a broad range of internships and volunteer opportunities in the Memphis region. We have partnerships with the Memphis Zoo and organizations like Shelby Farms Park Conservancy (the largest urban park in the US), Bridges USA, Wolf River Conservancy, Livable Memphis, Project Green Fork, and many others where we place interns.
Rhodes emphasizes student research, and the Environmental Studies and Sciences Program has embraced that goal as well. Students have participated in the Rhodes Institute for Regional Studies, an 8 week summer research experience; they have presented work at our Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Symposium (URCAS); and they have presented research in local and national conferences.
We encourage students to study abroad/away when possible. Students can study in Namibia as part of a course on Environmental Issues in Southern Africa. Our partnerships with the Teton Science Schools in Jackson, Wyoming, allows students to take a summer course on Rocky Mountain Ecology. Students go on any number of other study abroad programs around the world and often count those courses toward their Environmental Studies or Environmental Sciences majors.
The Environmental Studies & Sciences Program has been able to offer travel grants to our students attending conferences or doing research off campus, and we have also provided grants to majors and minors doing environmental study abroad programs.
Finally, as part of a rigorous small liberal arts college, students in this program get lots of personal attention and mentoring. Those personal connections with professors lead to richer classroom and research experiences as well as more detailed and personal letters of recommendation.