Academic Year:
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Major: Environmental Studies
The BA in Environmental Studies (ENVR) assists students in gaining a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the environment and environmental systems, the impact of humans on the environment and environmental impacts on humans, the importance of environmental understanding when making economic, political and other policy choices.
The goal is to give students in the program a broad-based, interdisciplinary introduction to environmental policies and issues; the common analytical tools needed to explore them in depth through their specific concentration areas; and the ability to integrate and synthesize information from a multidisciplinary perspective in oral and written format through a capstone course.
The BA in Environmental Studies program’s foundation courses are in the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences with a focus in understanding the environmental field. This, along with their specific concentration area, allows students in connecting science and society and balancing the needs of humans and other inhabitants with the needs to conserve the earth’s precious resources while developing strategies, policies and approaches to solve environmental issues and reduce environmental impact.
There are 4 concentrations in Environmental Studies: International Environmental Politics and Policy; Environmental Law, Policy and Politics; Environmental Economics and Resource Policy; and Environment, Society and Sustainability.
General and University Requirements:
Program Requirements:
A second writing course involving significant writing experience including two papers with a combined minimum of 3,000 words to be submitted for extended faculty critique of both composition and content. This course must be taken after completion of 60 credit hours. Appropriate writing courses are designated on the registrar's course search page.
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Foreign Language (minimum grade of D-) |
0-12 |
Completion of the intermediate-level course (107 or 112 or 214) in an ancient or modern language. The number of credits needed and initial placement will depend on the number of years of high school study of foreign language. Students with four or more years of high school work in a single foreign language, or who have gained proficiency in a foreign language by other means, may attempt to fulfill the requirement in that language by taking an exemption examination through the Foreign Languages and Literatures Department.
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Mathematics requirement:(one of the following four options with a minimum grade of D-) |
0-4 |
OPTION ONE:
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MATH 113 |
Contemporary Mathematics (designed for students who do not
intend to continue the study of mathematics) |
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or |
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MATH 127 |
Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning |
OPTION TWO:
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MATH 114 |
College Mathematics and Statistics (designed for students who
do not intend to continue the study of mathematics) |
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or |
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MATH 115 |
Pre-Calculus (designed for students who intend to continue the
or study of mathematics) |
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or |
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MATH 117 |
Pre-Calculus for Scientists and Engineers |
OPTION THREE:
Successful completion of any mathematics course at or above the 200-level except MATH 201, MATH 202, MATH 205, MATH 250, MATH 251, MATH 252, MATH 253, MATH 266, MATH 300 or MATH 450.
OPTION FOUR:
Successful performance on a proficiency test in mathematics administered by the Department of Mathematical Sciences. (0 credits awarded)
Program Breadth Requirements:
These requirements apply to the Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies degrees in ALL concentrations. Program breadth courses when combined with University breadth courses must represent at least two departments or appropriate instructional units in each category.
If the grade earned is sufficient, a course may be applied toward more than one requirement (e.g., breadth and major requirements), but the credits are counted only once toward the total credits for graduation. If all but one course in a group has been taken in one department or program, a course cross-listed with that program will not satisfy the distribution requirement.
*note: 3 credits in each category below can be used to fulfill the University Breadth requirement
Understanding and appreciation of the visual and performing arts, of aesthetic forms, designs, or craftsmanship, or of literary, philosophical, and intellectual traditions. Courses may focus on a single aesthetic form or intellectual tradition, or cross-cultural comparisons.
Understanding of the sources and forces of historical changes in ideas, beliefs, institutions, and cultures. Courses may address social, cultural, intellectual, economic, technological, artistic, scientific, and political development, changes in a discipline, or globalization and its effects.
Understanding of the behavior of individuals and social groups in the context of their human and natural environments. Courses emphasize the empirical findings, applications, and methods of the social and behavioral sciences.
Understanding of fundamental and/or applied concepts and phenomena from mathematics, logic, natural or physical sciences, and technology including quantitative reasoning and methods used to approach and solve problems.
Courses taken to fulfill this category (university and program breadth) must include a minimum of one course with an associated laboratory
Program Core Requirements:
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ENSC 101 |
Introduction to the Environment |
3 |
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FREC 100 |
Sustainable Development |
3 |
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GEOL 105 |
Geological Hazards |
3 |
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GEOL 115 |
Geological Hazards Laboratory |
1 |
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ECON 151 |
Introduction to Microeconomics |
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OR
FREC 150 |
Economics of Agriculture & Natural Resources |
3 |
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ECON 343/FREC 343 |
Environmental Economics |
3 |
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GEOG 235 |
Conservation of Natural Resources |
3 |
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GEOG 236 |
Conservation: Global Issues |
3 |
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MAST 200 |
The Oceans |
3 |
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POSC 240 |
Introduction to International Relations |
3 |
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POSC 350 |
Politics and the Environment |
3 |
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PHIL 448 |
Environmental Ethics |
3 |
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Supporting Math and Science Requirements: |
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BISC 104 |
Principles of Biology with Laboratory |
4 |
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CHEM 100 |
Chemistry and Human Environment |
3 |
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STAT 200 |
Basic Statistical Practice |
3 |
Field Experience: An approved 3-6 credit studies field experience in which the student integrates the components of his or her concentration in an experiential learning environment. This requirement could be fulfilled by an internship, study abroad experience and/or a research experience.
Studies Concentrations: 5-6 courses clustered in concentrations that are distributed throughout the colleges and across disciplines (see listings below).
Capstone Course: ENSC 450: Proseminar: The Environment
This 3 credit capstone course serves as a culminating experience and is to be completed during the last semester of the senior year. This course will engage students in an exploration and discussion of the history and state of environmental studies and its connection to local, regional, national and global scale environmental issues. Students will develop and refine critical thinking skills and interdisciplinary problem-solving strategies. It serves to be a culminating experience for students on the “science-side” and the “studies-side” to collaboratively solve problems and discuss issues in the current environmental literature.
NOTE: A minimum grade of C- is required in each of the above Program Core Requirement courses, the field experience, concentration coursework and Capstone course.
Electives: After required courses are completed, sufficient credits must be taken to meet the total minimum credits required for the degree.
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CREDITS TO TOTAL A MINIMUM OF |
124 |
International Environmental Law, Policy, and Politics ConcentrationEnvironmental Economics and Resource Policy ConcentrationEnvironmental Law, Policy, and Politics ConcentrationEnvironment, Society, and Sustainability Concentration
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students and others who use the Catalog should note that the policies, rules, regulations,
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