Environmental and Sustainability Studies

Concentrations

Students majoring in environmental and sustainability studies pursue diverse programs of study depending on which concentration they choose and which particular courses they take as electives within their concentration.

The program is administered by a faculty steering committee. Each student seeking the major or minor should contact one of the program chairs for advisement in the environmental and sustainability studies program.

Major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a Natural Sciences Concentration

4 credits in physical sciences from the following:

4 credits in statistics from the following:

4 credits in arts and humanities from the following:

4 credits in ethics or theology from the following:

4 credits of upper-level environmental science from the following:

4 credits in social science from the following:

Major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with an Environmental Policy Concentration

The requirements for a major in environmental and sustainability studies with an environmental policy concentration are 37-40 credits.

4 credits in physical or biological sciences from the following:

4 credits in ethics or theology from the following:

8 credits in policy from the following:

4 credits in arts and humanities from the following:

Additional requirements:

• 1-4 credits in a policy-related internship, study away, or directed research experience approved by the environmental and sustainability studies program director(s): ENVR 390 – Cooperative Education OR ENVR 487 – Directed Research, 4 credits
• ENVR 475 – Interdisciplinary Research, 4 credits

Major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a Sustainability Studies Concentration

4 credits in statistical or geographical reasoning from the following:

4 credits in ethics or theology from the following:

8 credits in policy or economics from the following:

4 credits in arts and humanities from the following:

4 credits of upper-level environmental science or GIS not taken above from the following:

Additional requirements:

• 1-4 credits in a policy-related internship, study away, or directed research experience approved by the environmental and sustainability studies program director(s): ENVR 390 – Cooperative Education OR ENVR 487 – Directed Research, 4 credits

Major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with an Environmental Humanities Concentration

The requirements for a major in environmental and sustainability studies with an environmental humanities concentration are 36 credits.

8 credits in ethics or theology from the following:

4 credits in policy or economics from the following:

8 credits in arts and humanities from the following:

8 elective credits not taken above from the following:

Major in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a Contract Concentration

4 credits in policy from the following:

4 credits in arts and humanities from the following:

Additional requirements:

• 20 credits proposed by the student as a course of study in environmental and sustainability studies, along with a rationale describing how the courses meet the student’s goals and the learning objectives of the environmental and sustainability studies program – subject to approval by the environmental and sustainability studies program director(s). The major should be submitted and approved no later than the end of the junior year. Some examples of emphasis include sustainability leadership, environmental education, sustainable design, sustainable agriculture, ecofeminism, environmental activism, indigenous and traditional ecological knowledge, climate justice, and more.
• Recommended course: BIOL, ENVR 360 – Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, 4 credits