Major Overview
The major in environmental and sustainability studies with a contract concentration provides students the option to shape a program for their particular interests and aspirations, while still meeting program learning objectives. Students might propose programs, for example, to emphasize Sustainability Leadership, Environmental Education, Sustainable Design, Sustainable Architecture, Sustainable Agriculture, Ecofeminism, Environmental Activism, Indigenous and Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Climate Justice, Animal Studies, and more.
Major Requirements
The requirements for a major in environmental and sustainability studies with a contract concentration are 36 credits designed by the student and approved by the program faculty:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental and Sustainability Studies Courses | ||
| ENVR 103 | Ecosystems and Human Influence | 4 |
| or BIOL 221 | Ecology | |
| Policy Courses | ||
| Select 4 credits in policy from the following: | 4 | |
| Global Development Issues | ||
| Climate Change and Conflict | ||
| Environmental Policy- Politics | ||
| Petroleum Politics & Planet | ||
| Global Sustainability Issues | ||
| Environmental Nutrition | ||
| Urban Communities | ||
| Social Change in Theory & Practice | ||
| Arts and Humanities Courses | ||
| Select 4 credits in arts and humanities from the following: | 4 | |
| Video Production | ||
| Global Literature and Environmental Justice | ||
| Animal Stories: Kinship, Rivalry, and Alterity | ||
| Sustainability in Germany | ||
| Nature's Place in U.S. History | ||
| Sustainable Communities | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Ethics of Sustainable Community | ||
| Religion and Ecology | ||
| Research | ||
| ENVR 475 | Interdisciplinary Research | 4 |
| Course of Study | ||
| 20 credits proposed by the student as a course of study in environmental and sustainability studies 1 | 20 | |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
20 credits proposed by the student as a course of study in environmental and sustainability studies, along with a rationale describing how the courses meet the student’s goals and the learning objectives of the environmental and sustainability studies program – subject to approval by the environmental and sustainability studies program director(s). The major should be submitted and approved no later than the end of the junior year. Some examples of emphasis include sustainability leadership, environmental education, sustainable design, sustainable agriculture, ecofeminism, environmental activism, indigenous and traditional ecological knowledge, climate justice, and more.
Recommended Course
BIOL 360/ENVR 360 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Degree and Graduation Requirements
In addition to the program-specific requirements listed above, all students must complete the graduation requirements specified for their degree. See the Degree and Graduation Requirements section for more information.