Co-directors: Dr. Rosie Bolen (Science) and Dr. Brian Henning  (Philosophy)

The interdisciplinary minor in environmental studies offers students the opportunity to explore the role and responsibilities of the individual and society in causing and addressing environmental problems.

The minor consists of six courses. All students will take BIOL 225 and PHIL 333. Students may choose to complete the Environmental Science Focus or the Environmental Values and Policy Focus. Students in the Environmental Science Focus will take two environmental science courses with labs, and one  environmental values and policy course. Students in the Environmental Values and Policy Focus will take three environmental values and policy courses. All students will be required to complete an experiential component (i.e., research project, internship, or independent study), which will be planned in consultation with the Environmental Studies Program codirectors. No more than three courses can count toward both major and minor requirements.

Special courses of study may be designed in consultation with the codirectors. For example, students in the Environmental Policy and Values Focus may be allowed to count an approved science course toward the minor. Students may also request that the codirectors approve credit toward the minor for courses not currently listed under environmental studies. To be considered, such requests must have prior approval from the course instructor and document that the student’s work will include significant elements of environmental studies.

In addition to the requirements of the minor, students completing the minor are encouraged to select the following sections of courses in the core curriculum (which do not count towards the minor requirements): PHIL 212 From Self to Society: Science and Nature and THEOL 207 Catholic Social Teaching.

The science department also administers a custom-designed environmental studies major under the university’s interdisciplinary major program. Students interested in this major should contact the department chair as soon as possible.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES COURSES

Environmental Science

BIOL 204 Ecology (4)
BIOL 225 Introduction to Environmental Science (4)
BIOL 250 Animal Behavior (4)
BIOL 300 Microbiology (4)
BIOL 4XX Conservation Biology (3)
BIOL 406 Evolution (4)
CHEM 210 Analytical Chemistry (4)

Environmental Values and Policy

ECON 312 Environmental Economics (3)
HIST 203 Environmental History (3)
PHIL 333 Environmental Philosophy (3)
PSCI 348 Human Rights (3)
PSCI 322 Politics and the Environment (3)
PSYCH 360 Environmental Psychology (3)
THEOL 341 Theology and the Environment (3)

Experiential Component

ENV 411 Independent Study (1-3)

In consultation with the program codirectors, the student selects a topic for in-depth study in environmental studies and submits a written report. Permission of instructor, program directors and dean for academic affairs required.

ENV 450 Undergraduate Research (1-3)

An independent research project in environmental studies executed by the student in conjunction with a faculty mentor, culminating in a written paper or formal presentation. Permission of faculty mentor, program directors and dean for academic affairs required.

ENV 480 Internship (1-3)

Opportunities to gain practical experience in an off-campus program related to environmental studies. The nature of the work experience and the method of evaluation must be approved in advance by the program directors.