With over one million acres of preserved park land, according to EnviroEducation.com, Indiana offers many learning resources with regard to the environment. Students have the opportunity to work in internships and mentoring programs through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and associated universities since the DNR monitors all environmental health and preservation initiatives in the state. Lake Michigan is also adjacent to the northwest corner of Indiana where students have the opportunity to explore abundant marine life.
Environmental history, according to Indiana University at Bloomington, involves the study of the "physical, social, and cultural space" of land, air and water. Environmental history takes into account the inherent settings and conditions of natural physical elements and assesses the impact of climate, animals and people. Analysis may also examine the cultural ties communities and peoples associate with their natural environment.
Over 18 colleges and universities in Indiana offer environmental programs, including study opportunities in environmental history. Among curricula in environmental history, the University of Notre Dame offers students programs in environmental history, environmental science and environmental health and engineering. Ball State University, in Muncie, stretches the offering of academic opportunities to natural resources and environmental conservation. Purdue University, in West Lafayette, offers additional programs in wildlife science, forestry and wild land management.
A wide range of courses is offered at Indiana universities specializing in environmental history education. Science courses, ranging from chemistry to physics and biology to plant and soil sciences, are essential to understand the makeup of natural environments. Fisheries management and waste management courses are useful for graduates pursuing professional opportunities in animal protection and land conservation. Environmental economics courses teach students about the socio-economic impact of land use, and toxicology studies expand a student's awareness of environmental health and sustainability.