Academic Catalog 2024-2025

Environmental and Sustainability Studies Major with Concentration in Environmental Policy

Major Overview

The major in environmental and sustainability studies with an environmental policy concentration is an interdisciplinary track in the Environmental and Sustainability Studies program that focuses on how public policy is negotiated. The concentration provides students the tools necessary to contribute to policy decision making and change. Some of the upper-level science options are listed as suitable substitutions for students who have the prerequisites because they are double majoring. 

Major Requirements

The requirements for a major in environmental and sustainability studies with an environmental policy concentration are 37-40 credits:

Environmental and Sustainability Studies Courses
ENVR 103Ecosystems and Human Influence4
or BIOL 221 Ecology
ENVR/PSC 350Environmental Policy- Politics4
BIOL/ENVR 360Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)4
Physical or Biological Sciences Courses
Select 4 credits in physical or biological sciences from the following:4
General Biology
Cell Biology
Evolution and Diversity
Urban Ecology
Conservation Biology
Principles of Chemistry
General Chemistry I
General Chemistry II
Survey of Organic and Biochemistry
Geology
General College Physics I
Foundations of Modern Physics
Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ethics or Theology Courses
Select 4 credits in ethics or theology from the following:4
Environmental Ethics
Ethics of Sustainable Community
Religion and Ecology
Policy Courses
Select 8 credits in policy from the following:8
Climate Change and Conflict
Petroleum Politics & Planet
Global Sustainability Issues
Environmental Nutrition
Public Policy
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
Sustainability in History
Policy-Related Internship
Select 1-4 credits in a policy-related internship, study away, or directed research experience approved by the environmental and sustainability studies program director(s) from:1-4
Academic Internship
Directed Research
Research
ENVR 475Interdisciplinary Research4
Total Hours37-40

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.