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The Major in Environmental Studies requires introductory
courses, core courses, elective focus courses, and the culminating experience
course. (See handout in the ENVS Office). We believe the interdisciplinary
nature of Environmental Studies requires this number of courses to ensure
students gain fundamental skills in the areas of environmental science and
studies before they move into elective focus courses.
The prerequisites ensure that students have an introduction to a physical
science lab science, an understanding of the economic system (since all
environmental problems include economic considerations) and calculus so
students will have basic quantitative skills used in more advanced
environmental studies courses.
The core courses cover a body of knowledge considered fundamental to
understanding the relationships between people and their environment, namely,
global environmental science, environmental decision making and risk,
environmental ethics and the legal system, and political institutions and their
role in environmental issues. This core of intermediate level courses provides
a unifying set of concepts and principles related to the analysis of complex
environmental issues.
The elective focus courses give each student the opportunity to develop an
area of emphasis around a theme of their choosing. These courses must be
approved as part of the Student Major Plan which must include the rationale for
the elective courses.
The culminating experience in the major is fulfilled by
ENVS 50, 84 or 91.
ENVS 50 - Previous reports
Environmental Problem Analysis and Policy Formulation. Students working
together in groups formulate and justify policy measures that they think would
be appropriate to deal with a local environmental problem. The purposes of this
culminating course are to (1) give students an opportunity to see how the
disciplinary knowledge acquired in their various courses and departmental major
programs can be integrated in a synthetic manner; (2) provide a forum for an
in-depth evaluation of a significant environmental policy problem; and (3) give
students the experience of working as a project team toward the solution of a
real-world problem. Considerable fieldwork may be involved, and the final
examination consists of a public presentation and defense of the
student-generated policy recommendations. To satisfy the culminating experience
we will restrict the course to seniors (now also open to juniors) and we will
require each student to produce an individual written report on their
contribution to the combined group report so we can more directly assess
individual achievement. In addition, the culminating experience may be met by
completing Environmental Studies
84 (AFSP), or conducting Honors Research
(Environmental Studies 91). In some cases, an Independent
Study (ENVS 90) may fulfill the culminating experience if the ENVS 90 is done
in the senior year and approval for this substitution is obtained prior to
beginning the independent study.
Environmental Studies Honors
Program (ENVS 91)
A candidate for the Honors Program must satisfy the minimum College GPA
Requirement and complete Environmental Studies 91 (Thesis Research), or a
similar research course approved by the Chair. Environmental Studies 91 (Thesis
Research) may be taken two times but may only once count toward the major. See
Internships and Grants.
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