Requirements for the Environmental Studies Major

The Environmental Studies course of study is strongly interdisciplinary in its nature and requires students to assimilate sometimes opposing perspectives and information from widely different domains of human endeavor and to integrate these into an attitude of constructive environmental advocacy and problem solving collaboration.

 To satisfy the requirements for an environmental studies major, a student must satisfactorily complete the requirements listed below.

Interdisciplinary 225: Humans and the Environment (4)

Science Requirement
Biology/Environmental Studies 241: Ecological Principles (4)  
    (previously Biology 122: Ecology)
Chemistry 101: Chemistry in Context: An Environmental Perspective (4)  
    (Chemistry 120 or Chemistry 121 can be substituted)
Geology 209: Environmental Geology (4)
    (Geology 101 or Geology 102 can be substituted)
NOTE: Students entering before the fall of 2002 only need to take two sciences from two different departments.

Economics Requirement
Economics 201: Microeconomics (4)  
    (ECON 201 is a prerequisite for ECON 338)
Economics 338: Environmental Policy (4)

(Political Science /Economics 314 or INTD 304 can be substituted)

Mathematics Requirement
Mathematics 108: Statistics (4)

Humanities Requirement
One Humanities course that deals with our attitudes toward the environment.  
    Philosophy 270: Environmental Philosophy (4)     
    Philosophy 219: Contemporary Moral Problems (4)
    History/Environmental Studies 240: Environmental History (4)
    Interdisciplinary 380: Ethics, An Integrated Approach (4)


Communication (Written and Oral) Requirement
One of the following courses:
    Communication 101: Foundations of Public Communication (4)
    Communication 220: Interpersonal Communication (3)
    Communication 221: Group Interaction Processes (3)
    Communication 230: Argumentation and Advocacy (4)  
    Communication/Writing 240: Survey of Journalism (4)
    Writing 280: Writing About Nature (3)
    Writing 311: Writing for Business (4)
    Writing 312: Technical Writing (4)
    Writing 314: Writing for Science (3)

Environmental Studies Requirement
Environmental Studies 340: Environmental Legislation (3)  
    (Interdisciplinary 314 can be substituted if not used for Economics 338)
Environmental Studies 385: Exploring and Developing an Area of Concentration (1)
Environmental Studies 480: Senior Seminar (3)
Environmental Studies 481: Senior Research or 498: Internship (1-4)

Area of Concentration
Each environmental studies student is required to develop a coherent and environmentally meaningful area of concentration. The following is a list of discipline-oriented areas of specialization that can be developed in the : communication, economics, history, management, and political science. The area of concentration will consist of 4 to 6 courses as approved by your advisor.

See the environmental studies department home page for course descriptions and a detailed description on choosing an area of specialization. This information can be found by clicking on the "Program Description" icon.

Transfer students will be required to complete at least half of the coursework in their environmental studies major at . Currently enrolled students interested in transferring credits from other institutions must receive written permission from the Dean of the and from an environmental studies advisor.

Additional Information