Governor’s School

About the Program

The Governor’s School for Tennessee History and Environmental Studies is four week intensive course that is designed as a residential, field-based academic experience that combines classroom instruction with direct engagement in the region. Students live on campus at East Tennessee State University and follow a structured daily schedule that includes coursework, field experiences, and collaborative work.

Instruction is led by ETSU faculty and supported by regional scholars, professionals, and guest speakers. Coursework reflects college-level expectations, with an emphasis on discussion, critical analysis, and engagement with primary materials. Students earn college credit in Tennessee history while also participating in additional seminars focused on research, writing, and presentation.

A central component of the program is applied learning through fieldwork. Students participate in a series of field experiences that connect academic topics to real-world settings across the region. These experiences are integrated into the curriculum and are designed to reinforce classroom learning through direct observation and participation.

Past fieldwork experiences have included:

• Work at the Gray Fossil Site, where students engage with paleontology and museum research
• Visits to outdoor research and field locations such as the ETSU Valleybrook campus
• Environmental and service-learning experiences in state parks and protected areas
• Travel to historical and cultural sites across Tennessee, including museums, heritage sites, and historic communities 

In addition to academic and field work, student experiences are enhanced through activities that reflect the cultural traditions of the region. These may include traditional music, storytelling, and other forms of cultural expression that help connect coursework to lived experience.

Throughout the program, students are expected to actively participate in discussions, group work, and project-based learning. The experience emphasizes interdisciplinary thinking, collaboration, and the ability to connect ideas across history, environment, and culture.

Because of the program’s structure, learning takes place continuously both inside and outside the classroom creating an immersive environment that reflects the program’s focus on applied, place-based education.