The Environmental Studies major provides students with a broad foundation in the environmental sciences, social sciences, environmental economics and policy, environmental history and communication. It also provides students with local, regional and global perspectives on current environmental issues and problems.
Graduates are able to think broadly on local, regional and global levels, understand and synthesize information from multiple disciplines and perspectives, communicate effectively and ethically, and to use their knowledge and skills to promote sustainable, equitable and healthy human and non-human communities.
In order to graduate, you will also need to complete your general education and university requirements.
Complete ALL of the following Environmental Science & Quantitative Analysis courses:
And complete ONE of the following courses:
Complete ONE of the following Environmental Economics and Policy courses:
And complete ONE of the following courses:
And complete ONE of the following courses:
Complete ONE of the following Culture & the Environment courses:
Complete ONE of the following Global Environmental Perspectives courses:
Complete ONE of the following Critical Thinking & Communication courses:
Complete ONE of the following Service Learning courses:
Select one of the following Concentrations consisting of 7 courses for 28 credits
Complete at least TWO (and up to FIVE) of the following Environmental Science courses not taken previously:
Complete at least TWO (and up to FIVE) of the following Social Science, Humanities, and the Environment courses not taken previously:
Complete one of the following Environmental Education in a Community Setting courses:
Complete TWO of the following Visual & Media Tools courses:
Complete ONE of the following Natural History courses:
Complete THREE of the following Environmental Education courses:
Students will understand and apply core concepts and methods from biological, ecological and physical sciences.
Students will understand and apply core concepts and methods from environmental economics and environmental policy.
Students will understand and apply the ethical, cross-cultural and historical contexts of environmental issues and problems.
Students will understand the transnational character of environmental problems, global patterns of resource distribution and how individual behaviors, national policies and international policies can create and resolve inequitable distributions of environmental benefits and burdens.
Students will demonstrate proficient critical thinking and ethical written and oral communication skills needed to conduct high-level work as interdisciplinary scholars and/or practitioners.
Students will deepen their understanding of personal and professional social responsibility, and be able to apply the knowledge and skills of environmental studies to enhance the social, cultural and civic life of our communities; students will analyze and apply theories and practices from environmental studies to understand how individuals and social systems promote both equitable and inequitable practices in society; and students will learn from and work responsively and inclusively with diverse individuals, groups and organizations to build just and equitable communities. Courses used to fulfill the Service Learning MLO may double-count with MLO 3 but not with MLO 7.
Students will gain depth of understanding in Environmental Education or Science for Sustainable Communities and they will apply that knowledge to promote sustainable human and non-human communities.
This pathway is one example of how you might complete your degree requirements, paying attention to course pre-requisites. There are many different possible pathways; the following are two generic examples of course pathways. Your own unique situation and a number of other factors may mean your actual pathway is different. Perhaps you'll need an extra math or language class, or one of the courses we've listed isn't offered in a particular semester. Don't worry - there is flexibility built into the curriculum. You'll want to work closely with an advisor and use the academic advisement report to take all that into account and develop a pathway that's customized for you. In the meantime, use this example as a starting point for choosing classes or discussing your plans with an advisor. Your advisor is your best resource when it comes to figuring out how to fit all the courses you need, in the right sequence, into your personal academic plan.
* This FYS class is just an example. The FYS class you choose might meet a different GE area, so you would have to adjust your actual pathway accordingly.