Environmental Studies Studies Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary field that draws on knowledge and analytical tools from many areas of study to understand the function of natural ecosystems, the effects of human societies on the environment, and the role that the environment has played in shaping human cultures and artistic endeavors. The major in Environmental Studies prepares students for careers in policy-making, education, conservation, government service, research, and the arts. Students will also be well prepared to work for non-governmental organizations or enter into post-graduate studies in environmental law, urban planning, and scientific disciplines such as ecology.
Major Program The goals of the major are: I. to understand the fundamental scientific principles that govern the operation of natural ecosystems; II. to gain an appreciation for the effects of the human economic activities and governmental policies on the environment; III. to explore ethical, spiritual, cultural, and psychological dimensions of human relationships to nature; IV. to consider the ways in which the natural world has inspired creative endeavors in literature and the arts; V. to integrate material from the various disciplines into a coherent framework for understanding the role of humans in the environment To ensure a broad and multidisciplinary background in the study of the environment, all students will take courses from the following three areas of study: 1) Science and the Biosphere (scientific approaches to understanding environmental issues), 2) Human Institutions and the Environment (policy, economic, and educational viewpoints on human relationships with nature), and 3) Creative and Spiritual Perspectives on Nature (artistic, philosophical, and spiritual considerations). Students will also complete a senior capstone experience that will integrate two of the three areas of study.
Major requirements: Environmental Studies. (40 hours) I. Science and the Biosphere (12 hours) ESC 150 Principles of Environmental Science Complete two courses: ESC/BIO 208 Field Biology ESC/BIO 280 Ecology ESC/BIO 360 Conservation Biology
4 hours 4 hours 4 hours
II. Human Institutions and the Environment (12 hours) Complete two courses from two of the following clusters: ECO 125 Contemporary Economic Issues ECO 325 Environmental Economics EDS 114 Understanding Learning EDS 313 Children, Nature and Society POL 115 American Politics POL 356 Activism and Political Organization
3 hours 3 hours 3 hours 3 hours 3 hours 3 hours
III. Creative and Spiritual Perspectives on Nature (12 hours) Complete two courses from two of the following clusters: ENG 111 Analyzing Literature ENG 235 Narratives of Nature: American Literature and Environmental Studies
3 hours 3 hours
4 hours
PHI 223 REL 290
Ethics Readings in Religious Studies
3 hours 3 hours
ART 241 ARH 354
Sculpture Women’s Issues in Contemporary Art
3 hours 3 hours
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