Environmental Studies Major

Program Highlights

The Environmental Studies Program is an interdisciplinary program that stimulates informed democratic citizenship in a global environment and enhances knowledge of the complex and dynamic relationship between humans and the natural world. All students seeking an Environmental Studies degree should consult with the Environmental Studies Coordinator early in their college experience to ensure the most appropriate course of study to achieve their goals. The program features both a major and a minor.

Learning goals for the Environmental Studies Major:

Understand this multidisciplinary field of study, and identify courses that provide the breadth and depth of knowledge needed for their chosen career path in environmental studies.
Analyze a complex environmental issue using appropriate sources and include the ethical underpinnings of the issue.
Connect theory and practice through either participating in an internship, or by completing a research project, related to environmental studies.
Evaluate the importance of an environmental topic to local and global communities and reflect critically on their relationship to that topic.

Core Courses (required and earn a grade of C- or above)

EV110. Introduction to Environmental Studies (1)
EV130. Environmental Biology (4)
EV251. Creating a Green Society in the U.S. (3)
PH219. Environmental Ethics (3)
EV350. Global Environmentalism (3)
EV370, EV371. Environmental Studies Internship (1-4) OR EV391, EV392. Environmental Studies Research (1-2)
EV481. Environmental Studies Capstone (1)

Supporting Courses (required)

PO105. The American Political System (3)
EC120. Principles of Economics (3)
EN210/BU250. Business and Professional Writing/Written Business Communication (3)

Concentration Courses (required and earn a grade of C- or above):

Choose at least 6 courses, with at least 4 @ 300 level

(4 courses from one concentration and 2 courses from the other concentration)

Environmental Policy Concentration

AT110. Introduction to Digital Media (3)
CJ361/SO361. Criminology (3)
CJ235/PO235. Introduction to the Criminal Justice System (3)
CO251. Introduction to Public Relations (3)
CO310. Small Group Communication (3)
CO343/OL343. Communication and Conflict (3)
CO360. Crisis Communication (3)
CO470. Persuasive Campaigns (3)
EN212. Writing and the Environment (3)
EN308. Beyond the Page: Writing in Multiple Modes (3)
ET340. Foundations of Entrepreneurship (3)
HI206. Cultural Geography (3)
IS240. Foundations of Information Systems (3)
OL310. Group and Team Dynamics (3)
OL385. Leadership, Diversity and Multiculturalism (3)
PO201/SO201. Statistical Methods in the Behavioral Sciences (3)
PO221. Introduction to International Relations (3)
SO120. Introduction to Anthropology (3)
SO330. Sociology of Gender (3)
SO390. Environmental Sociology (3)
SO365. Sociology of Globalization (3)

Natural Resources Concentration

BI102. Principles of Sustainability (4)
BI125. Local Flora (4)
BI220. Field Ecology (4)
BI280. Ecological Journeys (4)
BI314. Ecology (4) (pre-req. = BI105/155 and BI108/158 or consent of instructor)
BI325. Vertebrate Biology (4) (pre-req. = BI108/158 or consent of instructor)
BI326. Plant Biology (4) (pre-req. = BI108/158 or consent of instructor)
BI340. Conservation Biology (4) (pre-req. = BI105/155 or BI108/158 or BI130 or consent of instructor)
CH105. Earth and Space Science (4)
CH114. Fundamentals of Chemistry (4)
ES321. Health and Pollution (3)
MA130/131. Elementary Probability and Statistics with Spreadsheets (4) OR BI240. Analysis of Biological Data (4)
PH223. Scientific Revolutions: History and Philosophy of Science (3)

Click here to find the plan of study

Departmental Course Offerings

Courses change each semester, so this list should not be considered a commitment to these individual topics. However, this does represent a list of many of our current and popular courses. The list is provided so that you can begin to imagine your academic career at �ǿ��޴�ý in this major.

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Introduction to Environmental Studies

This course, required of all Environmental Studies majors, introduces students to the diversity of opportunities in environmental studies.��Students will engage in contemporary readings in environmental studies and be introduced to possible career choices. This is a Core Course of the Environmental Studies Major.

Environmental Biology

This course, which satisfies the Natural Science with Laboratory general education requirement, provides students with an overview of the principles of environmental biology.��Students will also look at the relationship between humans and their environment, the environmental problems that we face such as, human population growth, air pollution, water pollution, and energy usage, and the potential solutions to these problems. This course is a Core Course of the Environmental Studies Major and meets the Category 1 course requirement of the Environmental Studies Minor.

Creating a Green Society in the U.S.

This course is designed to explore the role of various social structures that will be needed to develop a green society in the U.S.��Specifically, the course will provide an overview of global biodiversity and its importance, the threats it faces, and solutions to those threats.��This exploration will be made within the context of describing the importance of economic models, political systems, and individual philosophy as both a cause of our current environmental challenges and in the development of a sustainable society.��This course is a Core Course of the Environmental Studies Major and meets the Category 1 course requirement of the Environmental Studies Minor.

Global Environmentalism

This course will study global environmental issues from a cultural, ethical, political, economic, and scientific standpoint.��Some of the issues addressed will be environmental ethics, sustainable development, endangered species, deforestation, climate change, biotechnology, genetically modified organisms, environmental justice and environmental activism. This course is a Core Course of the Environmental Studies Major and meets the Category 1 course requirement of the Environmental Studies Minor.

Environmental Studies Internship

A supervised, practical experience for the Environmental Studies Major. A cooperative arrangement between the University and not-for-profit organizations, government agencies, industry or other entities. Students must complete 40 hours of work to receive 1 credit of internship. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing and consent of the Environmental Studies Coordinator. This is a Core Course of the Environmental Studies Major.

Environmental Studies Research

Research experience in collaboration with a �ǿ��޴�ý faculty member.��A minimum of three hours of work per week for every hour of credit is expected. Pre-requisite: Junior or senior standing and consent of the Environmental Studies Coordinator. This is a Core Course of the Environmental Studies Major.

Environmental Studies Capstone

This course, which is required of all Environmental Studies Majors, is the culminating experience of the major.��The course will provide the opportunity for presentation of either a research or internship experience to a general audience, as well as peers. This is a Core Course of the Environmental Studies Major.

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