Environment and Sustainability
Requirements for the Major in Environment and Sustainability
The major requires successful completion of the following:
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Course Requirements | ||
| ENST 101 | Introduction to Environmental Studies | 4 |
| ESCI 220 | The Science of Sustainability | 4 |
| ENST 421 | Environment and Sustainability Capstone | 4 |
| ECON 335 | Environmental Economics | 4 |
| ENST 334 | Environmental Policy and Law | 4 |
| or POLS 313 | Environmental Politics and Policy | |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Fundamentals of GIS | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| In addition to any courses completed to fulfill the G5 requirement, select one course numbered 100 or above in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Forestry, Geology, or Physics. 1 | 4 | |
| Select three additional approved electives to fulfill the designated focus topic 2 | 12 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 40 | |
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Requirements | ||
| A comprehensive examination | ||
- 1
ESCI 220 cannot be used to satisfy this requirement.
- 2
Students should select a focus in collaboration with their advisor and faculty mentors before the end of their second year. Any self-designed focus must be approved by the Environment and Sustainability Steering Committee prior to the junior year. This focus must contain three courses from a minimum of two departments (preferably three) that have a central theme related to the student’s senior capstone project. Courses in environmental economics and policy not selected to fulfill a requirement may be applied toward a focus. An appropriate special topics course or independent study (ESCI 444) may also be used to satisfy one of the foci requirements. The ultimate goal of the foci is to provide students with a cohesive interdisciplinary experience while preparing them to complete substantive capstone projects.
Student Learning Outcomes
A student majoring in Environment & Sustainability will:
- Explain fundamental concepts from the social sciences (policy, economics and cultural values that motivate environmental thought, action and governance).
- Identify and appraise fundamental principles in sustainability, and in particular, five global challenges (food systems, water, biodiversity loss, climate change and energy, and waste and pollution) with emphasis on the environmental justice dimensions of each challenge.
- Demonstrate how addressing any environmental issue requires study and approaches from multiple perspectives and recognition of connections among disciplinary perspectives.
- Apply the scientific method and/or social science research tools using real world data, including the formulation and testing of hypotheses and appropriate interpretation of data.
- Analyze and evaluate a complex environmental challenge through the processes of problem identification, proposal development, project implementation, interpretation of results, review of literature and communication of integrated perspectives as written and oral arguments to both professional and lay audiences.