The world will face major challenges in the coming decades and need people with the right skills and knowledge to face the environmental, health, and other crises that will come our way. The faculty and the programs of the division of Environment, Mathematics, Psychology, and Health (EMPH) strive to prepare students to become the problem solvers of tomorrow.
Our programs provide students the knowledge and experiences they need to understand the world around them, to define problems, and assess solutions. Our classes allow students to engage real-world problems in the classroom and beyond, through Academic Travels, internship program, laboratories, and various field experiences. Our active, experiential approach help students become independent, critical thinkers able to succeed on campus and in their future lives.
The EMPH division offers three majors: BAs in both Environmental Studies and Psychology and a BS in Environmental Science. Additionally, we support the Environmental Science and the Psychology options in the combined major program, and minors in Applied Mathematics, Environmental Science, and Psychology. Further, we help coordinate the BA in Social Justice and Sustainability major and its minor. Lastly, we supervise the Pre-Health curriculum that prepares students for graduate studies in the health sciences.
Students with degrees from EMPH have gone on to graduate programs in a wide range of areas, including renewable energies, environmental management, psychology, and public health, as well as careers in NGO’s, consulting, industry, and government in countries all over the world.
HIGHLIGHTS

How long will it take to climb that mountain?
For hikers, knowing how long it will take to hike a specific route is important information for planning and safety. Often, signs (such as the well-known Swiss yellow trail markers) and other sources of information use general formulas to calculate the time a hiker needs. But, what if you could personalize those estimates? A collaboration by Franklin professor of mathematics, Erich Prisner, and Franklin alumnus, Peter Sui (Class of 2019), who was Professor Prisner’s research LLLS during the 2018 – 2019 academic year has done just that. The project combined data from Swiss topographic maps and four hikers to derive individualized formulas that would estimate hiking times for each person. A manuscript reporting the findings, Tailor-Made Linear Hiking-Time Formulas, is currently in review.
During the research LLLS, Peter got experience extracting data from the maps, managing data in Excel, and undertaking statistical analyses. When reflecting about the research experience, Peter, who now works as a corporate analyst, said that “Professor Prisner’s commitment and willingness to help me fostered my growth and confidence, not only as a student but also as an individual.” He also emphasized Professor Prisner’s encouragement and engagement, both as a research supervisor and as a math professor.
FEATURED PUBLICATION
Sustainability in Educational Travel and Environmental Protection. Special Issue of Sustainability.
Dr. Hale edited and contributed to this special issue that highlights work from top scholars in the field of educational travel to examine how educational travel programs, such as Franklin’s Academic Travel program, can both educate about and impact human and natural environments.

Students & Alumni
Katherine Gannon '18
Going to Franklin was the best decision I have ever made. I was totally nervous to move across the world from my comfortable life in California, but the experiences that greeted me when I finally committed and made the move were the most meaningful and joyful times of my life. I would like to say that I’m thankful for every moment, but “thankful” would be an understatement. From the incredible academic travel opportunities to walking out of class everyday knowing that I learned something new from my professors, Franklin is truly an unmatched college experience, for which I am very grateful!
Elena McGuire '17
Of all the universities I applied to, Franklin was the only one that offered a truly unique educational opportunity. The small class sizes and international student body allowed for group discussions full of diverse experiences and viewpoints. Getting to engage with the world, and the people of the world, on Academic Travel is an opportunity that no other university or private tour can match. It's one thing to discuss climate change in a classroom but it's another to visit a rapidly-shrinking glacier in the Swiss Alps. Franklin's professors go out of their way to help students get the most out of their educational experience. Whether it's sitting down together to pick the right courses or working with you for two years on a long-term research project (thanks, Professor Della Croce!), the faculty and staff at Franklin are invested in all of their students. My time at Franklin, especially within the Environmental Sciences department, helped me grow into a more curious, respectful, and conscientious global citizen.
The faculty in EMPH came to Franklin with strong backgrounds and training from top programs in North America and Europe. They possess a wide range of expertise in academic and applied research and are active scholars in their respective fields. They draw upon this expertise regularly not only in teaching their courses, but also in working closely with students on Honors projects, theses, capstones, and more. In particular, their expertise allows them to develop unique Academic Travel experiences that enhances our students’ education in very unique ways.
We invite you to peruse our individual faculty profiles for more information or check out the publications section below to see some of our recent scholarships.
Division Chair
Full-time Faculty
Part-time Faculty
Our division sponsors events, lectures, projects, conferences, and workshops that strive to enrich our campus community and provide a chance for our community to engage with others. Follow some of our recent and upcoming activities here.
Our faculty’s scholarship most commonly appears in peer-reviewed journals, although our faculty has also published books, book chapters, edited special issues of journals, and presented at scholarly conferences. Our published research ranges from disciplinary investigations to interdisciplinary collaborations and connect to the real-world issues about which we strive to educate and empower our students.