Environmental Studies Requirements
Requirements for the Major, Modified Major, and Minor
The Environmental Studies Major
Prerequisites: Math 3 or 10 or the equivalent; CHEM 3 or 5 or PHYS 3 or BIOL 16 or EARS 1; and ECON 1 or ECON 2.
Requirements: ENVS 1 or ENVS 3; and ENVS 2 or the equivalent.
Core courses—One from each group:
Science: 20 or 25 or 28 or 30.
Economics: 55 or 56.
Politics and policy: 58, 60 or 65.
A culminating experience in the major; and an elective focus consisting of four related and relevant non-introductory classes (numbered 10 and above).
It is possible to substitute several other course combinations for ENVS 2 on a two-for-one basis. If choosing to substitute for ENVS 2, students must take BIOL 16 and one additional course: either EARS 1 or 6; ENVS 12; or GEOG 3. If BIOL 16 is taken as a partial substitution for ENVS 2, it may not satisfy the ENVS pre-requisite. It is expected that the elective focus will contain at least one Environmental Studies course. Classes from outside the Environmental Studies Program may be used for the elective focus if they are part of the approved major plan. Every Environmental Studies major will submit a major plan for approval by an Environmental Studies faculty curriculum committee. This written statement must present the rationale for the elective focus classes, the relationship between the Environmental Studies major and any other selected major or minors, and a justification for courses from outside Environmental Studies.
The Environmental Studies Honors Program
A candidate for the Honors Program in Environmental Studies must satisfy the minimum College requirement, have a grade average of ‘B+’ in courses applied to the major, and complete ENVS 91 (Thesis Research). ENVS 91 may be taken two times, both for course credit, but can only count once toward the major. Students who complete a senior thesis and have a ‘B+’ average or higher in the courses that constitute the major will earn Honors recognition in the major. High Honors may be granted by a vote of the faculty on the basis of outstanding independent work. An interim evaluation of honors students will be made after one term and continuation recommended for those students whose work demonstrates the capacity for satisfactory (B+) work. Enrollment in ENVS 91 does not imply admissions into the Honors Program nor does completion of a senior thesis require the awarding of Honors in the major.
The Culminating Experience
The culminating experience requirement for the major in Environmental Studies may be met by completing either ENVS 50, ENVS 84, or conducting Honors Research (ENVS 91).
The Environmental Studies Minor
Prerequisites: ENVS 2 or the equivalent. Requirements: ENVS 1 or 3; and four other related non-introductory courses (numbered 10 and above), two of which are normally from Environmental Studies. Courses from outside Environmental Studies must be from an approved list or by permission of the Chair.
Sustainability Track
This track is an option under the Environmental Studies Minor.
Prerequisites: ENVS 2 or the equivalent. Requirements: ENVS 3; one course on sustainability problem-solving, either ENVS 50, ENGS 44, or another appropriate course with permission; and three other courses (numbered 10 and above) as follows: one course examining specific society-environment interactions, chosen from a number of options; and two courses, each from a number of options within a different elective cluster, either (1) courses addressing how ecosystems and earth systems influence sustainability challenges, or (2) courses addressing governance, social justice, and decision-making in pursuit of sustainability goals, or (3) courses addressing how discourse, ethics and identity shape approaches to sustainability challenges, or (4) courses on creative expression, design, and engineering for communicating and solving sustainability problems.
The Environmental Science Minor
Prerequisites: ENVS 2 or the equivalent; CHEM 3 or 5 or PHYS 3 or BIOL 16 or EARS 1.
Requirements: One course from ENVS 1, ENVS 3, or 42; 20 or 25 or 28 or 30; and three other related non-introductory Environmental Studies science courses (normally numbered 10 or above). One class from outside Environmental Studies may be used if from an approved list or with permission of the Chair.
Another Major Modified with Environmental Studies
Requirements: One course from ENVS 1, ENVS 2, or ENVS 3; ENVS 50; and three additional Environmental Studies courses, not including ENVS 1, ENVS 2, ENVS 3, or ENVS 7. (One of these may be substituted by an appropriate course from another department. (written permission required).
Africa Foreign Study Program
Prerequisites: ENVS 2 or the equivalent; ENVS 39 or ENVS 65, with permission; and at least one of the following courses (availability subject to change; check the ENVS website and with the Environmental Studies Program office for updated list):
AAAS 14/HIST 5.1: Pre-Colonial African History
AAAS 15/HIST 66: History of Africa since 1800
AAAS 19/HIST 5.8: Africa and the World
AAAS 40/WGST 34.2: Gender Identities and Politics in Africa
AAAS 46/HIST 67: History of Modern South Africa
AAAS 52/HIST 68: History of North Africa
ANTH 36/AAAS 44: Contemporary Africa
GEOG 6/INTS 16: Introduction to International Development
GOVT 42: Politics of Africa
THEA 23/AAAS 54: Topics in African Theater and Performance