Earth and Environmental Systems
The environment and sustainability major is administered chiefly through a steering committee chaired by Ken Smith.
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 |
| ENST 320 | Environment and Sustainability Colloquium | 4 |
| ENST 400 | Environmental Arts and Humanities Capstone (capstone) | 4 |
| ECON 335 | Environmental Economics | 4 |
| Select two of the following: | 8 | |
| Archaeological Resource Management and Policy | ||
| The Political Economy of Sustainable Development | ||
| Environmental Policy and Law | ||
| Environmental Land-Use Policy | ||
| Water Resource Policy and Law | ||
| Public Policy | ||
| China's Environmental Crisis | ||
| Political Theory of the Environment | ||
| Environmental Politics and Policy | ||
| International Environmental Policy | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
CHEM 211 | ||
| Fundamentals of GIS | ||
| Tools for Environmental Policy Analysis | ||
| Environmental Data Analysis | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| Select one course numbered 200 or above in biology, chemistry, forestry and geology, or physics 1 | 4 | |
| Select three additional approved electives to fulfill the designated focus topic 2 | 12 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 44 | |
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Requirements | ||
| A comprehensive examination | ||
| 1 | ENST 240 may also be used to satisfy this requirement. |
| 2 | Students design their own focus in collaboration with their advisor and two faculty members participating in the program (or two participating faculty if one is their advisor). 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 Environment and Sustainability steering committee must approve each self-designed focus prior to the end of the first semester of the junior year. The ultimate goal of the foci is to provide students with a cohesive interdisciplinary experience while preparing them to complete capstone projects, in collaboration with faculty mentors, that offer substantial research potential. |