Note: Students may only declare to this major through summer 2017. New Prefixes for SAM - Please Click HERE for Complete List of Changes Note: Environmental Studies majors may not earn the Environmental Studies minor or Restoration Ecology minor. Environmental Studies majors may earn the Restoration Ecology certificate.
The bachelor of arts degree in Environmental Studies offers students a strong background in environmental science, complemented by a range of non-science courses. Starting with a core of courses in the earth and life sciences, it branches out to examine legal, economic, literary, historical and philosophical perspectives on the environment. The focus is inherently interdisciplinary and addresses both global and local issues. Collectively, environmental studies courses explore how scientific information gets translated by political and cultural arenas into social, ethical, legal and technological responses to environmental problems.
Environmental Studies student learning outcomes
Students who complete this degree will:
- Demonstrate a basic scientific literacy tied to core content in scientific disciplines vital to understanding environmental issues.
- Exhibit advanced capabilities for interpreting and communicating information related to environmental issues in written and oral forms appropriate to both scientific and non-technical audiences.
- Cultivate skills critical to interpreting scientific concepts for public understanding, including familiarity with the scientific method, information literacy, statistical data analysis, hypothesis formulation and conceptual modeling, research project design and working collaboratively.
- Be conversant in the theoretical and applied concepts in the humanities and social sciences, and the interdisciplinary connections between these subjects and the natural sciences, in order to understand and solve environmental issues.
- Recognize the interconnectedness and interdependence of political, economic and social complexities inherent in environmental problem solving, and demonstrate the ability to apply this interdisciplinary training to environmental problems of local, regional, national or global significance.
- Understand the role of individuals and participate in the creation of solutions for environmental problems.
- Participate in engaged inquiry as a means of connecting classroom learning to real-world environmental problem solving and establishing the skills needed for life-long learning.
Our student learning objectives follow the model set forth by Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP). LEAP is an initiative that champions the value of a liberal education—for individual students and for a nation dependent on economic creativity and democratic vitality. The initiative focuses campus practice on fostering essential learning outcomes for all students, whatever their chosen field of study.
Environmental Studies career options
Students with this degree often pursue careers in education, policy and other fields that mesh natural and social sciences and humanities.
Environmental Studies degree requirements
For Environmental Studies, you need to complete 28 preparatory credits and 70 credits to meet the degree requirements. You must earn a total of 180 quarter credits, or 225 quarter credits for a double degree, in order to earn a bachelor of arts degree in your chosen major.
For more information, contact an academic advisor.
Environmental Studies preparatory courses if declared in major prior to autumn 2017
Additionally, students must be computer literate, which is defined as the ability to use word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and communication software.
Workshops are available for students with deficiencies in any of these areas. (Note - Course prefixes including "&" denotes new community college common course numbering. Check with your advisor for details.)
UW Tacoma
PREPARATORY COURSE | CREDITS | MINIMUM GRADE | UW TACOMA COURSES |
---|---|---|---|
Ecology-focused biology w/lab | 6 | 1.5 | TBIOL 110 or TBIOL 120 |
Chemistry w/lab | 6 | 1.7 | TCHEM 131 or TCHEM 142 |
Geosciences w/lab | 6 | 2.0 | TGEOS 117 or TGEOS 241 |
Pre-calculus | 5 | 2.0 | TMATH 120 or TMATH 121 |
Statistics | 5 | 2.0 | TMATH 110 |
Please contact your advisor with questions.
Clover Park
PREPARATORY COURSE | CREDITS | MINIMUM GRADE | CLOVER PARK TRANSFER EQUIVALENCIES |
---|---|---|---|
Chemistry w/lab | 5 | 1.7 | ENV 160 AND ENV 158 |
Geosciences w/lab | 5 | 2.0 | GEOL& 110 |
Pre-calculus | 5 | 2.0 | MATH& 142 |
Statistics | 5 | 2.0 | MATH& 146 |
Please contact your advisor with questions.
Green River CC
PREPARATORY COURSE | CREDITS | MINIMUM GRADE | GREEN RIVER CC TRANSFER EQUIVALENCES |
---|---|---|---|
Ecology-focused biology w/lab | 5 | 1.5 | BIOL 110, BIOL& 100 or BIOL& 211 |
Chemistry w/lab | 5 | 1.7 | CHEM& 121, 140 or 161 |
Geosciences w/lab | 5 | 2.0 | GEOL& 101 or OCEA& 101 |
Pre-calculus | 5 | 2.0 | MATH 106 or MATH& 142 |
Statistics | 5 | 2.0 | MATH 256 |
Please contact your advisor with questions.
Highline CC
PREPARATORY COURSE | CREDITS | MINIMUM GRADE | HIGHLINE CC TRANSFER EQUIVALENCIES |
---|---|---|---|
Ecology-focused biology w/lab | 5 | 1.5 | BIOL& 100 or BIOL&160 or BIOL& 211 |
Chemistry w/lab | 5 | 1.7 | CHEM& 110, 121 or 161 |
Geosciences w/lab | 5 | 2.0 | GEOL& 101 or OCEA& 101 |
Pre-calculus | 5 | 2.0 | MATH& 142 |
Statistics | 5 | 2.0 | MATH& 146 |
Please contact your advisor with questions.
Olympic CC
PREPARATORY COURSE | CREDITS | MINIMUM GRADE | OLYMPIC TRANSFER EQUIVALENCIES |
---|---|---|---|
Ecology-focused biology w/lab | 5 | 1.5 | BIOL& 160 or BIOL 201 |
Chemistry w/lab | 5 | 1.7 | CHEM& 110, 121 or 141/151 |
Geosciences w/lab | 5 | 2.0 | GEOL& 101 or OCEA& 101 |
Pre-calculus | 5 | 2.0 | MATH 106 or MATH& 142 |
Statistics | 5 | 2.0 | MATH& 146 |
Please contact your advisor with questions.
Pierce College
PREPARATORY COURSE | CREDITS | MINIMUM GRADE | PIERCE C TRANSFER EQUIVALENCIES |
---|---|---|---|
Ecology-focused biology w/lab | 5 | 1.5 | BIOL& 100, BIOL 160 or BIOL&211 |
Chemistry w/lab | 5 | 1.7 | CHEM& 110, 121 or 161 |
Geosciences w/lab | 5 | 2.0 | GEOL& 101 or OCEA& 101 |
Pre-calculus | 5 | 2.0 | MATH& 142 |
Statistics | 5 | 2.0 | MATH& 146 |
Please contact your advisor with questions.
South PS CC
PREPARATORY COURSE | CREDITS | MINIMUM GRADE | SOUTH PS CC TRANSFER EQUIVALENCIES |
---|---|---|---|
Ecology-focused biology w/lab | 5 | 1.5 | BIOL& 160 or 223 |
Chemistry w/lab | 5 | 1.7 | CHEM& 110, 121 or 161 |
Geosciences w/lab | 5 | 2.0 | GEOL& 101 or OCEA& 101 |
Pre-calculus | 5 | 2.0 | MATH& 142 |
Statistics | 5 | 2.0 | MATH& 146 |
Please contact your advisor with questions.
Tacoma CC
PREPARATORY COURSE | CREDITS | MINIMUM GRADE | TACOMA CC TRANSFER EQUIVALENCIES |
---|---|---|---|
Ecology-focused biology w/lab | 5 | 1.5 | BIOL& 100, 160 or 221 |
Chemistry w/lab | 5 | 1.7 | CHEM& 110, 121 or 161 |
Geosciences w/lab | 5 | 2.0 | GEOL& 101 or OCEA& 101 |
Pre-calculus | 5 | 2.0 | MATH& 142 |
Statistics | 5 | 2.0 | MATH& 146 |
Please contact your advisor with questions.
Environmental Studies degree requirements if declared in major prior to autumn 2017
- Environmental Science Core: 16 credits minimum
- Environmental Writing Core: 5 credits (200 level or above)
- Capstone Experience: 3 credits minimum
- Environmental Science Electives: 16 credits minimum
- Environmental Foundations: 5 credits
- Communication of Science and Environmental Issues: 5 credits
- Environmental Policy, Politics and Law: 5 credits
- Economics and Economic Policy: 5 credits
- Urbanization and Social Issues: 10 credits
Environmental science core
All four courses required.
- TESC 310 Environmental Research Seminar (3)
to be taken in the first Autumn of enrollment in the junior year - One Conservation Biology course:
- TBIOL 232 Issues in Biological Conservation (formerly TESC 232) OR
- TBIOL 434 Conservation Biology Practice (formerly TESC 332)
- TESC 345 Pollution and Public Policy (5/6)
- TESC 410 Environmental Science Senior Seminar (3)
to be taken in the last Spring of enrollment after or concurrent with capstone experience
Environmental writing core
Choose one 200- level or above writing course from the following list.
- TWRT 211 Argument and Research in Writing (5)
- TWRT 291 Technical Communication in the Workplace (5)
- TWRT 331 Advanced Disciplinary Writing: Humanities, Natural Sciences & Social Sciences (5)
- TWRT 431 Studies in Writing: Writing for Social Change (5)
Capstone experience
Must select at least a 3-credit option from the following list.
- TESC 301 Sustainability in Action
- TESC 495 Environmental Research Experiences
- TESC 496 Internship
- TESC 497 Senior Thesis
- TESC 499 UG Research
- TEST 495 Environmental Studies Experience
- or the complete GIS or REN certificate program. Planned with faculty advisor; may span more than one quarter.
Environmental science electives
16 credits minimum required of courses (200-level and above), at least one of which must be a laboratory course (6 credits) or a field course (7 or more credits). Some courses are not offered as labs every time (5/6 credit courses); check the Registration Guide for credits. Other 200-level or above TESC/TBIOL/TCHEM/TGEOS courses that are not being used for any major course requirements may be applicable here, but are not included in this list because they require additional lower-division prerequisite courses. Please consult with an advisor for further information.
Choose at least 16 credits from the following list.
- TBIOL 202 Plant Biology and Ecology (formerly TESC 202)
- TBIOL 203 History and Ecology of Biological Invasions (formerly TESC 402)
- TBIOL 204 Tropical Ecology and Sustainability (B) (formerly TESC 304)
- TBIOL 232 Issues in Biological Conservation (B) (formerly TESC 232)
- TBIOL 234 Biology/ History/Politics of Salmon in the PNW (formerly TESC 234)
- TBIOL 236 Plants and People: The Science of Agriculture (formerly TESC 236)
- TBIOL 240 Human Biology and Environmental Interactions (formerly TESC 240)
- TBIOL 242 Aging and Biology (formerly TESC 242)
- TBIOL 270 Genetics and Society (B) (formerly TESC 370)
- TBIOL 362 Introduction to Restoration Ecology (B) (formerly TESC 362)
- TBIOL 318 Biogeography (P or B) (formerly TESC 318)
- TBIOL 404 Neotropical Field Studies Abroad: Ecology and Community (B) (formerly TESC 404)
- TBIOL 408 Marine Plankton (B) (formerly TESC 408)
- TBIOL 432 Forest Ecology Field Studies (B) (formerly TESC 432)
- TBIOL 434 Conservation Biology Practice (formerly TESC 332)
- TBIOL 438 Environmental Biology: Marine Invertebrates (formerly TESC 438)
- TBIOL 442 Marine Ecology (formerly TESC 442)
- TCHEM 405 Biochemistry I (formerly TESC 405)
- TCHEM 406 Biochemistry II (formerly TESC 406)
- TESC 201 The Science of Environmental Sustainability
- TESC 239 Energy and the Environment
- TESC 303 Sustainable Development in Africa
- TESC 319 Water Quality Concepts and Watershed Studies
- TESC 430 Environmental Modeling
- TESC 431 Water Resources and Pollution
- TESC 435 Limnology
- TESC 437 Stream Ecology Field Studies
- TESC 453 Environmental Remote Sensing
- TEST 426 Ecological History Field Studies (7) (formerly TESC 426)
- TGEOS 215 Meteorology (formerly TESC 215)
- TGEOS 227 Earth History (formerly TESC 227)
- TGEOS 241 Oceanography (P) (formerly TESC 241)
- TGEOS 243 Geography of the Physical World (formerly TESC 243)
- TGEOS 247 Maritime History and Science of the PNW (formerly TESC 247)
- TGEOS 216 Pacific Northwest Geology (formerly TESC 316)
if 226 also taken, lab science requirement met - TGEOS 317 Geology, Landscape, and Culture (formerly TESC 317)
- TGEOS 321 Soils and Environmental Applications (formerly TESC 321)
- TGEOS 226 Pacific Northwest Geology Field Trip (formerly TESC 326)
if 216 is taken, combination counts as lab - TGEOS 335 Introduction to Geomorphology (P) (formerly TESC 335)
- TGEOS 337 Environmental Geology (formerly TESC 337)
- TGEOS 341 Climate Change (formerly TESC 341)
- TGEOS 343 Atmosphere and Air Pollution (formerly TESC 343)
- TGEOS 347 Environmental Earth Materials(formerly TESC 347)
- TGEOS 349 Research at Sea (formerly TESC 349)
- TGEOS 415 Sedimentology (formerly TESC 415)
- TGEOS 417 Field Geology (formerly TESC 417)
- TGEOS 445 Estuarine Field Studies (formerly TESC 445)
- TMATH 210 Intermediate Statistics with Applications (formerly TMATH 310)
Environmental foundations
Choose one course from the following list.
- TEGL 210 Introduction to Qualitative Methodology and Research Ethics
- TEGL 304 Indigenous Ethnoecology
- TEST 200 Fundamentals of Environmental Studies and Sustainability
- TLIT 437 Topics in Literature and Environment
- TPHIL 364 Topics in the Philosophy of Science
- TPHIL 456 Environmental Ethics
- TRELIG 350 Philosophy, Religion and the Environment
Communication of science and environmental issues
Choose one course from the following list, in addition to the environmental writing core course.
- TARTS 200 Studio Foundation I: Contemporary Art Strategies
- TARTS 402 Eco-Art: Art Created in Response to the Environmental Crisis
- TARTS 406 Labor, Globalization and Art
- TARTS 407 Art and the Public
- TBUS 310 Effective Managerial Communications
- TCOM 275 Writing, Reporting, and Editing for the Mass Media
- TCOM 310 Contemporary Environmental Issues and the Media
- TCOM 347 Television Criticism and Application
- TCOM 348 Non-fiction Writing for Television
- TCOM 349 News Writing
- TCOM 350 Editing and Design for Print Media
- TCOM 387 Writing for Public Relations
- TCOM 464 Field Research in Communication
- TCOM 482 Investigative Reporting
- TCOM 486 Feature Writing for Print Media
- TEDUC 495 Environmental Education
- TGIS 311 Maps and GIS
- TLIT 237 Introduction to Literature and Environment
- TMGMT 314 Interpersonal Skills
- TNPRFT 448 Cultural Administration and Policy
- TNPRFT 449 Museum Studies
- TNPRFT 451 Essentials of Grant Writing
- TWRT 287 Writing Creative Non-fiction (formerly TWRT 387)
- TWRT 291 Technical Communication in the Workplace
- TWRT 331 Advanced Disciplinary Writing: Humanities, Natural Sciences & Social Sciences
- TWRT 372 Writing Eco-poetry
- TWRT 388 Studies in Writing: Writing for Social Change (formerly TWRT 431)
Environmental policy, politics and law
Choose one course from the following list.
- TEST 333 Environmental Policy Application and Compliance
- TEST 335 Environmental Impact Analysis
- TEST 337 Natural Resources Policy: America's Public Forests and Parks
- TEST 343 Water Quality Regulation
- TEST 345 Investing in the Environment
- TLAW 339 Washington Environmental Law (formerly TEST 439, TPOLS 439)
- TLAW 438 Environmental Law (formerly TPOLS 438)
- TPOLS 202 Intro to American Politics
- TPOLS 203 Introduction to International Relations
- TSUD 323 Sustainable Urban Development Policies
- TURB 345 Urban Government and Organizations
Economics and economic policy
Choose one course from the following list.
- TBECON 220 Introduction to Microeconomic Theory
(offered by Milgard School of Business) - TBECON 221 Introduction to Macroeconomic Theory
(offered by Milgard School of Business) - TECON 101 Principles of Economics
- TECON 200 Introduction to Microeconomics
- TECON 201 Introduction to Macroeconomics
- TECON 421 Environmental Policy
- TEST 295 Valuing Ecosystems Services and Natural Capital
Urbanization and social issues
Choose at least 10 credits from the following list.
- TECON 328 Third World Problems and Prospects
- TECON 418 Urban Problems and Policies
- TEGL 202 Introduction to Contemporary American Issues
- TEGL 305 American Indian Movement
- TEST 200 Fundamentals of Environmental Studies and Sustainability
- TEST 211 Women in Science
- TEST 221 Environmental History: Water
- TEST 332 A Natural History of Garbage
- TEST 380/TURB 380 Study Abroad: Comparative International Perspectives on Cities
and the Environment (15 cr) - TGH 303 Global Challenges
- THIST 487 Technology in the Modern World
- THIST 488 History of Urbanization and the Environment
- THIST 495 The Metropolis
- THLTH 372 Human Health and the Environment
- THLTH 410/TURB 410 Environmental Equity
- THLTH 485 Critical Issues in Global Health
- TIAS 443 Ethnicity and the Urban Landscape
- TLIT 433 Native American Literature and Federal Indian Law
- TPOLS 342 Third World Cities
- TPSYCH 340 Environmental Psychology
- TPSYCH 341 Psychology of Urban Living
- TSOC 165 Introduction to Sociology: Developing the Sociological Imagination
- TSOC 265 Race and Ethnicity in the Unites States
- TSOC 335 Social Class and Inequality
- TSOC 456 Rural Societies and Development
- TSUD 222 Introduction to Sustainability
- TSUD 240 The City and Nature
- TSUD 323 Sustainable Urban Development Practices
- TSUD 445 Urban Ecology
- TURB 220 Introduction to Urban Planning
- TURB 301 The Urban Condition
- TURB 312 Race and Poverty in Urban America
- TURB 322 Land Use Planning
- TURB 326 Climate Change within the Urban Context
- TURB 450 Planning for Sustainability
- TURB 479 Planning and Development in the Puget Sound Region (3-12 cr)
Additional courses may be approved and added to courses lists to provide students more flexibility and options.
Please refer to this page often for the most up-to-date information.
To request changes to this page, please contact Dustin Annis at annisd@uw.edu.