Environmental Studies

Environmental Studies Degree Requirements

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

Preparatory courses must have been completed within the last 5 years. If they were completed before that time frame or for specific transfer courses that are accepted, please consult an academic advisor.

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.)

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