Graduation requirements
Environmental Studies Major
Students interested in an Environmental Studies major or minor must choose an advisor from the Environmental Studies faculty (Benedict, Mabey, or Zabor) as soon as possible to establish a course schedule. It is especially important to do this early in the student’s college career because some of the Environmental Studies courses are not offered every year; in addition, some required environmental studies courses can be used to fulfill general graduation requirements. The Environmental Studies advisor will also guide the student in selecting and approving an Area of Concentration, help establish and evaluate an internship, and verify that the appropriate courses have been taken for graduation. Special areas of expertise are provided by other members of the faculty who may serve as secondary advisors.
Students majoring in Environmental Studies should begin by taking Interdisciplinary 225 (Humans and the Environment) and other core and correlative course requirements. Although an interdisciplinary synthesis is critical to graduates working in environmental fields, the Hiram Environmental Studies major is strengthened by requiring each student to develop a specialized and independent Area of Concentration (AOC) that creates depth in the major and provides each student with a unique set of integrated skills and knowledge. The AOC consists of a minimum of 4 - 6 courses. These courses are drawn from a mixture of current Hiram course offerings, courses transferred in from other institutions (i.e., a specialized summer course), and student-designed independent studies courses. Some Areas of Concentration (such as Environmental Education and Environmental Art) have specific course requirements plus electives to add flexibility for personal interests.
To further augment each student’s experience, an internship experience with an off-campus organization or a senior research project is required and is developed jointly by the student and his or her Environmental Studies advisor. Internships have varied greatly in their scope over the years, and students have gained experience in areas ranging from public policy to green energy to wildlife conservation; some have turned into full-time employment after the student intern graduates. The capstone course is the Senior Seminar, in which each student, building on their area of concentration, researches, evaluates, and presents environmental issues of her or his choice. Internships are typically done in the summer between the junior and senior year; Senior Research and Senior Seminar should be completed in the senior year.
The required correlative courses, which have been identified as priorities by employers and graduate programs, provide students with important quantitative and communication skills that are essential in environmental careers. Click Here for Major Coursework Details.
Environmental Studies Minor
The Environmental Studies Minor allows a student to obtain an environmental perspective that can meaningfully enhance his or her major in a specific discipline. Students of any major may elect to participate in the Environmental Studies Minor and those interested in this program must have an EVST faculty advisor to develop a plan of study. Students minoring in environmental studies should begin by taking INTD 225 and other core and correlative requirements. Click Here for Minor Coursework Details.
Courses required for the EVST Major
(preferred courses are in boldface):
I. Entry Level Course: INTD 225: Humans and the Environment
A grade of C or higher in this course is required for the Environmental Studies
major.
II. Two sciences:1. An Ecology course: BIOL 241, Principles of Ecology or BIOL 341, General Ecology
AND either the chemistry or geology requirement as follows:
2. - A Chemistry Course: CHEM 101, An Environmental Perspective or both CHEM 120 and CHEM 121
- A Geology Course: GEOL 209, Environmental Geology or GEOL 101,
Physical Geology or GEOL102, Field Geology
III. Two Economics Courses:
- ECON 201, Principles of Microeconomics
- ECON 338, Environmental Policy (201 prerequisite) or either Public Policy Making, POLS 314 or INTD 304 with the permission of the EVST advisor.
IV. A Humanities course that deals with the environment. Choose one from among:
- PHIL 270, Environmental Philosophy or
- HIST 240, Environmental History or
An Ethics course approved by the EVST advisor and Faculty (e.g., PHIL 271, Animals and Ethics)
V. The Following Advanced Environmental Studies (EVST) Courses:
- EVST 385, Junior Seminar: Area of Concentration (prerequisite: a grade of C of higher in INTD 225)
- EVST 480, Senior Seminar , (prerequisite: a grade of C or higher in EVST 385)
- EVST 498, Internship or 481, Senior Research
VI. Required Correlative Courses:
1. A course that deals with evaluation of numerical data: MATH 108, Statistics or
MATH 132 Methods in Decision Making
2. TWO courses from among the following (others may be approved) in Writing or Communication, as established by student and advisor:
- WRIT 240, 311, 312, 314, 324
- COMM 101, 220, 221, 222, 230, 240, 243, 250
- EVST 245
VII. Area of Concentration:
Four to Six Courses as developed between student and advisor and approved by the EVST Faculty. Guidelines for developing an Area of Concentration are presented below.
Minimum Course Grade Requirements
To take EVST 385 (Area of Concentration), the student must have a C or better in INTD 225; to take EVST 480 (Senior Seminar), the student must have a C or better in EVST 385.
Requirements for Honors in Environmental Studies
To be a candidate for Honors in Environmental Studies, a student must satisfy the college requirements for honors as specified in the college catalog.
Requirements for developing an Area of Concentration (AOC) within the Environmental Studies Major
Each EVST student, together with his or her EVST advisor, is required to develop a coherent and environmentally meaningful area of concentration. It does not necessarily have to come from a single discipline, but it certainly can. Examples of discipline oriented areas of specialization are listed below, and a list of interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary specializations is also provided. The examples on these lists are not exhaustive, however, and it is expected that some students may develop other unique areas. Sometimes specific key courses required for the AOC can be transferred in from other institutions.
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Discipline- Based Areas Art
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Interdisciplinary Areas Conservation/ Wildlife |
Some areas of concentration may involve a secondary advisor in addition to your EVST advisor since not all disciplines are covered by the EVST Faculty. It is expected that students will undertake internship, senior research, and senior seminar components that are appropriately focused to their AOCs. Discipline based areas of concentration will involve meeting certain departmental prerequisites when they exist.
Courses required for the EVST Minor:
(preferred courses are in boldface):
I. Entry Level Course: INTD 225: Humans and the Environment
A grade of C or higher in this course is required for the Environmental Studies
minor.
II. Two sciences:
1. An Ecology course: BIOL 241, Principles of Ecology or BIOL 341, General Ecology
AND either the chemistry or geology requirement as follows:
2. - A Chemistry Course: CHEM 101, An Environmental Perspective or both
CHEM 120 and 121
- A Geology Course: GEOL 209, Environmental Geology or
GEOL 101, Physical Geology or GEOL102, Field Geology
III. Two Economics Courses:
- ECON 201, Principles of Microeconomics
- ECON 338, Environmental Policy (201 prerequisite) or either Public Policy Making, POLS 314 or INTD 304 with the permission of the EVST advisor.
IV. One Humanities course that deals with the environment. Choose one from among:
- PHIL 270, Environmental Philosophy or
- HIST 240, Environmental History or
An Ethics course approved by the EVST advisor and Faculty (e.g., PHIL 271, Animals and Ethics)
V. Two electives to be approved by EVST departmental advisor