Environmental Studies Major & Minor
Environmental studies integrates the study of interactions among physical, chemical and biological components of the environment. Students take many courses in the natural sciences, but not at the expense of courses in the social sciences and humanities. The field has grown substantially since the 1960s, as public awareness of environmental problems grew. The public began to rely on informed scientists to recommend practical public policies and environmental standards. Today, environmental scientists study issues like climate change, conservation, biodiversity, pollution, natural resource usage, waste management and sustainable development.
The Environmental Studies Major
Note: The grade point average of all the coursework comprising the major must be no less than 2.00 with no course grade below C- (1.70) in all courses other than Calculus II.
For the Bachelor of Arts degree
12 units, including:
ENVR 201 Introduction to Environmental Studies
ENVR 230 Environmental Economics
ENVR 269 Topics in Environmental Ethics
ENVR 362 Environmental Law and Policy
ENVR 391 Environmental Senior Seminar
One course in environmental life science chosen from:
BIOL 109*/ENVR 109 Introduction to EcologyBIOL 111/ENVR 111 Marine Biology of the Chesapeake BayBIOL 207* EcologyENVR 199 Introduction to Biological Thinking
One course in physical environmental science chosen from:
Introductory statistics requirement: MATH 209 (preferred), BIOL 320, BUAD 202, CHEM 300, PSYC 200, or equivalent course approved by the ES coordinatorCHEM 110/ENVR 110 Pollutants in the EnvironmentCHEM 316 Environmental ChemistryENVR 250 Introduction to Earth Systems and Physical Geography
One course in environmental research methods, chosen from:
ANTH 211 Field Methods in EthnographyCHEM 301 Quantitative Chemical AnalysisCHEM 302 Instrumentation and SpectroscopyCHEM 303 Chemical SeparationsECON 370 Advanced EconometricsENVR 260 Foundations of Geospatial AnalysisMATH 219 Introduction to the Design of ExperimentsMATH 304* Math Models in Biology and MedicineMATH 324* Continuous Math Methods
PLSC 270 Social Science InquirySOC 211 Sociological Research Methods and Data Analysis
Three units of electives approved for environmental studies, at least one-half unit of which must be an experiential learning course (ENVR 320, ENVR 388, ENVR 406, GEOG 406, or equivalent)
For the Bachelor of Science degree
15 units, including:
ENVR 201 Introduction to Environmental Studies
ENVR 230 Environmental Economics
ENVR 269 Topics in Environmental Ethics
ENVR 362 Environmental Law and Policy
ENVR 391 Environmental Senior Seminar
One course in environmental life science chosen from:
BIOL 109*/ENVR 109 Introduction to EcologyBIOL 111/ENVR 111 Marine Biology of the Chesapeake BayBIOL 207* EcologyENVR 199 Introduction to Biological Thinking
One course in physical environmental science chosen from:
CHEM 110/ENVR 110 Pollutants in the EnvironmentCHEM 316 Environmental ChemistryENVR 250 Introduction to Earth Systems and Physical Geography
Introductory statistics requirement: MATH 209 (preferred), BIOL 320, BUAD 202, CHEM 300, PSYC 200, or equivalent course approved by the ES coordinator
One course in environmental research methods, chosen from:
ANTH 211 Field Methods in EthnographyCHEM 301 Quantitative Chemical AnalysisCHEM 302 Instrumentation and SpectroscopyCHEM 303 Chemical SeparationsECON 370 Advanced EconometricsENVR 260 Foundations of Geospatial AnalysisMATH 219 Introduction to the Design of ExperimentsMATH 304* Math Models in Biology and MedicineMATH 324* Continuous Math Methods
PLSC 270 Social Science InquirySOC 211 Sociological Research Methods and Data Analysis
Three units of electives approved for environmental studies, at least one-half unit of which must be an experiential learning course (ENVR 320, ENVR 388, ENVR 406, GEOG 406, or equivalent)
One of MATH 212 Calculus II or MATH 232 Scientific Calculus II or MATH 289 Introduction to Data Science
Two units in biology, chemistry, or physics at or above the 300 level
*The following courses involve significant overlap in content: BIOL 109/BIOL 207; and MATH 304/MATH 324. Credit toward the major can be given for only one course in each pair; for example, credit can be given for either BIOL 109 or BIOL 207 but not both.
Students are expected to fulfill all prerequisites necessary for courses within the major. Prerequisites do not count toward the major unless otherwise noted.
Paths of Study in Environmental Studies
Note: A student does not have to choose a path of study in order to receive a degree in environmental studies. Students may satisfy the elective units requirement of the degree by pursuing one of the following paths of study:
Environmental Science Path of Study
Three units of electives, chosen from:
BIOL 111/ENVR 111 Marine Biology of the Chesapeake BayBIOL 225 EvolutionBIOL 306 Systematic BotanyBIOL 331 Molecular EcologyBIOL 332 Tropical Marine BiologyBIOL 333 Microbial EcologyBIOL 334 OceanographyBIOL 344 Behavioral EcologyBIOL 383 Tropical Biology and ConservationCHEM 110/ENVR 110 Pollutants in the EnvironmentCHEM 316 Environmental ChemistryENVR 250 Earth Systems and Physical BiologyENVR 350 Environmental GradientsGEOG 315 Landscape Ecology
Environment and Society Path of Study
Three units of electives, chosen from:
ECON 211 Economic Development in Asia, Africa and Latin AmericaENVR 330 Environmental and Resource Economic TheoryGEOG 220 EcotourismGEOG 320 Power, Space, and Territory: Geographies of Political ChangeGEOG 333 Geographies of AmazoniaGEOG 345 Global Sustainability: Society, Economy, Nature
GEOG 370 Geographies of Economic Development and GlobalizationHIST 390 Food and Power in Africa and AsiaJOUR 304 Reporting on the EnvironmentMGMT 348 Environmental ManagementPLSC 260 Introduction to Public PolicyPLSC 360 International Development Policy
Experiential learning (ENVR 388, ENVR 320, or equivalent) and Special Topics (ENVR 300) may be counted towards a path of study with approval of the environmental studies coordinator.
The Environmental Studies Minor
Note: The grade point average of all the coursework comprising the minor in environmental studies must be no less than 2.00 with no course grade below C- (1.70).
6 units, including:
ENVR 201 Introduction to Environmental Studies
ENVR 269 Topics in Environmental Ethics
Either ENVR 230 Environmental Economics or ENVR 362 Environmental Law and Policy
One course in environmental life science chosen from
BIOL 109*/ENVR 109 Introduction to EcologyBIOL 207 EcologyBIOL 111/ENVR 111 Marine Biology of the Chesapeake BayENVR 199 Introduction to Biological Thinking
One course in physical environmental science chosen from
CHEM 110/ENVR 110 Pollutants in the EnvironmentCHEM 316 Environmental ChemistryENVR 250 Introduction to Earth Systems and Physical Geography
One approved elective in environmental studies
*Credit toward the Environmental Studies minor will be given for either BIOL 109 or BIOL 207, but not both. Students are expected to fulfill all prerequisites necessary for courses within the minor. Prerequisites do not count toward the minor unless otherwise noted.
Environmental Studies Electives
BIOL 381 Advanced topics in Ecology
