Catalog 2025-2026

Environmental Studies

Catalog Year: 2025-2026

Teaching Faculty

Professors Dow (chair), Hatch, McClung, and Penner
Associate Professor Merrick
Assistant Professors Reid

Description

The Environmental Studies program is designed to provide an integrated and interdisciplinary approach to studying the environment. As such, it both complements and embodies the liberal arts aim of combining strengths of the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to prepare students to be well-equipped citizens in an increasingly globalized world.

Major in Environmental Studies

12 courses distributed as follows:

  • EVST 110 Introduction to Environmental Studies 
  • EVST 310 Environmental Studies Colloquium
  • EVST 497 Senior Seminar
  • EVST 496 Environmental Studies Internship (Non-credit) or EVST 498 Environmental Studies Internship*
  • BIOL 104 Environmental Biology (w/Lab)**
  • CHEM 101 Chemistry of Environment (w/Lab)**
  • ECON 200 Microeconomic Theory
  • ECON 340 Environmental Economics
  • One of the following policy courses:
              POLI 235 Public Policy
              POLI 315 Environmental Policy and Management
              POLI 455 Advanced Topics in Public Policy
  • One of the following philosophy or religious studies courses:
             PHIL 308 Environmental Philosophy
             PHIL 316 Environmental Ethics
             RELI 270 Ecotheology: Reli, Animals, and Earth
  • One of the following sociocultural courses:
              ANTH 312 Land of the Ancestors
              ANTH 330 Human Impact on Ancient Environments
              ANTH 360 Globalization and Transnationalism
              PSYC 350 Conservation & Human Behavior     
              SOCI 300 The Urban Community  
              SOCI 342 Food, Culture and Nature
              SOCI 375 Environmental Sociology
  • One of the following methods courses:
              ANTH 300 Ethnographic Methods
              ANTH 335 Geographic Information Science
              BUSI 250 Principles of Statistics
              CHEM 280 Environmental Analysis (w/Lab)
              MATH 215 Introductory Statistics
              SOCI 210 Social Statistics
              SOCI 335 Sociological Research Methods

*The internship must be processed through the Office of Career Services and approved in advance by the Environmental Studies program chair. EVST 496 is non-credit while EVST 498 is taken for course credit. The internship does not need to be completed for academic credit.

**CHEM 101 Chemistry of Environment (w/Lab) or BIOL 104 Environmental Biology (w/Lab) may be substituted with CHEM 110 General Chemistry I (w/Lab) or BIOL 150 Fundamentals of Cellular Life (w/Lab), respectively, with approval of the Environmental Studies program chair.

Senior Capstone Experience

The Senior Capstone Experience for the Environmental Studies major consists of one of the following:

  • The completion of a collaborative project in partnership with a community organization or individual.
  • The completion of a written research thesis followed by an oral presentation.

The capstone experience must be approved in advance by the Environmental Studies program chair.

Program Course Listings

The courses for this program are organized into the following categories:

Environmental Studies Courses

EVST 110

Intro to Environmental Studies

An introduction to the study of environmental problems using an interdisciplinary approach with emphasis on the importance of sustainable solutions. The course combines scientific, economic, political, socio-cultural and ethical knowledge to examine selected topics such as human population, food, water, and energy.
EVST 310

Environmental Studies Colloquium

This course takes an interdisciplinary, problem-based approach to explore contemporary environmental challenges. The five EVST Program Learning Goals serve as a course framework as the instructor leads students through independent and group integration of environmental studies coursework, knowledge, and techniques. The Colloquium includes attention to written and spoken communication, and serves to prepare students for EVST 497 Senior Seminar; therefore, students are strongly recommended to take EVST 310 during their junior year. Prerequisites: EVST 110 and junior standing

EVST 110 and junior standing
EVST 497

Senior Seminar

An interdisciplinary course involving professional development, research methods, and a written and oral presentation of work toward the completion of the EVST capstone experience. UR or SP Odyssey credit can be obtained upon completion of Odyssey module requirements for the EVST capstone experience. Prerequisite: EVST 310 or consent of instructor

EVST 310 or consent of instructor
EVST X96

EVST Internship (Non-Credit)

Students interested in internships in environmental studies should contact the program chair. All internships counting toward the EVST major must be processed through the Office of Career Services.
EVST X98

EVST Internship

Students interested in internships in environmental studies should contact the program chair. All internships counting toward the EVST major must be processed through the Office of Career Services.
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