Academic Catalog 2024-2025

Environmental and Sustainability Studies Major with Concentration in Natural Sciences

Major Overview

The major in environmental and sustainability studies with a natural sciences concentration provides a strong foundation in interdisciplinary environmental science with an emphasis on the natural and physical sciences. This concentration draws perspectives from environmental policy, humanities, and arts.

Major Requirements

The requirements for a major in environmental and sustainability studies with a natural sciences concentration are 40 credits (certain electives require additional prerequisite credits):

Environmental and Sustainability Studies Courses
BIOL 122Evolution and Diversity4
BIOL 221Ecology4
ENVR/BIOL 360Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)4
ENVR 475Interdisciplinary Research4
Physical Sciences
Select 4 credits in physical sciences from the following:4
Principles of Chemistry
General Chemistry I
General Chemistry II
Survey of Organic and Biochemistry
Geology
Foundations of Modern Physics
General College Physics I
Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Statistics Courses
Select 4 credits in statistics from the following:4
Introduction to Statistics
Methods and Techniques of Political Analysis
Statistics and Psychology Measurement
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
Ethics or Theology Courses
Select 4 credits in ethics or theology from the following:4
Environmental Ethics
Ethics of Sustainable Community
Religion and Ecology
Upper-level Environmental Science Courses
Select 4 credits of upper-level environmental science from the following:4
Ecology and Field Biology
Ornithology
Entomology
Mammalogy
Plant Taxonomy
Urban Ecology
Conservation Biology
Animal Behavior
Limnology
Ecology of East Africa
Social Science Courses
Select 4 credits in social science from the following:4
Climate Change and Conflict
Environmental Nutrition
Environmental Policy-Politics
Petroleum Politics & Planet
Global Sustainability Issues
Global Development Issues
Urban Communities
Social Change in Theory & Practice
Total Hours40

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.