Environmental And Sustainability Studies Minor
The environment is receiving significant attention in recent years in light of issues such as climate change, declining energy resources, and other sustainability related issues. A minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies is meant to serve a broad student population and will provide students with an extensive understanding of environmental and sustainability issues. The minor will yield graduates who are truly "men and women for others" by preparing students for careers that will identify and study the causes and effects of current and future environmental challenges, educate others about the environment, and help write and analyze related policy.
Goal 1: Students will develop an understanding of the importance of the environment, the extent to which societal actions impact it, the need for sustainability, and how that sustainability can be achieved.
Outcome 1.1: Students will be able to describe the basic environmental challenges facing the world today, their causes, and possible solutions.
Outcome 1.2: Students will be able to describe the scientific, ethical, and moral imperatives behind the need to protect and sustain a healthy environment and the role of environmental science and environmental scientists in those efforts.
Goal 2: Students will develop an understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing efforts to protect the environment and develop a sustainable society.
Outcome 2.1: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the linkages between environmental science and non-natural science disciplines such as business, economics, history, politics, sociology, philosophy, theology, and law.
Outcome 2.2: Students will be able to improve and apply their skills to real-world issues via engaged learning such as an internship with environmental professionals.
Students must take six courses for the Minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. Courses taken to fulfill requirements of the minor may also fulfill the GEP or overlay (Ethics, Globalization /Diversity, Writing Intensive) requirements as well as the student’s major.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All students will take (preferably in this sequence): | ||
| ENV 106 & 106L | Exploring the Earth and Exploring the Earth Laboratory | 4 |
| ENV 102 | Environmental Ethics 1 | 3 |
| ENV 390 | Environmental Science Seminar | 0 |
| Students are required to take four additional courses from the following four groups (Groups A-D). Courses do not need to be taken in any particular order, but some courses may require prerequisites. No more than two courses can be taken from each group. | 12 | |
| Group A Understanding our planet | ||
| Exploring the Living World and Exp. Living World Lab | ||
| Chemistry for the Consumer | ||
| Introduction to GIS | ||
| Intermediate GIS | ||
| Energy: Problems & Promises | ||
| Physics by Experiment | ||
| Intro to Renewable Energy | ||
| Group B Societal responses past and present | ||
| Sculpture and the Environment | ||
| Photography & Climate Crisis | ||
| Irish Environmental Writing | ||
| Nature & Environmental Writing | ||
| Environmental Justice | ||
| Climate Change Stories | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| American Environmental History | ||
| Philosophy of the Environment | ||
| Group C Economic Issues and solutions | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Economic Development | ||
| Environmental Economics | ||
| Organizational Sustainability | ||
| Fair Trade Coffee: Study Tour | ||
| Group D Experiential learning | ||
| Environmental Sci Internship | ||
| Total Hours | 19 | |
- 1
ENV 102 may not be offered every year and fulfills the Ethics Intensive overlay.
Note: Students majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Biology, or Physics may minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. These students should fulfill at least three of their electives from groups B-D. The fourth can be chosen from Group A or B of the Environmental Science Major.
First Year Seminars: Some FYS 150 courses (e.g., ENV 150) can count for this minor if they address environmental issues, with approval of the program director.