Founded in 1969, College of the Atlantic was the first college in the United States to focus on the
relationship between humans and the environment. More than forty years later, our 350 students, 35 faculty, and 75 staff members still share that original focus on engaged learning and community, and more than ever we believe that an interdisciplinary, human ecological perspective is critical to addressing the world's most pressing problems. COA enriches the liberal arts tradition through a distinctive educational philosophy--human ecology. A human ecological perspective integrates knowledge from all academic disciplines and from personal experience to
investigate--and ultimately improve--the relationships between human beings and our social and natural communities. The human ecological perspective guides all aspects of education,research, activism, and interactions among the college's students, faculty, staff, and trustees.
