Students taking measurements in a stream.

Environmental Studies

Learn how to communicate effectively about environmental issues and how to make connections between the environment and policy.

Environmental Studies draws on many diverse disciplines from the sciences to study the complex connections of environmental systems. Communications, political science, arts and humanities help in the understanding of human impacts and use of these systems.

Our Programs

The B.A. program leads to a liberal arts degree with a strong focus on the social sciences and humanities. The B.S. program has a strong focus on science as it relates to environmental issues. In both programs you will engage in 18 credits of core required courses listed below along with elective credits in Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities.

Courses

ENRV 100. Environmental Studies Seminar. 1 Credit.

Introduction to the study of environmental dimensions of human activities, emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of environmental problem-solving, the roles of different disciplines, career opportunities, and how the curriculum helps prepare students to work in this field. Prerequisite: Environmental Studies major (BA or BS) or those considering the major. Repeatable to 3.00 credits. F.

ENRV 122. Foundations of Environmental Science. 3 Credits.

Introduction to the study of environmental dimensions of human activities, emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of environmental studies. The course integrates principles of natural science, social science, policy, and humanistic perspectives needed understand and solve environmental problems, and to communicate those problems, policy options, and solutions to various constituencies. S.

COMM 360. Communicating Science. 3 Credits.

This class is designed for upper-division students in the physical, biological, social, health and engineering sciences interested in science communication. It combines findings from research into information processing with best practices in media production to build student competency in communicating about science, scientific discoveries and the scientific process to general audiences through various media, as well as more specific audiences, such as funding organizations and policymakers. Students end the semester by producing a piece of science communication for a course-created website. Prerequisite: Junior or senior status (60+hours). F.

ENGL 227. Literature and the Environment. 3 Credits.

A course that introduces students to issues of environmentalism, sustainability, and ecocriticism through discussion of literary texts and film. Repeatable. F,S.

GEOG 274. Introduction to Geospatial Technologies. 3 Credits.

Students engage with a range of geospatial technologies to explore, analyze, and represent geographical phenomena and data through a series of field-based exercises. Students will learn about the types of societal problems that geospatial scientists are uniquely positioned to solve. Through guest speakers, readings, and discussions, they will learn about the knowledge and skills required to enter this rapidly-expanding career field and the courses in the geography curriculum that will help them to acquire these skills. S.

GEOG 454. Conservation and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources. 3 Credits.

Geographic principles applied to the analysis of natural resources and their efficient utilization. Emphasis is on sustainable development. S.