A major in environmental studies leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree requires completion of at least 41 credits, which must include at least three credits at the 300-level or above in addition to the capstone. Students also undertake an experiential-learning activity. A student may not complete both a major and a minor in environmental studies.
- Required courses: ENV 110, 201, 202, 203
- Statistics: one course chosen from BIOL 201 or POL 202 or ECON 202 (required for Environmental Economics & Policy track if planning to take ECON 203).
- Advanced Quantitative Skills: one course chosen from the following list. This course may also be used when included in an elective track below. BIOL 282, 322, 325; ECON 203; EEG 316; or SOAN 222.
- Electives: Complete one elective track below or design one with prior approval from the Environmental Studies core faculty. No more than three elective courses completed in any track may be used to satisfy requirements in another major (not including courses taken to fulfill Statistics or Advanced Quantitative courses above). Student-designed elective tracks must be proposed and approved before the end of the student’s junior (third) year.
- Capstone: Take either ENV 397 or 493 (ENV 396 Pre-Capstone strongly encouraged)
- Experience: A relevant internship, study abroad, research project, or other experiential learning activity approved in advance by the director of the program.
Elective Tracks:
Conservation Biology (5 courses, at least 16 credits)
a. Advanced ecology foundations: one course chosen from BIOL 217, 245, 332
b. Advanced social science foundations: one course chosen from ECON 255; ENV 282 (SOAN 282), 365 (PHIL 365); POL 233; and when appropriate and approved in advance, ECON 295; ENV 295
c. Three additional courses chosen from BIOL 217, 241, 242, 243, 245, 322, 325, 330, 332; ENV 250; and when appropriate and approved in advance, BIOL 195, 398; ECON 295; ENV 295
Climate Change (6 courses, at least 18 credits)
a. Required: EEG 141
b. Science: three courses chosen from the following, including one laboratory course (indicated by *): BIOL 325*, 330*; EEG 150, 155, 316*, 336
c. Human Dimensions: two courses chosen from ACCT 303; ECON 255; ENV 282 (SOAN 282), 365 (PHIL 365); PHIL 150; POL 105, 233, and when appropriate and approved in advance, BUS 390; ECON 295; ENV 295
Environmental Economics and Policy (7 courses, at least 21 credits)
a. Required: ECON 100, ECON 255, and either ECON 203 or SOAN 222
b. Ethics: one course chosen from BUS 345; ENV 365 (PHIL 365); PHIL 150
c. Three additional courses chosen from BIOL 325; BUS 390; ECON 280, 302; ENV 282 (SOAN 282); POL 233, 466; and when appropriate and approved in advance, ECON 295, 395; POL 294, 295; ENV 295; SOAN 291
Environmental Humanities (5 courses, at least 15 credits)
a. Philosophy / Ethics: Either ENV 365 (PHIL 365) or PHIL 150
b. Religion / Sociology & Anthropology: one course chosen from ENV 282 (SOAN 282); REL 207, 285 (SOAN 285), or when appropriate and approved in advance, ENV 295
c. Literature and Arts: one course chosen from ARTS 214, 233, 236, ENGL 207, 214 (ENV 214), 263 (ENV 263), or when appropriate and approved in advance, ENGL 293, 393, 394
d. Two additional courses chosen from ARTS 214, 233, 236; ECON 286 (SOAN 286); ENGL 207, 214 (ENV 214), ENGL 263 (ENV 263); ENV 250, 282 (SOAN 282), 365 (PHIL 365); HIST 288; PHIL 150; REL 207, 285 (SOAN 285), or when appropriate and approved in advance, BUS 390; ENGL 293, 393, 394
Sustainable Commerce (at least 18 credits)
a. Required: BUS 381
b. Core Social Science: nine credits chosen from at least two departments from the following: ACCT 303; BUS 180, 390, 392; ECON 255, 276, 280, 356; ENV 282 (SOAN 282); POL 233, 268; SOAN 266, 268. And when approved in advance: ECON 295 (e.g. Intro to Sustainable Development); ENV 295
c. Climate/Ecosystem Science: three credits chosen from the following: BIOL 330, 332; EEG 141; ENV 250
d. Human Dimensions: three credits chosen from the following: ENV 365 (PHIL 365); HIST 254, 268; PHIL 150, 242,245; POV 101, 103, 453; REL 207; SOAN 228, 264
Water Resources (5 courses, at least 17 credits)
a. Human Dimensions: two courses chosen from ECON 255, 286 (SOAN 286); ENV 250, 282 (SOAN 282), 365 (PHIL 365); PHIL 150; POL 233; SOAN 285; and when appropriate and approved in advance, ECON 288, 395
b. Science: three courses chosen from the following, including two laboratory courses (indicated by *): BIOL 217*; EEG 141, 150, 155, 240*, 247*, 248*, 314*, 316* (with water-resources course project), and when appropriate and approved in advance, BIOL 195; EEG 105, 373; ENV 295
Student-Designed Elective Track
Students majoring in environmental studies may propose a self-designed series of “elective” courses that focuses on a particular theme relevant to their individual educational objectives. Students should consult with faculty members in Environmental Studies when developing this proposal and present it to the head of the Environmental Studies Program, along with the major declaration form no later than February 1 of the junior year (though we recommend that students submit proposals in their sophomore year). One of the core or affiliate faculty members in Environmental Studies must be willing to serve as the student’s adviser in the major and provide a letter of support for the proposal. Proposals must be approved by the Environmental Studies faculty before the end of the junior year.