Nov 21, 2024

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Environmental and Sustainability Studies, B.A.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Environmental and Sustainability Studies is an interdisciplinary approach designed to examine the reciprocal relationships between the physical environment and human systems in which we live. The major is designed to provide a broad cross-section of methods and approaches in order for students to understand the processes in which diverse fields approach these issues. Fundamental scientific knowledge from biology and chemistry is augmented with studies in geography, philosophy, psychology, and sociology. Elective options within the major allow students to dive deeper into their studies, make ties to fields such as economics, history, literature, and political science. Students will complete an independent study with faculty in the Environmental and Sustainability Studies program as a capstone experience.

Graduates will be prepared to enter fields as diverse as policy analysts/aides for non-profits or legislative bodies, as sustainability officers for businesses and non-profits, as sustainability consultants, working in community-supported agriculture, or in advocacy work.

Degree Requirements

Institutional Degree Requirements

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT

First Year Seminar

FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours
FYS 102 Common Hour 0 credit hours

Foundations Requirements

Global Citizenship courses:

Two semesters of the same foreign language 6 credit hours

Disciplinary Perspectives Requirements

Choose 3 credits of the following Humanities courses:

FLM 216 Introduction to Film 3 credit hours
HIS 101 The Foundation of the West 3 credit hours
LIT 200 Introduction to Literary and Textual Studies 3 credit hours
PHL 221 Introduction to Philosophy 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Arts courses:

ART 101 Art and Visual Culture 3 credit hours
CRW 272 Introduction to Creative Writing 3 credit hours
MUS 186 Listening to Music 3 credit hours
THE 154 Introduction to Theatre 3 credit hours

Choose 3 credits of the following Social and Behavioral Sciences courses:

ECO 205 Economic Perspectives 3 credit hours
PS 110 Introduction to Political Science 3 credit hours
PSY 100 General Psychology 3 credit hours
REC 101 Recreation and Leisure in Modern Society 3 credit hours
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology 3 credit hours

Natural and Physical Sciences course:

Satisfied by major (G 151 )

Constellation Requirement

The Constellation requirement is met when a student completes four courses from a minimum of three disciplines within the Constellation requirements. Students who transfer in 60 credits or more at the time of admission to the college will be waived from the Constellation requirement, except for Education majors. The waiver applies to the requirement for graduation but does not waive the credits to graduate; students need to meet the overall bachelor’s degree credit requirement. Environmental Science and Environmental and Sustainability Studies majors may not select the Building a Better World: Sustainability, Science and Technology Constellation.

Required Courses

Required Major Courses

Students must receive a grade of 2.0 or higher in each course within the major.

BIO 142 Molecules, Genes and Cells 4 credit hours
OR
BIO 150 Introduction to Molecular Biology 4 credit hours
BIO 151 Introduction to Molecular Biology Lab 0 credit hours
BIO 152 Evolution, Ecology and Diversity 4 credit hours
BIO 212 Environmental Biology 3 credit hours
CHM 134 General Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 135 General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
G 151 Introduction to Physical Geography 3 credit hours
G 152 Introduction to Physical Geography Lab 0 credit hours
G 261 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 3 credit hours
G 352 Geographic Perspectives on Sustainability 3 credit hours
HIS 387 North American Environmental History 3 credit hours
PHL 240 Environmental Ethics 3 credit hours
PS 110 Introduction to Political Science 3 credit hours
SES 481 Independent Study in Sustainability and Environmental Studies 1 to 6 credit hours
SOC 301 Environmental Justice 3 credit hours
WRT 352 Rhetoric of Science 3 credit hours

Statistics Course

Students must complete 3 credits of the following:

BEH 260 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
BIO 290 Biostatistics 3 credit hours
MAT 250 Statistics 3 credit hours
MAT 350 Probability and Statistics 3 credit hours
PS 262 Quantitative Analysis 3 credit hours

Major Electives

Students must complete a total of 15 major elective credits from the following:

ECO 315 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics 3 credit hours
ECO 345 The Economics of Urban Revitalization 3 credit hours
G 100 World Regional Geography 3 credit hours
G 331 Urban Land Use & Sustainability 3 credit hours
HUM 242 Science and Religion 3 credit hours
HUM 300 Science Fiction 3 credit hours
HUM 350 Research Methods in the Humanities 3 credit hours
LIT 379 Literature and the Environment 3 credit hours
PHL 220 Principles of Scientific Reasoning 3 credit hours
PHL 390 Philosophy of Technology 3 credit hours
PS 312 Politics of Public Policy 3 credit hours
PS 327 Environmental Law 3 credit hours
PSC 202 Sustainability: Linking Science and Society 3 credit hours
PSC 203 Sustainability: Linking Science and Society Lab 0 credit hours
PSY 215 Sustainability and Psychology 3 credit hours
REL 265 World Religions 3 credit hours
SES 482 Independent Study in Sustainability and Environmental Studies 1 to 6 credit hours
SES 491 Internship in Sustainability and Environmental Studies 3 credit hours
SES 492 Internship in Sustainability and Environmental Studies 3 credit hours
WRT 321 Document Design: Theory and Practice 3 credit hours
WRT 406 Accessibility and Usability Research 3 credit hours

General Elective Courses

Students must complete 19 credits of free elective courses, which may include additional sustainability courses.

Suggested Course Sequence

Freshman Year

Fall Semester (15 credits)

FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours
FYS 102 Common Hour 0 credit hours
BIO 212 Environmental Biology 3 credit hours
Foundations - Global Citizenship - Foreign Language 3 credit hours
Foundations - Quantitative Fluency 3 credit hours
Major Elective course 3 credit hours

Spring Semester (15 credits)

BIO 142 Molecules, Genes and Cells 4 credit hours
OR
BIO 150 Introduction to Molecular Biology 4 credit hours
BIO 151 Introduction to Molecular Biology Lab 0 credit hours
FCO 105 Rhetorical Communication 3 credit hours
Foundations - American Citizenship course 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives - Social and Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
Foundations - Global Citizenship - Foreign Language 3 credit hours

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester (16 credits)

CHM 134 General Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 135 General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
FCO 215 Technical and Scientific Communication 3 credit hours
PHL 240 Environmental Ethics 3 credit hours
PS 110 Introduction to Political Science 3 credit hours
Major Elective course 3 credit hours

Spring Semester (16 credits)

BIO 152 Evolution, Ecology and Diversity 4 credit hours
G 151 Introduction to Physical Geography 3 credit hours
G 152 Introduction to Physical Geography Lab 0 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives - Arts 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives - Humanities 3 credit hours
Statistics course from major list 3 credit hours

Junior Year

Fall Semester (15 credits)

G 261 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 3 credit hours
SOC 301 Environmental Justice 3 credit hours
Constellation course 3 credit hours
Major Elective course 3 credit hours
Elective course 3 credit hours

Spring Semester (15 credits)

G 352 Geographic Perspectives on Sustainability 3 credit hours
HIS 387 North American Environmental History 3 credit hours
Constellation course 3 credit hours
Major Elective course 3 credit hours
Elective course 3 credit hours

Senior Year

Fall Semester (12-15 credits)

SES 481 Independent Study in Sustainability and Environmental Studies 1 to 6 credit hours
WRT 352 Rhetoric of Science 3 credit hours
Constellation course 3 credit hours
Major Elective course 3 credit hours

Spring Semester (16 credits)

Constellation course 3 credit hours
Elective courses 13 credit hours

Environmental and Sustainability Studies, B.A.

Degree Requirements

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT

First Year Seminar

Foundations Requirements

Communication course:

Advanced Communication course:

Choose 3 credits of the following Quantitative Fluency courses:

Choose 3 credits of the following American Citizenship courses:

Global Citizenship courses:

Disciplinary Perspectives Requirements

Choose 3 credits of the following Humanities courses:

Choose 3 credits of the following Arts courses:

Choose 3 credits of the following Social and Behavioral Sciences courses:

Natural and Physical Sciences course:

Constellation Requirement

Required Courses

Required Major Courses

Statistics Course

Major Electives

General Elective Courses

Suggested Course Sequence

Freshman Year

Fall Semester (15 credits)

Spring Semester (15 credits)

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester (16 credits)

Spring Semester (16 credits)

Junior Year

Fall Semester (15 credits)

Spring Semester (15 credits)

Senior Year

Fall Semester (12-15 credits)

Spring Semester (16 credits)