Minerals, business combine for major

Editor's note: This is the first in a weekly series about lesser-known majors at Penn State.

By ALISON BALMAT
Collegian Staff Writer

Tucked away in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences is a lesser-known major slowly being discovered by students interested in economics, business management, finance and the environment.

Penn State's energy, environmental and mineral economics major is an applied economics program emphasizing the interaction between business and the environment, said Adam Rose, professor and head of energy, environmental and mineral economics.

"If (students) are interested in important environmental issues relating to minerals … solid training in economic methods and computer applications … (and) getting a high-paying and satisfying job, this is the place to be," he said.

Students in the major study a range of activities associated with the exploration, extraction and manufacturing use of non-renewable resources such as oil, coal or copper, Rose said. These studies are closely correlated with a business or environmental economics option.

A mineral economics department has existed at Penn State for more than 50 years, yet the major changed its name recently as environmental awareness increased. Although only 20 students currently are in the major, Rose said he is optimistic more students will discover the benefits of this field.

"We've increased our undergraduate credit hours by 100 percent over the last two years," he said. "We're getting a great amount of non-majors taking our courses."

Nathan LaFrance (junior-energy, environmental and mineral economics) enjoys the small classes within the major. He has two classes this semester with only six to eight students in each.

"The best part is the low number of students," LaFrance said. "We have … a lot of student-faculty interaction."

Starting salaries for graduates in the major average about $30,000 per year but may be as high as $35,000 per year, Rose said. Many graduates have successfully landed jobs, mostly in Washington, D.C., with energy or environmental consulting firms, public interest groups or financial institutions.

"More businesses are finding that by being environmentally conscious, they can improve their profits," he said.

Jobs also can involve guiding