Major
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. Core requirements for Environmental Studies majors are designed to fit requirements for graduate programs in Environmental Studies or related fields while the electives allow students to specialize in their particular interests.
Core Requirements:
- EVST 110 Introduction to Environmental Studies
- ENGL 275 American Literature and the Environment***
or
ENGC 306 Exploring Nature Writing - POLI 235 Public Policy
or
POLI 315 Environmental Policy and Management - 1 of the following:
PSYC 290 Statistics
BUSI 250 Principles of Statistics
MATH 215 Statistical Analysis
ANTH 335 Geographic Information Science - ECON 340 Environmental Economics
- 1 of the following:
SOCI 375 Environmental Sociology
ANTH 312 Land of the Ancestors
ANTH 330 Human Impact on the Ancient Environments - 1 of the following:
RELI 270 Ecotheology
PHIL 270 Environmental Philosophy
PHIL 315 Ethics and Relations to Friend, Kin, and Community - EVST 497 Senior Seminar
- Complete an internship with an environmental studies focus. The internship must be processed through the Office of Career Discovery and Internships and approved in advance by the Environmental Studies program chair.
- Choose from three possible concentrations for their remaining courses.
Natural Science Biology Concentration
- BIOL 150 Cell Biology
- BIOL 190 Botany
or
BIOL 220 Zoology - BIOL 250 Genetics
- BIOL 365 Ecology and Evolution
- CHEM 101 Chemistry of the Environment
Natural Science Chemistry Concentration
- BIOL 104 Environmental Biology
- CHEM 110 and 120 General Chemistry I and II
or
CHEM 150 Accelerated General Chemistry - CHEM 240 Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 280 Environmental Analysis
Socio-cultural Concentration
- BIOL 104 Environmental Biology
- CHEM 101 Chemistry of the Environment
- 3 of the following courses from three different disciplines:
ANTH 312 Land of the Ancestors*
ANTH 330 Human Impact on the Ancient Environments *
ANTH 360 Globalization and Transnationalism
ENGC/SOCI 306 Exploring Nature Writing *
ENGF 275 Film and the Environment
ENGL 275 American Literature and the Environment *
HIST 308 Ecology in American Indian History
PHIL 270 Environmental Philosophy *
PHIL 315 Ethics and Relations to Friend, Kin, and Community *
PHIL 490 Special Topics **
RELI 270 Ecotheology *
SOCI 300 The Urban Community
SOCI 340 Food, Culture and Nature
SOCI 362 Images of the City
SOCI 375 Environmental Sociology *
* If not taken in core requirements
** Must be approved by the Environmental Studies program chair because some topics courses may not cover environmental concepts.
*** ENGL 275 American Literature in the Environment must be completed before the student's junior year.
Senior Capstone Experience
The Senior Capstone Experience for the environmental studies major consists of
participation in the Senior Seminar course. EVST 497 Senior Seminar is
a one semester course that involves common readings, research methods, and both
written and oral presentation of independent research. The grade for the Senior
Capstone Experience is based on the oral presentation and defense of research components
of the senior seminar.