Major in Environmental Studies and Environmental Science - Environmental Studies Concentration

The Environmental Studies Concentration is for students who are interested in environmental planning, regulation and policy, environmental health and educating others about environmental issues. Students interested in environmental sustainability are also typically Environmental Studies students. Environmental Studies tracks include Environmental Policy and Management, Environmental Geography, Environmental Health, Informal Environmental Education and Environmental Directed Studies.

Along with completing the common required courses, students in the Environmental Studies Concentration complete additional units as they complete one of five tracks. The tracks are:

  • Environmental Geographical Analysis
  • Environmental Policy/Management
  • Environmental Health
  • Directed Environmental Studies
  • Informal Environmental Education

All students in the program will complete the required courses establishing the scientific principles and mathematical skills needed as a foundation for more specialized study. They also will complete additional courses in the social sciences, an upper-level internship or research course and additional course work appropriate to the selected track.

Common Required Courses

Natural Sciences
BIOL 200
200L
BIOLOGY I: INTRODUCTION TO CELLULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS [LECTURE]
and BIOLOGY I: INTRODUCTION TO CELLULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETICS [LAB]
4
BIOL 206
206L
BIOLOGY II: INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION [LECTURE]
and BIOLOGY II: INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION [LAB]
4
CHEM 104INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY 14
GEOL 121PHYSICAL GEOLOGY4
Mathematics and Statistics
MATH 119PRE-CALCULUS 23-4
or MATH 211 CALCULUS FOR APPLICATIONS
Select one of the following:3-4
BASIC STATISTICS
ELEMENTARY BIOSTATISTICS
QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN GEOGRAPHY
STATISTICS FOR BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS I
Additional Writing Course
ENGL 318TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC WRITING3
or GEOG 383 NATURAL RESOURCES AND SOCIETY: A GEOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE
Environmental Geography, Ethics and Health
GEOG 101PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY3
GEOG 410ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY3
HLTH 451INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH3
PHIL 255ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS3
Total Units37-39

Environmental Geographical Analysis Track 

Required Courses
ECON 201MICROECONOMIC PRINCIPLES3
ECON 375ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS3
or ECON 376 NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS
POSC 103AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT3
or POSC 207 STATE GOVERNMENT
Select one of the following:3
WATER POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
SCIENCE AND POLICY OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION
Geography Requirements
GEOG 221INTRODUCTION TO GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY3
GEOG 232INTRO TO GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE4
GEOG 321INTRODUCTION TO REMOTE SENSING AND PHOTOGRAMMETRY3
GEOG 481ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS3
Select one of the following:3
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
ENVIRONMENTAL INTERNSHIP
SENIOR SEMINAR
Electives
Select two additional courses, one from any Environmental Studies track AND one from any Environmental Science and Studies track6-7
Total Units34-35

Environmental Policy / Management Track

Required Courses
ECON 201MICROECONOMIC PRINCIPLES3
ECON 202MACROECONOMIC PRINCIPLES3
ECON 375ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS3
or ECON 376 NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS
POSC 103AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT3
or POSC 207 STATE GOVERNMENT
Select one of the following:3
WATER POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
SCIENCE AND POLICY OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION
Select one of the following:3
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
ENVIRONMENTAL INTERNSHIP
SENIOR SEMINAR
Electives
Select five of the following (additional prerequisites may be required):15-16
RESOURCE WARS OF THE 21ST CENTURY
TOPICS IN ANTHROPOLOGY 3
HUMAN ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PUBLIC FINANCE
URBAN ECONOMICS
ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS (if not taken as required )
NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS (if not taken as required )
ADVANCED TOPICS IN ECONOMICS 3
GRANT AND ADVOCACY WRITING
GEOGRAPHIES OF CONSUMPTION AND WASTE
CLIMATE CHANGE: SCIENCE TO POLICY
SUSTAINABILITY AND THE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH
CHRONIC AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & VALUES
POLITICS OF METROPOLITAN GROWTH AND CHANGE
URBAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
SPECIAL TOPICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE 3
SEMINAR IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC POLICY 3
SEMINAR IN COMPARATIVE POLITICS 3
WOMEN, ENVIRONMENT, AND HEALTH
Select one additional elective from any Environmental Science and Studies track3-4
Total Units36-38

Environmental Health Track 

Required Courses
ECON 201MICROECONOMIC PRINCIPLES3
ECON 375ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS3
or ECON 376 NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS
POSC 103AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT3
or POSC 207 STATE GOVERNMENT
Select one of the following:3
WATER POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
SCIENCE AND POLICY OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION
Select one of the following:3
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
ENVIRONMENTAL INTERNSHIP
SENIOR SEMINAR
Electives
Select five of the following:15-16
DANGEROUS DISEASES
INTRO TO GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE
GEOGRAPHIES OF HEALTH
POPULATION GEOGRAPHY
DEMOGRAPHY
STUDIES IN NATURAL HAZARDS
SPECIAL TOPICS IN GEOGRAPHY 3
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH
CHRONIC AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
FOOD SAFETY SCIENCE
URBAN FOOD SYSTEMS
VIOLENCE PREVENTION FOR HEALTH EDUCATORS
INTRODUCTION TO EPIDEMIOLOGY
SEMINAR IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC POLICY 3
WOMEN, ENVIRONMENT, AND HEALTH
Select one additional elective from any Environmental Science and Studies track3-4
Total Units33-35

Directed Environmental Studies Track 

All students selecting this track should, in consultation with their adviser, develop a coherent course of study that includes six electives.

Required Courses
ECON 201MICROECONOMIC PRINCIPLES3
ECON 375ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS3
or ECON 376 NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS
POSC 103AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT3
or POSC 207 STATE GOVERNMENT
Select one of the following:3
WATER POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
SCIENCE AND POLICY OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION
Select one of the following:3
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
ENVIRONMENTAL INTERNSHIP
SENIOR SEMINAR
Electives
Select five of the following:15-16
RESOURCE WARS OF THE 21ST CENTURY
TOPICS IN ANTHROPOLOGY 3
HUMAN ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PUBLIC FINANCE
URBAN ECONOMICS
ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS (if not taken as required)
NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS (if not taken as required)
ADVANCED TOPICS IN ECONOMICS 3
GRANT AND ADVOCACY WRITING
SPECIAL TOPICS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND STUDIES
INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND STUDIES
SENIOR SEMINAR 3
INTRODUCTION TO GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY
INTRO TO GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE
SOILS AND VEGETATION
CARTOGRAPHY AND GRAPHICS I
GEOGRAPHIES OF HEALTH
METEOROLOGY
NATURAL RESOURCES AND SOCIETY: A GEOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE (if not taken as required)
POPULATION GEOGRAPHY
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING
COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING
STUDIES IN NATURAL HAZARDS
GEOGRAPHIES OF CONSUMPTION AND WASTE
SEVERE AND HAZARDOUS WEATHER
GIS APPLICATIONS
ADVANCED REMOTE SENSING: DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS
CLIMATE CHANGE: SCIENCE TO POLICY
ADVANCED TECHNIQUES IN GIS
SPECIAL TOPICS IN GEOGRAPHY 3
GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES SPECIAL TOPICS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS
LAND USE PLANNING
DIRECTED READNGS IN GEOGRAPHY 3
INDEPENDENT STUDY IN GEOGRAPHY 3
SUSTAINABILITY AND THE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES
INTRODUCTION TO EPIDEMIOLOGY
HEALTH DIRECTED READINGS 3
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & VALUES
PHILOSOPHICAL TOPICS 3
POLITICS OF METROPOLITAN GROWTH AND CHANGE
URBAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
SPECIAL TOPICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE 3
SEMINAR IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC POLICY 3
SEMINAR IN COMPARATIVE POLITICS 3
DEMOGRAPHY
WOMEN, ENVIRONMENT, AND HEALTH
Select one additional elective from any Environmental Science and Studies track3-4
Total Units33-35

Informal Environmental Education Track

Required Courses
BIOL 205GENERAL BOTANY4
BIOL 207GENERAL ZOOLOGY4
BIOL 301FIELD AND NATURAL SCIENCE3
or BIOL 304 NATURAL HISTORY INTERPRETATION AND PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
BIOL 402GENERAL ECOLOGY4
or BIOL 435 PLANT ECOLOGY
ENVS 485ENVIRONMENTAL INTERNSHIP3
SCIE 380TEACHING SCIENCE IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS3
Select Sequence 1 or Sequence 2:6
Sequence 1
MICROECONOMIC PRINCIPLES
ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS
Sequence 2
AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
STATE GOVERNMENT
Select one of the following:
WATER POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
SCIENCE AND POLICY OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION
Electives
Select three of the following:10-12
HUMAN ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY
INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
VASCULAR PLANT TAXONOMY
FISH BIOLOGY
ORNITHOLOGY
MAMMALOGY
ENTOMOLOGY
HERPETOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND SERVICE LEARNING IN THE TROPICS
SOILS AND VEGETATION
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY
Total Units37-39
1

The requirement of CHEM 104 may also be satisfied by successful completion of CHEM 131, CHEM 131L, CHEM 132, and CHEM 132L (8 units total). 

2

The requirement of MATH 119 or MATH 211 may also be satisfied by successful completion of MATH 273 or MATH 274

3

Acceptable topics related to environmental science and studies. Please contact the Environmental Science and Studies program director for approval. 

Sample Four-Year Plan

The selected course sequence below is an example of the simplest path to degree completion. Based on course schedules, student needs, and student choice, individual plans may vary. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices and to ensure that they have completed the required number of units (120) to graduate.

Freshman
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
BIOL 200
200L (Core 8)
4BIOL 206
206L
4
CHEM 104 (Core 7)4ECON 201 (Core 6)3
MATH 119 or 211 (Core 3)4GEOL 1214
Core 1 (or Core 2)3Core 2 (or Core 1)3
 Core 133
 15 17
Sophomore
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
GEOG 1013ECON 375 or 3763
POSC 103 or 2073PHIL 2553
Track Requirement3Track Requirement 3
Select one of the following:3-4Track Requirement 3
Core 53
 
 
 
Core 43 
 15-16 15
Junior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
POSC Environmental Upper-Level3ENGL 318 or GEOG 383 (Core 9)3
Track Requirement 3HLTH 4513
Track Requirement 3Track Requirement 3
Core 103Track Requirement 3
 Core 113
 12 15
Senior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
Select one of the following:3Track Requirement (if needed) / Elective3
Track Requirement (if needed) / Elective3
Track Requirement (if needed) / Elective3
Track Requirement (if needed) / Elective3
GEOG 4103Core 143
Track Requirement 4 
Track Requirement 3 
Core 123 
 16 15
Total Units 120-121
  1. Apply their knowledge of the sciences and the scientific method to collect, analyze and interpret data that they have collected or to critique the methods used by others to collect, analyze and interpret data.
  2. Identify the cultural, economic, geographic and/or political facets of environmental problems/situations and relate their understanding of these components to particular situations.
  3. Relate the theoretical background materials presented in natural science, social science or humanities courses to specific current environmental problems/dilemmas.
  4. Students will display competency in essential skills required of a college graduate by reading, interpreting, analyzing and evaluating written discourse.
  5. Students will display competency in essential skills required of a college graduate by researching a topic, develop an argument and organize supporting details (ILTC).