The Environmental Studies major offers a multidisciplinary approach and encourages looking at environmental problems from several points of view. Environmental projects and field experiences augment classroom learning. Faculty members are drawn from a wide variety of disciplines.

Students have the option of choosing an Environmental Studies major with either a natural science or a social science emphasis. A third option is the environmental science track. Environmental Studies majors with a strong interest in environmental careers or graduate training are encouraged to also complete requirements for a full major in a traditional academic discipline. Many of the same courses will meet the requirements of both majors.

Natural Science Track
Social Science Track
Environmental Science Track

Natural Science Track

Core: All Courses Required ( [ ] designates credits hours)
ENVS 101 Environmental Studies I - Natural Science [4]
ENVS 102 Environmental Studies II - Social Science [4]
ENVS 205 Environmental Data Analysis [4]
ENVS 240 Environmental Research Procedures I [3]
ENVS 241 Environmental Research Procedures II [3]
ENVS 360 Junior Seminar [1]
ENVS 440 Research Planning [2]
ENVS 490 Senior Seminar [2]
ENVS 499 Senior Year Project [2-4]
POLS 214 Politics and Environment [2]
ENVS 415 Natural Resources Management [2]

Breadth I: Two courses
BIOL 111 Modern Biology w/ Human Implications [4]
or 201 Biology I [4]
CHEM 103 Basic Chemistry [4]
or 105 General Chemistry [4]
ENVS 220 Introduction to GIS [4]
GEOL 101 This Dynamic Earth [4]
PHYS 111 Introductory General Physics I [4]
or 125 Physics I [4]

Breadth II: Two courses
ANTH 200 Introductory Cultural Anthropology [4]
ANTH 310 Cultural Anthropology and Disease [4]
ECON 201 Introduction to Economics and Markets [4]
ECON 312 Environmental Economics [3]
ENGL 293 Literature and the Environment [4]
ENVS 201 Environmentalism [2]
ENVS 204 Environmental History [2]
ENVS 250 Spirituality and the Environment [3]
HIST 308 Americans and their Environment [4]
PHIL 281 Ethics [4]
POLS 411 Bureaucracy [4]
ENVS 345 International Environmental Politics [4]

Natural Science Track:
Three courses (at least 11 credits) from among those listed, with no more than two 100-level courses.
BIOL 202 Biology II [4]
BIOL 311 Invertebrate Zoology [4]
BIOL 322 Botany [4]
BIOL 345 Vertebrate Natural History [4]
BIOL 354 Ecology [4]
BIOL 356 Aquatic Ecology [4]
ENVS 320 Advanced GIS
CHEM 106 General Chemistry II [4]
CHEM 310 Basic Organic Chemistry [3]
or 315 Organic Chemistry I [4]
CHEM 316 Organic Chemistry II [4]
CHEM 321 Introduction of Analytical Chemistry [4]
ENVS 320 Advanced GIS [4]
ENVS 351 Environmental Biogeochemistry [4]
GEOL 201 Surficial Geology [4]
GEOL 301 Structural Geology [4]
GEOL 307 Stratigraphy and Sedimentation [4]
GEOL 464 Hydrogeology [4]
PHYS 112 Introductory General Physics II [4]
or 126 Physics II [4]

Social Science Track

Core: All Courses Required ([ ] designates credits hours)
ENVS 101 Environmental Studies I - Natural Science [4]
ENVS 102 Environmental Studies II - Social Science [4]
ENVS 240 Environmental Research Procedures I [3]
ENVS 241 Environmental Research Procedures II [3]
ENVS 360 Junior Seminar [1]
ENVS 440 Research Planning [2]
ENVS 490 Senior Seminar [2]
ENVS 499 Senior Year Project [2-4]
or 495 ARGUS Project [2-4]
ENVS 205 Environmental Data Analysis [4]
or POLS 230 Introductory Data Analysis & Statistics [3]
or SOCI 230 Introductory Data Analysis & Statistics [3]
or PSYC 220 Psychological Methods & Statistics [4]
or BUSI 113 Business Statistics [4]
POLS 214 Politics and Environment [2]
ENVS 415 Natural Resources Management [2]

Breadth: Two courses
BIOL 111 Modern Biology with Human Implications [4]
or 201 Biology I [4]
CHEM 103 Basic Chemistry [4]
or 105 General Chemistry [4]
ENVS 220 Introduction to GIS [4]
GEOL 101 This Dynamic Earth [4]
PHYS 111 Introductory General Physics I [4]
or 125 Physics I [4]

Social Science Emphasis:
Five courses (at least 18 credits) from among the following:
ANTH 200 Introductory Cultural Anthropology [4]
ANTH 310 Cultural Ecology and Disease [4]
ECON 201 Introduction to Economics and Markets [4]
ECON 202 Principles of Macroeconomics [3]
ECON 312 Environmental Economics [3]
ENGL 220 Literature and the Environment [4]
ENVS 201 Environmentalism [2]
ENVS 204 Environmental History [2]
ENVS 250 Spirituality and the Environment [3]
ENVS 345 International Environmental Politics [4]
ENVS 320 Advanced GIS [4]
HIST 308 Americans and their Environment [4]
PHIL 207 Ethics [4]
POLS 345 International Environmental Politics [4]
POLS 313 State and Local Politics [2]
POLS 411 Bureaucracy [4]
PSYC 280 Social Psychology [4]

Environmental Science Track

Core: All Courses Required ( [ ] designates credits hours)
ENVS 101 Environmental Studies I - Natural Science [4]
or 103 Principles of Geography [4]
ENVS 102 Environmental Studies II - Social Science [4]
ENVS 205 Environmental Data Analysis [4]
ENVS 240 Environmental Research Procedures I [3]
ENVS 241 Environmental Research Procedures II [3]
ENVS 360 Junior Seminar [1]
ENVS 440 Research Planning [2]
ENVS 490 Senior Seminar [2]
ENVS 499 Senior Year Project [2]
MATH 151 Calculus I [4]

Breadth: 20 credit hours
BIOL 201 Biology I [4]
CHEM 105 General Chemistry [4]
CHEM 106 General Chemistry II [4]
ENVS 220 Introduction to GIS [4]
GEOL 101 This Dynamic Earth [4]
MATH 152 Calculus II [4]
PHYS 111 Introductory General Physics I [4]
or 125 Physics I [4]
PHYS 112 Introductory General Physics II [4]
or 126 Physics II [4]

Depth: Three courses (totaling at least 11 credits)
BIOL 322 Botany [4]
BIOL 354 Ecology [4]
BIOL 356 Aquatic Ecology [4]
CHEM 310 Basic Organic Chemistry [3]
or 315 Organic Chemistry [4}
CHEM 321 Introduction to Analytical Chemistry [4]
ENVS 320 Advanced GIS [4]
ENVS 325 Water Quality Management [4]
ENVS 351 Environmental Biogeochemistry [4]
ENVS 397 Water Lab [1]
GEOL 201 Surficial Geology [4]
GEOL 464 Hydrogeology [4]

More Information

Environmental Studies major
Environmental Studies minor
Environmental Studies careers and outcomes
Geology major
Geology minor
Geology careers and outcomes
Faculty profiles
Undergraduate research