The Concentration in Environmental Studies

Director: E. Binney Girdler

Six units required

The concentration in environmental studies is based upon the recognition that environmental and resource problems are not just biological, geological, economic, or political. Therefore, the concentration is structured as an interdisciplinary study by selecting appropriate courses from the natural and social sciences, as well as the humanities, in order to pool knowledge from across traditional disciplinary lines. This information is essential for an interdisciplinary assessment, analysis, and evaluation of environmental problems. 

Students interested in environmental studies are urged to keep this interest in mind when selecting a site for study abroad. If approved ahead of time by the Director, up to one course from study abroad can count toward the completion of the concentration. Moreover, pursuing these interests abroad emphasizes the important international dimensions of many environmental issues while often permitting students to gain familiarity with some problems (and their possible solutions) in other countries. Courses from study abroad sites in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Kenya, and Thailand are particularly suitable. 

Courses

Six units are required. 

Take at least one course from each of the four numbered groups listed below (* indicates that a course has a pre-requisite course, usually a 100-level course in the same department), and two additional courses from any of the groups or the additional elective list. Study Abroad courses, Independent Study courses, and Senior Individualized Projects may be approved on a case by case basis; please consult with the Program Director. Course descriptions are listed on the Academic Catalog.

Four required courses (one from each of four numbered groups below):

I. Natural Science

ENVS 115 Environmental Science (to be taken as early as possible, AP score of 4 or 5 can substitute)

II. Social Science

ANSO 232 Nature and Society 
ANSO-320 AS: Climate, Disaster, & Justice or AS: Climate Change in Africa* 
ANSO/ENVS 365 Humans and Non-Humans* 
CES/ENVS 100 Traditional Ecological Knowledge 
CES 300 Body, Land, and Labor 
ECON 235 Environmental and Resource Economics* (highly recommended) 
POLS 267 Environmental and Political Theory 

III. Arts & Humanities

ARTX 234 Structure & Space 
ENGL 151 Reading the World: Environments: Gardens 
ENGL 151 Reading the World: Environments: Water Literature 
ENGL 156 RTW: Social Justice 
ENGL 217 World Indigenous Literatures 
ENGL/SEMN 492 American Indian Literature and the Law* 
FREN-204 Environmental Challenges* 
GERM 203 Advanced German I* 
HIST 211 History of Leisure and Recreation in America 
HIST 212 American Environmental History 
PHIL 108 Ecological Philosophy 
PHIL 310 Critical Social Theory 

IV. Senior Seminar (must have senior standing to enroll)

ENVS 490 Senior Seminar 
ECON 490 Climate Change
SEMN 4xx (topics and departments may vary; discuss options with Director) 

Two additional elective courses selected from any courses listed above or below:

Elective Courses (do not count as one of four required categories):

BIOL 202 Climate Biology* 
BIOL 224 Ecology & Conservation* 
BIOL 232 Plant & Fungal Biology* 
BIOL 396 Entomology* 
CES 340 Plant Communication/Kinship* 
CHEM 240 Analytical Chemistry* 
PHYS 295 Introduction to Climate Science* 

* indicates that a course has a pre-requisite, usually a 100-level course in the same department

Note: New courses with environmental or sustainability themes may be approved throughout the year that are not on the required or elective course list. Students are encouraged to ask the Program Director for permission to count such towards the concentration. Additional special topics one-time course offerings may count as electives depending on content (e.g. ENGL, RELG); please discuss the suitability of these courses with the Program Director.