Catalog 2017-2018

Environmental Studies

Catalog Year: 2017-2018

Teaching Faculty

Professors Čapek, Gron, Hardin, McDaniel, and Moran 
Associate Professors Dow, Gess, Hatch (chair), and Hill
Assistant Professors Hancock and McClung

 

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. 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.

Major in Environmental Studies

13 or 14 courses distributed as follows:

  • 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.

Study Away Programs

Coursework undertaken through study-away programs (abroad or domestic) enhances the Hendrix environmental studies major, and is encouraged. Appropriate examples include Hendrix-in-Costa Rica, The Hendrix American Southwest Program, The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, and the Semester in Environmental Science.  Pre-approval by the Environmental Studies program chair is recommended. For more information, see "Engaged Learning Opportunities."

 

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 275

Literature & the Environment

An examination of how literary and other representations have depicted their culture's relationship to the environment. The exact content varies from term to term, though the course studies various literary and representational forms, including some theoretical writing. While the course examines how writers have experienced, understood, and envisioned their environment and their place in it, other aspects of the texts studied (character, point of view, gender, race, economics, etc.). Cross-listed as ENGL 275.

Literary Studies LS
Writing Level 1 W1
EVST 497

Senior Seminar

A capstone experience involving common readings, research methods and both written and oral presentation of independent research. Oral presentation and defense of research functions as the senior comprehensive exam. Prerequisite: senior standing.

senior standing.
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.
Back to Program Course Listings

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