Earth Science & Environmental Studies

Earth Science and Environmental Studies are focused on the study of human interactions with the earth and its environments.

The major and minor in Earth Science focus on the scientific study of the processes that shape the earth. The program offers courses that explore earth materials and what they can tell us about past climates, tectonic activity, and mountain building. We also study natural hazards and other processes that shape earth’s surface and how they affect human societies.

The major and minor in Environmental Studies examines the complex relationships between humans and the environment by exploring multiple disciplinary perspectives through elective courses from the Humanities, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. A required course in Environmental Justice critically interprets values and assumptions that structure communities and their relationships to the earth’s ecosystem with special attention to the history of colonialism and capitalism. In ENVT 350: Environmental Methods of Investigation, students study and apply diverse disciplinary frameworks and methodologies toward an integrated understanding of the local Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed.

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Major in Earth Science
34 semester hours in the following earth science courses, plus 4 semester hours in supporting courses

The bachelor of arts degree is the minimum preparation for the field and is best combined with other degree programs, such as another major or minor. Students interested in Earth Science and completing a bachelor of arts in education often combine it with this degree.

• Required: ESCI 201, 401, 498, 499
• 8 semester hours from: ESCI 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, or 109
• 16 semester hours from: ESCI 325, 327, 331, 332, 336, 345, or 387/388/389
• Required supporting non-earth science course: CHEM 104 or CHEM 115
• Recommended: Geologic Field Experience
• Course selections should reflect a student’s interests and are discussed with an advisor
• All courses taken for the major must be completed with a grade of C- or higher

Major in Environmental Studies
40 semester hours, completed with a grade of C- or higher and with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher in those courses.

1. 1. Multidisciplinary Courses in Environmental Studies
      4 semester hours
      By examining the broad dimensions of environmental studies, these courses present various perspectives that highlight the complex relationships between people and the environment and that transcend the boundaries of any particular discipline. Students select one of the following multidisciplinary courses that anchor their understanding of environmental issues. The course should be completed prior to enrolling in either ENVT 350 or 499A.
      • • ECON 101: Principles of Microeconomics (4)
        • ESCI 104: Conservation of Natural Resources (4)
        • RELI 239: Environment and Culture (4)
   2. Disciplinary Breadth in Environmental Studies Each course explores the key content, ways of inquiry, conceptual framework and modes of communication of the discipline. Students take courses from each of three areas of study that provide an in-depth exposure to environmental issues within a discipline.
      1. 1. 1. The Environment and Science 
               8 semester hours
               These courses emphasize the understanding of scientific knowledge that underpins environmental issues. The interpretation and presentation of data along with concepts of science are stressed. Students select two courses (from two different departments) from the following:
               • • BIOL 116: Introductory Ecology (4)
                 • BIOL 367: Conservation Biology & Management* (4)
                 • BIOL 368: Ecology* (4)
                 • BIOL 369: Marine Biology* (4)
                 • CHEM 104: Environmental Chemistry# (4)
                 • ESCI 103: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Geological Hazards (4)
                 • ESCI 109: The Geology of Energy (4)
                 • ESCI 332: Geomorphology* (4)
                 • NSCI 350: STEM Education Partnership (4)
            2. The Environment and Society
               8 semester hours
               These courses focus on the understanding of the institutions within which environmental decisions are made and investigate the implementation and implications of environmental decisions. The courses also consider how human communities have shaped and been shaped by their environment and how these relationships have changed over time. Students select two courses (from two different departments) from the following:
               • • ANTH 368: Edible Landscapes, The Foraging Spectrum (4)
                 • ECON 215: Investigating Environmental & Economic Change in Europe* (4)
                 • ECON 313: Environmental Economics* (4)
                 • HIST 370: Environmental History of the US (4)
                 • POLS 346: Environmental Politics and Policy (4)
            3. The Environment and Sensibility
               8 semester hours
               These courses examine the ways in which nature shapes and is shaped by human consciousness and perception. The courses critically interpret the values and assumptions that structure human communities and their relationships with the earth’s ecosystems. Students select two courses (from two different departments) from the following:
               • • ENGL 234: Environmental Literature (4)
                 • ENGL 394: Studies in Literature and the Environment (4)
                 • PHIL 226: Environmental Ethics (4)
                 • PHIL 327: Environmental Philosophy (4)
                 • RELI 236: Native American Religious Traditions (4)
                 • RELI 257: Christian Theology (4)
                   (when topic is “Green Theology” only)
   3. Environmental Justice
      4 semester hours
      These courses examine intersections between environmental degradation and structural discrimination and how Indigenous and/or minoritized communities live in and experience these intersections. The courses critically interpret values and assumptions that structure human communities and their relationships to the earth’s ecosystem with special attention to the history of colonialism and capitalism, questions of racism, sexism, xenophobia, and/or speciesism, the exclusions of minoritized communities from environmentalist movements and the survivance and resistance of such communities at theses intersections. Students select one course from the following:
      • • NAIS 244: Environmental Justice and Indigenous People (4)
        • RELI 365: Climate Justice (4)
        • RELI 397: Indigenous Religions and Cultures of the Pacific Northwest (4)
   4. Interdisciplinary Advanced Courses in Environmental Studies
      8 semester hours
      Each student will complete these three synthesis courses that integrate methods and content of various academic perspectives to develop approaches to complex environmental challenges. The courses serve to raise questions, create products or produce explanations that cannot be addressed within the framework of a particular discipline.
      • • ENVT 350: Environmental Methods of Investigation (4)
        • ENVT 499A: Capstone: Senior Project (1)
        • ENVT 499B: Capstone: Senior Project (3)

Additional Requirements for an Environmental Studies Major

• A complementary major or minor in another discipline
• A minimum of 20 semester hours of upper-division coursework in the environmental studies major
• Completion of a pre-approved experiential learning activity (see program director or website for specific requirements)

Minors

Earth Science
16 semester hours

The minor is for students with another major who are interested in geology but do not have space to complete a second major.

• 4 semester hours from: ESCI 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, or 109
• ESCI 201
• A minimum of eight upper-division semester hours of earth science courses
• All courses for the minor must be completed with a grade of C or higher

Environmental Studies
24 semester hours, completed with a grade of C- or higher and with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher in those courses

1. 1. Multidisciplinary Courses in Environmental Studies
      4 semester hours
      Students select one of the following multidisciplinary courses that anchor their understanding of environmental issues. This course should be completed prior to enrolling in ENVT 350.
      • ECON 101: Principles of Microeconomics (4)
      • ESCI 104: Conservation of Natural Resources (4)
      • RELI 239: Environment and Culture (4)
   2. The Environment and Science
      4 semester hours
      Students select one course from the following that examine the scientific foundations of environmental issues:
      • BIOL 116: Introductory Ecology (4)
      • BIOL 367: Conservation Biology and Management* (4)
      • BIOL 368: Ecology* (4)
      • BIOL 369: Marine Biology* (4)
      • CHEM 104: Environmental Chemistry# (4)
      • ESCI 103: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Geological Hazards (4)
      • ESCI 109: The Geology of Energy (4)
      • ESCI 332: Geomorphology* (4)
      • NSCI 350: STEM Education Partnership (4)
   3. The Environment and Society
      4 semester hours
      Students select one course from the following that pursue the study of institutions where environmental perspectives and policies are applied and how these have changed over time:
      • ANTH 368: Edible Landscapes, The Foraging Spectrum (4)
      • ECON 215: Investigating Environmental & Economic Change in Europe* (4)
      • ECON 313: Environmental Economics* (4)
      • HIST 370: Environmental History of the U.S. (4)
      • POLI 346: Environmental Politics and Policy (4)
   4. The Environment and Sensibility
      4 semester hours
      Students select one course from the following that examine the ways in which nature shapes and is shaped by human consciousness and perception:
      • ENGL 234: Environmental Literature (4)
      • ENGL 394: Studies in Literature and the Environment (4)
      • PHIL 226: Environmental Ethics (4)
      • PHIL 327: Environmental Philosophy (4)
      • RELI 236: Native American Religious Traditions (4)
      • RELI 257: Christian Theology (4)
        (when topic is “Green Theology” only)
   5. Environmental Justice
      4 semester hours
      Students select one course from the following that examine intersections between environmental degradation and structural discrimination and how Indigenous and/or minoritized communities live in and experience these intersections:
      
      • NAIS 244: Environmental Justice and Indigenous Peoples (4)
      • RELI 365: Climate Justice (4)
      • RELI 397: Indigenous Religions and Cultures of the Pacific Northwest (4)
   6. Environmental Methods of Investigation
      4 semester hours
      • ENVT 350: Environmental Methods of Investigation (4)

Courses listed below denoted with an asterisk (*) require completion of all necessary prerequisites. In consultation with the director of the Environmental Studies Program, students majoring in a natural science discipline and who have taken a higher level CHEM course (115 or above) will be allowed to substitute another course in place of any courses listed below denoted with a pound sign (#).