Associate Professor Cawley, Assistant Professor O’Neill, Professor G. Steehler (Coordinator).
The Environmental Studies Program offers two interdisciplinary majors focused on environmental challenges: environmental science and environmental policy, focusing respectively on natural science and social science elements of environmental issues. Students considering either of these degrees should consult with the Environmental Studies Program Coordinator or other faculty members directly involved with the Program, as careful course planning is required.
Majors in the Environmental Studies Program
B.S. in Environmental Science
This major requires 18 units
A. Environmental Studies – 4 units
ENVI 130 or 200
ENVI 310
ENVI 400
One additional unit of ENVI, not including Independent
Study or Internship
B. Biology – 4 units
BIOL 120
BIOL 125
BIOL 205, 300 or 360
BIOL 210, 235, 240 or 315
C. Chemistry – 3 units
CHEM 111
CHEM 112
CHEM 270
D. Physics – 1 unit
PHYS 103 or PHYS 201
E. Mathematics – 2 units
INQ 240
MATH 112 or MATH 121
F. Economics – 1 unit
ECON 120 or ECON 121 or ECON 287
G. Political Science – 2 units
POLI 101
POLI 251
H. Sociology/Religion & Philosophy – 1 unit
SOCI 335, SOCI 337, PHIL 212 or PHIL 231
B.A. in Environmental Policy
This major requires 16 units
A. Environmental Studies – 4 units
ENVI 130 or 200
ENVI 400
Two additional units of ENVI, one of which may be
Independent Study or Internship
B. Political Science – 4 units
POLI 101
POLI 250
POLI 251
POLI 340
C. Biology – 2 units
BIOL 120 or BIOL 205
BIOL 125
D. Chemistry/Physics – 1 unit
CHEM 111 or PHYS 103 (Or an appropriate introductory
science course)
E. Economics – 1 unit
ECON 120, ECON 121 or ECON 287
F. Sociology – 2 units
SOCI 101
SOCI 337
G. Mathematics – 1 unit
INQ 240
H. Electives – 1 unit from among:
HIST 210
HIST 218
PHIL 212
POLI 221, 222, 224, 225
SOCI 335
Minors in the Environmental Studies Program
Minor in Environmental Science (6 units required)
ENVI 130 or 200
BIOL 125
BIOL 120 or BIOL 205
CHEM 111 or PHYS 103
2 units from among:
Additional ENVI courses, but only 1 unit of Internship or
Independent Study may be used
BIOL 205, 300, 360
CHEM 270
ECON 287
POLI 251
Minor in Environmental Policy (6 units required)
ENVI 130 or 200
BIOL 125
CHEM 111 or PHYS 103
POLI 101 and
2 units from among:
Additional ENVI courses, but only 1 unit of Internship
or Independent Study may be used
ECON 287
SOCI 335, 337
POLI 201, 250, 251
130 Introduction to Environmental Studies
An introduction to the applied field of environmental studies,
this course encourages students to develop the interdisciplinary
analytical and research skills needed to frame questions, evaluate
environmental issues, and work toward solutions that are
environmentally sound, economically viable, and socially
equitable. Course activities will draw from a number of
disciplines including the natural and social sciences with
emphasis on sustainability and resource management. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Students may not receive credit for both ENVI 130 and ENVI 200.
200 Environmental Science
An analysis of current and emerging environmental issues/
problems facing life on our planet. The extent of human
impact on the biosphere will be particularly emphasized. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.; Laboratory: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: BIOL 101 (or the equivalent) or 120 and CHEM 101
(or the equivalent) or 111.
260 Special Topics
Examination of special topics concerning the environment. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: None.
305 Environmental Impact Assessment
This course will examine the development of environmental
impact assessment policy in the United States and how such
policy is applied to current environmental issues and problems.
Examples will be taken from a variety of areas including toxicology,
bioremediation, wetland protection and work/home
environmental safety. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: ENVI 200.
307 Appalachian Rocks and Waters
A systematic survey of Appalachian terrains, geology and paleoecology.
This course examines foundational concepts of geology
within a chronological scope associated with the
Appalachian Mountain Belt. Topics include introduction to
rock and mineral types, major index fossils, paleoecology, and
basic landform geomorphology and rock process. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: ENVI 200 or permission of the instructor.
310 Modeling Environmental Interactions
An introduction to computer simulation modeling for undergraduate
science students with no previous computer programming
experience. The focus of the course will be on
modeling biological, chemical, and physical processes relevant
to problems in environmental science. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.; Laboratory: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: Any four courses in the natural sciences, MATH 112 or
121, and one additional course in mathematics or statistics.
400 Environment Clinic
In this capstone course, majors in Environmental Policy and
Environmental Science will work together to explore a single
topic in-depth. (1)
Lecture: 3 hrs/wk.; Laboratory: 3 hrs/wk.
Prerequisites: Major in Environmental Policy or Environmental Science
and senior standing.
405, 406, 407 Independent Study and Research
Independent study or research related to the environment conducted
under the supervision of an Environment Program faculty
member. (1/2, 1, 1/2)
Prerequisites: Major or minor in Environmental Policy or Environmental
Science, junior or senior standing, GPA of at least 2.0, and
permission of the Environment Program chair. ENVI 405 is a prerequisite
for ENVI 407.
416 Internship
Work experience related to the environment with a government
agency, non-governmental organization, or business under the
guidance of an Environment Program faculty member. (1)
Prerequisites: Major or minor in Environmental Policy or Environmental
Science, junior or senior standing, GPA of at least 2.0, and
permission of the Environment Program chair.
495, 496, 497 Honors Project
A program of independent study or research concerning the
environment culminating in a written report. (1/2, 1, 1/2)
Prerequisites: To qualify for consideration to receive honors in the major,
a student in his/her senior year or in the Summer prior to the senior
year, must work under the guidance of his/her committee. A written
proposal and application must be approved by the committee and department.
A minimum GPA of 3.4 in the major is required. Environmental
Science 495 is a prerequisite for Environmental Science 497.