Environmental Studies, Minor

Liberal Arts (Code 489-402)

Advisors: J. Boulter (Public Health and Environmental Studies), J. Phillips (Public Health and Environmental Studies), C. Pierce (Public Health and Environmental Studies).

The Environmental Studies minor is designed to equip students with a multi-disciplinary skill set that enables them to investigate the human and ecological dimensions of environmental issues including climate change, air and water pollution, and biodiversity loss, as well as environmental justice, urbanization, food systems, and infectious disease outbreaks. Students in the program have the opportunity to integrate what they have learned across a wide range of disciplines, including economics, environmental science, ethics, ethnic and gender studies, geography, history, policy, public health, and sociology. Concepts and tools from these disciplines empower students to address environmental challenges at local-to-global scales. The minor is open to all students and is designed to be flexible so that students can tailor their courses to meet their particular needs and interests. Above all else, the Environmental Studies minor challenges students to think critically and holistically to understand the human and natural dynamics of environmental issues.

Minimum of 24 credits, including:
Two Gateway Courses, including:
ENV 101
Foundations of Sustainability
Plus, one additional course from the following:
BIOL 180
Environmental Biology and Conservation
CHEM 127
Chemistry and Climate
GEOG 178
Planet Earth: Conservation of the Environment
Sociopolitical Factors and Policy, one course from:
ECON 268
Environmental Economics
ENV 140
Water Problems, Water Solutions
GEOG 270
Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning
ENV/GEOG 377
U.S. Environmental and Sustainability Policy
GEOG/ENV 378
International Environmental Problems and Policy
PH 370
US Health Systems and Policy
SOC 301
Environmental Sociology
Ethical and Human Aspects, one course from:
AIS 243
Introduction to Contemporary American Indian Communities
CJ 318
Topics in Communication and Social Advocacy (when offered as Environmental Communications)
GEOG 369
Geography of Food
GEOG 432
Intersectional Environmentalism
HIST/ENV 346
American Environmental History
PH 225
Introduction to Public Health
PHIL 320
Environmental Ethics
SOC 317
Sociology of Food and Agriculture
Human Health Impacts, one course from:
ENPH 110
Introduction to Environmental Health
ENPH 324
Radiation, Air Pollution and Health
ENPH 445
Hazardous and Solid Waste Management
ENPH 476
Vector-Borne Disease Control
PH 115
Global Health
PH 350
Public Health and Global Change: Challenges and Solutions
Natural Science Focus Area: A two-course sequence in a natural science chosen from the following options:
BIOL 328
& BIOL 151
Conservation Biology
and Biology of Humans 1
or BIOL 181
 Environmental Biology and Conservation Lab
or BIOL 221
 Foundations of Biology I
or BIOL 222
& BIOL 223
 Foundations of Biology II
and Foundations of Biological Inquiry
CHEM 115
& CHEM 304
Chemical Principles
and Environmental Chemistry 2
GEOG 104
& GEOG 304
Planet Earth: The Physical Environment
and Introduction to Geomorphology
or GEOG 340
 Climatology
or GEOG 361
 Environmental Hazards
GEOL 115
& GEOL 301
Environmental Geology
and Earth Resources and Sustainability
or GEOL 308
 Water Resources
Culminating Course:
ENV 330
Resources & Society: Energy, Food, and Waste
Plus additional courses, as needed, selcted from any of those listed above, to reach a minimum of 24 credits total.
1

The prerequisites for BIOL 328 are BIOL 151, BIOL 181,  BIOL 221, or BIOL 222 and BIOL 223, and either GEOG 178 or BIOL 180 which are offered as gateway courses. However, only 6 credits from BIOL 221, BIOL 222, BIOL 223, and BIOL 328 may count towards the minor.

2

CHEM 108 and CHEM 109 or CHEM 105, CHEM 106, and CHEM 109 may be used in lieu of CHEM 115 but only six credits may be counted toward the minor from these courses.

Note 1: Credits from other courses may also be applied as electives, pending advisor and college approval, when they focus specifically on environmental topics. This includes special topics, directed studies, independent study, and/or internships. Applicable environmental courses offered through the Honors program, International Study Abroad or National Student Exchange may also be applied with consent of an advisor.

Note 2: A minimum of 48 unique credits must be earned between the student’s major and this minor for purposes of meeting graduation requirements for first and second degree programs.

 
 

Program Learning Outcomes  

Students completing this program will be expected to meet the following learning outcomes:

  • Examine the human impacts on environmental systems using scientific inquiry.
  • Describe political, economic, and social dimensions of environmental problems.
  • Recognize the spiritual and philosophical interconnections between humans and the environment.
  • Integrate scientific, socioeconomic, and ethical perspectives to address environmental issues.