Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary major that focuses on the environment and humans’ relationship with it. The program incorporates a variety of approaches in the arts and humanities, the natural sciences, social analysis, and social policy. Students may choose an Environmental Studies major to explore the environment from a scientific perspective or to prepare for a career in one of the many fields that seek to monitor, shape, or interpret our relationship with it. Environmental Studies majors have extensive interaction with the natural world in research, class projects, and internships.
The requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with a major in Environmental Studies are at least 42 credit hours, including at least 18 upper division credit hours, as follows:
I. The Introductory Course (3 credit hours)
| Course ID | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENVI-1301 | Introduction to Environmental Studies |
II. Fundamentals (13-15 credit hours)
In addition to the Introductory Course, the Fundamentals provide foundational knowledge and skills for students engaged in Environmental Studies. Students must take at least one course from each of the categories below.
A. Environmental Science
| Course ID | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIOL-1311 | Integrative Biology (with BIOL-1111 Introductory Biology Lab) |
| GEOS-1409 | Earth's Environmental Systems |
B. Environmental Policy
| Course ID | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ANTH-2357 | Humans and the Environment |
| ECON-1311 | Principles of Microeconomics |
C. Environmental Arts and Humanities
| Course ID | Course Title |
|---|---|
| PHIL-1350 | Environmental Ethics |
| CMLT-2350 | Science Fiction and the Environment |
D. Quantitative Skills
| Course ID | Course Title |
|---|---|
| MATH-1320 | Statistical Methods or |
| GEOS-3408 | GIS and Remote Sensing or |
| URBS-3465/SOCI-3465 | Research Methods: GIS |
III. Environmental Science core (11-12 credit hours)
Take at least 3 of the following:
| Course ID | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIOL-2312 | Cells and Cell Systems (with BIOL-2112 Cells and Cell Systems Lab) |
| BIOL-3413 | Genes, Phenotypes, and Evolutionary Dynamics |
| BIOL-3434 | Ecology |
| BIOL-3435 | Evolution |
| BIOL-4351 | Conservation Biology |
| CHEM-2319 | Organic Chemistry I (with CHEM-2119 Laboratory Methods in Organic Chemistry) |
| GEOS-2400 | Solid Earth Processes |
| GEOS-2402 | Earth Surface Processes |
| GEOS-3310 | Global Climate Change |
| GEOS-3411 | Hydrogeology |
| GEOS-3421 | Environmental Geochemistry |
IV. Environmental Policy core (6 credit hours)
Take at least 2 of the following:
| Course ID | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ANTH-3345 | International Issues in Health and the Environment (also listed as SOCI-3345) |
| BUSN-3314 | Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility: A Global Concern |
| ECON-3430 | Economics and the Environment (also listed as URBS-3430) |
| ECON-3334 | Urban Economics (also listed as URBS-3334) |
| PLSI-3413 | Policy Analysis and the Policymaking Process |
| PLSI-3464 | Environmental Political Theory |
| SOCI-3345 | International Issues in Health and the Environment (also listed as ANTH-3345) |
| SOCI-3440 | Urban Geography (also listed as URBS-3440) |
| URBS-3430 | Economics and the Environment (also listed as ECON-3430) |
| URBS-3334 | Urban Economics (also listed as ECON-3334) |
| URBS-3440 | Urban Geography (also listed as SOCI-3440) |
V. Environmental Humanities and Arts core (6 credit hours)
Take at least 2 of the following:
| Course ID | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ART-2495 | Outdoor Studio |
| CMLT-2301 | World Literature and the Environment |
| COMM-3323 | Environmental Communication in Asia |
| ENVI-3301 | Environmental Literature |
| RELI-2312 | Religion and the Environment |
VI. Beyond Trinity
Although not required for the major, students are encouraged to engage in off-campus internship opportunities or to gain experience writing grants and fundraising to support environmental not-for-profit organizations.
| Course ID | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ALE-3301 | Grant Writing and Fundraising |
| ENVI-4395 | Environmental Studies Internship |
VI. Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies (3 credit hours)
| Course ID | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENVI-4301 | Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies |
VIII. University requirements
Completion of all other required elements of the Pathways curriculum and at least 120 credit hours.
Requirements
Environmental Studies majors are eligible to receive Honors if they have completed two semesters of Senior Thesis credit and presented a senior thesis or project, which has been evaluated and approved by Environmental Studies faculty. In addition, students must attain an overall 3.3 grade point average cumulatively and in the major. Prior to registration for their senior year, Environmental Studies Honors candidates must meet with the Environmental Studies program Director and arrange for the faculty thesis director and two additional faculty members to act as an Honors Advisory Committee. Students must submit to the program Director a written request to graduate with Honors in Environmental Studies no later than the first full week of the student's final semester before graduation. The decision to confer or not to confer Honors will be made by the program Director, the Honors Committee and two additional faculty from the Environmental Studies Committee, based on the quality of the written thesis or art work and the oral presentation of that material.
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Greg Hazleton, Ph.D. (Program Director)
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