This program focuses on the interface between
environmental science and relevant social sciences, including public policy, political science, law, economics, sociology, and planning. Toward this end, the program’s graduates will have a fundamental understanding of the biological, chemical, and physical principles that underlie the structure and function of the natural and physical environments of the Earth coupled with a foundation in the social sciences that underlie the relationships between humans, as individuals and/or societies, and the natural and physical
environments of Earth. The program is founded on the principle that the social sciences – both as a bodies of knowledge and as the bases for structuring human societal norms and behaviors – must be applied to assess and to address the direct and indirect influences of human activities on the integrity of the Earth’s systems.
Course Work
Geography and the Environment (GES) Courses
Environmental Science I (GES 1050) 4 credits
Environmental Science II (GES 1051) 4 credits
Introduction to Geotechniques (new course GES xxxx) 4 credits
GES-relevant electives 1 (2 courses) 6-8 credits
Seminar in Environmental Issues (GES 4000) (capstone course) 3 credits
Internship, Senior Thesis, or Independent Study/Project 2 2-4 credits
Total 23-27 credits
Required Science Courses outside of GES
General Chemistry I with Laboratory (CHM 1151, 1103) 5 credits
Environmental Chemistry with Laboratory (proposed new course CHM 2xxx) 4 credits Biostatistics and Experimental Design (BIO 3105) 4 credits
Total 13 credits
Policy and Management Courses (2 courses)
Environmental Economics (ECO 1104) 3 credits
Public Policy (PSC 2600) 3 credits
Environmental Policy (PSC 2625) 3 credits
Environmental Law (PSC 3800) 3 credits
Global Corporate Responsibility (MGT 2209) 3 credits
Total 6 credits
Environmental Social Sciences & Humanities (2 courses plus Environmental Ethics)
Environmental Ethics (PHI 2121) (Required) 3 credits
Caring for the Earth (PJ 2200) 3 credits
Global Poverty and Justice (PJ/THL 4600) 3 credits
Ecofeminism (PHI 2160) 3 credits
Christian Environmental Ethics (THL 4330) 3 credits
Urban Sociology (SOC 3700) 3 credits
Human Populations (SOC 3750) 3 credits
American Environmental History (HIS 2276) 3 credits
Total 9 credits
Core Curriculum
Core Humanities Seminar 3 (2 courses) 6 credits
College Ethics (ETH 2050) 3 credits
Fine Arts (1 course) 3 credits
Foreign Language (2 courses) 6 credits
History (2 courses; HIS 1050 plus one course numbered 2000 or higher) 6 credits
Literature (2 courses; ENG 1050 plus one literature course numbered 2100 or higher) 6 credits
Mathematical/Computing Sciences (1 course in addition to BIO 3105) 3 credits
Philosophy (2 courses; PHI 1050+PHI 2121:Environmental Ethics counted above) 3 credits Theology and Religious Studies (THL 1050 plus one course numbered 2000 or higher) 6 credits Social Sciences (1 non-Geography Introductory course) 3 credits
Natural and Physical Sciences (2 courses with lab – met by major requirements)
Total 45 credits
Free Electives 4
25-28 credits
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED FOR DEGREE 124 credits
1 Courses that count as GES electives for the B.A. Environmental Studies degree include: any 3-credit GES course numbered 2000 or higher; no more than one advanced course in Geotechniques (GES 4050, 4101, or 4205, 4 credits); Introductory Ecology (BIO 3255, 4 credits); Higher Vertebrates (BIO 3405, 4 credits); Conservation Biology (BIO 4801, 3 credits); Field Ecology and Evolution (BIO 4451/4452, 2/2 credits); Environmental Geology (GLY 2805, 3 credits); Environmental Hydrology (GLY xxxx, 3 credits). No more than two courses can be taken from any particular science department.
2 Senior Thesis and Independent Study can be performed with a faculty member in Geography and the Environment or another cognate science department (e.g., Biology or Chemistry), with permission
3 At least one of ACS seminars may be fulfilled by students in Environmental Learning Community.
4 Consider course offerings with environmental content, e.g., PJ 2200:Caring for the Earth, PJ 4600/THL 4600:Global Poverty and Justice, and SOC special topics course entitled, Sustainable Development in Latin America.
