°®¶¹´«Ã½'s Environmental Studies Program seeks to prepare each student for life as a citizen and as a leader, who is equipped to understand and address the complex environmental challenges facing our communities, our nations and our planet. Graduates of our program will be able to tackle environmental and societal concerns in four critical areas:
- Critical thinking skills for understanding and confronting problems that involve the intersection between the natural and human worlds at multiple scales
- Fundamental knowledge about the three E's of sustainability: environment, economics and equity
- Methodological training for generating and analyzing data needed to investigate, explain and mitigate environmental issues and problems
- Communication abilities to share information with technical and non-technical audiences
Our society faces numerous environmental challenges such as global climate change, species extinction, soil erosion, air and water contamination, and habitat loss. Such environmental degradation undercuts the health and economic well-being of our communities, especially in places with people who have the fewest resources to respond.
Efforts to build communities that are resilient to environmental challenges and resulting social impacts require an integrated understanding of complex natural and social systems that also address issues of human rights and social justice. Our environmental studies and environmental science degrees at °®¶¹´«Ã½ are designed to foster a transdisciplinary perspective on the interactions among humans and their environment in the face of present and future needs. Our approach to environmental studies embraces the complementary ideas that effective environmental policy is based on a solid understanding of physical and social science. At the same time, scientists working on environmental problems must understand the policy, planning and economic frameworks in which their studies will be applied.
We offer two degrees: a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Environmental Science and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Environmental Studies. Both degrees provide undergraduates with an interdisciplinary program that addresses the interrelationships of humans with their environment and the practical problems resulting from these relationships. In addition to taking the core courses required of all environmental science and studies majors, students complete specializations that develop a cross-disciplinary perspective, with a problem-oriented focus. These specializations are Earth Systems, Economic Systems, Ecosystems, and Sustainable Systems. Within the framework of the environmental science and studies, a student may obtain the interdisciplinary background prerequisites for such professional fields as food systems, environmental planning, urban and regional planning, policy analysis, environmental law, ecosystem management, environmental education and environmental analysis or graduate programs in these fields, as well as in sustainable communities, environmental geology and environmental chemistry.
Because of the diverse background required of students majoring in our environmental science and studies degrees, prospective majors must plan their academic program carefully. Majors should complete the core requirements (see below) for the environmental science and environmental studies majors as early as possible. At the time students declare their intention to major in environmental science or environmental studies, they choose a specialization and should, in consultation with their program advisor, decide on the courses making up their specialization and plan their academic program. Many of the upper-level courses require prerequisites and advanced planning.
Harpur College Requirements
Harpur College students must complete the following requirements in addition to those listed for the major:
- 126 credits
- 94 liberal arts and sciences credits
- Minimum of 46 upper-level credits
- Completion of the Harpur College writing requirement (four to five courses as described in the All-College Writing section of the Harpur College Undergraduate Information section of the Bulletin. Maximum of one C/J course and two W courses may be transferred).
- Minimum of 44 credits in residence in Harpur College
- 2.0 or higher GPA
Harpur College requirements are described in detail in the Requirements for Graduation section of the Harpur College Undergraduate Information section of the Bulletin.
Majors in Environmental Studies and Science
We offer two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Environmental Studies and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Environmental Science. There are three parts to each degree program: (1) a set of core courses, (2) a unified capstone experience course and 3) a set of specialization courses with an applied course in each track.
BA Degree in Environmental Studies
Students choose one of four specializations (Earth Systems, Economic Systems, Ecosystems, and Sustainable Systems) that lead to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies.
Core Requirements for All Specializations
The following are the core requirements for all specializations in environmental studies BA:
- ENVI 101 Humans & Ecological Environment
- ENVI 201 Humans & Physical Environment
- One introductory methods course such as:
- MATH 147 Elementary Statistics
- MATH 148 Elementary Statistics for Biologists
- GEOG 260 Intro to GIS/Spatial Analysis
- ENVI 360 Intro to GIS Applications
- One of the following lower-level economics courses:
- ECON 160 Microeconomics
- ECON 162 Macroeconomics
- One of the following lower-level environmental policy courses:
- ENVI 149 Environmental Ethics
- ENVI 225 International Environ Policy
- ENVI 230 Intro to Environmental Policy
- ENVI 239 Environmental Planning & Policy
- One lower-level course related to environmental science (BIOL, GEOG, GEOL, PHYS, or other)
- One upper-level capstone course such as:
- ENVI 413 Environmental Studies Capstone
- ENVI 498 Senior Thesis
- ENVI 499 Honors Thesis
Earth Systems Specialization Requirements
In addition to the core requirements, the following are requirements for the Earth systems specialization in environmental studies:
- One lower-level GEOL course
- One upper-level course in surface geology, such as:
- GEOL 311 Earth's Surface Processes
- ENVI/GEOL 342 Environmental Hydrology
- One upper-level course in environmental chemistry or hydrology, such as:
- ENVI/GEOL 304 Intro to ENVI Geochemistry
- ENVI 346 Envi Chem Community Water Systems
- Three upper-level science courses in Earth systems (CHEM, GEOL, ENVI, or other)
- One upper-level research, teaching and/or applied course in Earth systems, such as:
- ENVI 397 Independent Studies
- GEOL 411 Adv Geomorphology
- GEOL 460 Geomicrobiology
- GEOL 465 Environmental Measurements
- ENVI 491 Undergraduate Teaching
- ENVI 495 Environmental Internship
Economic Systems Specialization Requirements
In addition to the core requirements, the following are requirements for the economic systems specialization in environmental studies:
- One additional introductory course in economics (whichever not taken for core requirements):
- ECON 160 Microeconomics
- ECON 162 Macroeconomics
- Two lower-level courses in calculus:
- MATH 224 Differential Calculus
- MATH 225 Integral Calculus
- Two upper-level courses in economics:
- ECON 331 Environmental Economics
- ECON 360 Microeconomic Theory
- Two upper-level courses in environmental economics (ECON, ENVI, or other)
- One upper-level research, teaching and/or applied course in economic systems, such
as:
- ENVI 397 Independent Study
- ECON 431 Adv Environ Econ
- ECON 433 Natural Resource Econ
- ENVI 434 Energy Econ
- ENVI 491 Undergraduate Teaching
- ENVI 495 Environmental Internship
Ecosystems Specialization Requirements
In addition to the core requirements, the following are requirements for the ecosystems specialization in environmental studies:
- One lower-level course in ecosystems biology, such as:
- BIOL 114 Biology of Organisms & Populations
- One upper-level course in ecology, such as:
- BIOL 355 Ecology
- BIOL 373 Ecological Principles & Applications
- Four upper-level courses in ecosystems (BIOL, CHEM, ENVI, GEOG, GEOL, or other related fields)
- One upper-level research, teaching and/or applied course in ecosystems, such as:
- ENVI 397 Independent Study
- ENVI 415 Environmental Planning
- ENVI 430 Plant Ecology
- BIOL 430 Animal Physiology
- BIOL 455 Principles of Ecosystem Ecology
- BIOL 477 Conservation Biology
- BIOL 481D Forest Ecosystems & Conserv.
- ENVI 491 Undergraduate Teaching
- ENVI 495 Environmental Internship
Sustainable Systems Specialization Requirements
In addition to the core requirements, the following are requirements for the sustainable systems specialization in environmental studies:
- Five upper-level courses in sustainable systems
- One upper-level course in environmental public policy, such as:
- ENVI 460 Environmental Policy Analysis
- ENVI 340 International Conservation and Development
- Other courses by advising
- One upper-level research, teaching and/or applied course in sustainable systems, such
as:
- ENVI 397 Independent Study
- ENVI 400 Sustainable Communities I
- ENVI 410 Sustainable Communities II
- ENVI 415 Environmental Planning
- ENVI 465 Earth Justice
- ENVI 460 Environmental Policy Analysis
- ENVI 491 Undergraduate Teaching
- ENVI 495 Environmental Internship
BS Degree in Environmental Science
Students choose one of three specializations that lead to a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. Courses required for the BS degree include:
Core Requirements for All Specializations
The following are the core requirements for all specializations in environmental studies BS:
- ENVI 101 Humans & Ecological Environment
- ENVI 201 Humans & Physical Environment
- One introductory methods course, such as:
- MATH 147 Elementary Statistics
- MATH 148 Elementary Statistics for Biologists
- GEOG 260 Intro to GIS/Spatial Analysis
- ENVI 360 Intro to GIS Applications
- One of the following lower-level economics courses:
- ECON 160 Microeconomics
- ECON 162 Macroeconomics
- One of the following lower-level environmental policy courses:
- ENVI 225 International Environ Policy
- ENVI 239 Environmental Planning & Policy
- One upper-level capstone course, such as:
- ENVI 413 Environmental Studies Capstone
- ENVI 498 Senior Thesis
- ENVI 499 Honors Thesis
Earth Systems Specialization Requirements
In addition to the core requirements, the following are requirements for the Earth systems specialization in environmental science:
- One lower-level chemistry requirement, such as:
- ENVI 140 Intro Environ Chemistry and CHEM 106 General Chemistry Laboratory
- CHEM 104 General Chemistry I and CHEM 106 General Chemistry Laboratory
- CHEM 107 CHEM/BCHEM Majors Gen Chem I
- CHEM 111 Chemical Principles
- One lower-level course related to environmental science (BIOL, CHEM, GEOG, GEOL, PHYS, or other)
- One lower-level GEOL course
- One upper-level surface geology course, such as:
- GEOL 311 Earth's Surface Processes
- ENVI/GEOL 342 Environmental Hydrology
- One upper-level course in environmental chemistry or hydrology, such as:
- ENVI/GEOL 304 Intro to Envi Geochemistry
- ENVI 346 Envi Chem Community Water Systems
- Five upper-level courses in Earth systems (CHEM, GEOL, ENVI, or other)
- One upper-level research, teaching and/or applied course in Earth systems, such as:
- ENVI 397 Independent Study
- GEOL 411 Adv Geomorphology
- GEOL 460 Geomicrobiology
- GEOL 465 Environmental Measurements
- ENVI 491 Undergraduate Teaching
- ENVI 495 Environmental Internship
Ecosystems Specialization Requirements
In addition to the core requirements, the following are requirements for the ecosystems specialization in environmental science:
- One lower-level chemistry requirement, such as:
- ENVI 140 Intro Environ Chemistry and CHEM 106 General Chemistry Laboratory
- CHEM 104 General Chemistry I and CHEM 106 General Chemistry Laboratory
- CHEM 107 CHEM/BCHEM Majors Gen Chem I
- CHEM 111 Chemical Principles
- One additional lower-level chemistry course, such as:
- CHEM 105 General Chemistry II
- CHEM 108 CHEM/BCHEM Majors Gen Chem II
- CHEM 221 Analytical Chemistry
- CHEM 231 Organic Chemistry I
- One lower-level course related to environmental science (BIOL, ENVI, GEOG, GEOL, PHYS, or other)
- One lower-level ecosystem biology course, such as:
- BIOL 114 Intro to Organisms & Population Biology
- One upper-level course in ecology, such as:
- BIOL 355 Ecology
- BIOL 373 Ecological Principles & Applications
- Five upper-level courses in ecosystems (BIOL, GEOG, ENVI, or other related fields)
- One upper-level research, teaching and/or applied course in Ecosystems, such as:
- ENVI 397 Independent Study
- ENVI 415 Environmental Planning
- ENVI 430 Plant Ecology
- BIOL 430 Animal Physiology
- BIOL 455 Principles of Ecosystem Ecology
- BIOL 477 Conservation Biology
- BIOL 481D Forest Ecosystems & Conserv.
- ENVI 491 Undergraduate Teaching
- ENVI 495 Environmental Internship
Environmental Systems Specialization Requirements
In addition to the core requirements, the following are requirements for the environmental systems specialization in environmental science:
- One introductory chemistry requirement, which can be fulfilled by:
- ENVI 140 Intro Environ Chemistry, CHEM 105 General Chemistry II, and CHEM 106 General Chemistry Laboratory
- CHEM 104 General Chemistry I, CHEM 105 General Chemistry II, and CHEM 106 General Chemistry Laboratory
- CHEM 107 CHEM/BCHEM Majors Gen Chem I and CHEM 108 CHEM/BCHEM Majors Gen Chem II
- CHEM 111 Chemical Principles
- Three introductory biology courses:
- BIOL 113 Intro to Cell & Molecular Biology
- BIOL 114 Intro to Organisms & Population Biol
- BIOL 115 Intro Biology Lab
- Two introductory calculus-based physics courses:
- PHYS 131 General Physics I (Calculus-Based)
- PHYS 132 General Physics II (Calculus-Based)
- One upper-level course in ecology, such as:
- BIOL 355 Ecology
- BIOL 373 Ecological Principles & Applications
- Five upper-level courses in ecosystems (BIOL, GEOG, ENVI, or other related fields)
- One upper-level research, teaching and/or applied course in environmental systems,
such as:
- ENVI 397 Independent Study
- ENVI 491 Undergraduate Teaching
- ENVI 495 Environmental Internship
Courses approved for the specializations in the environmental studies or environmental science degrees are drawn from the offerings of anthropology, biological sciences, chemistry, economics, geography, geological sciences, political science and others.
Note: The Environmental Studies program maintains a list of the courses that fulfill each of the specialization requirements. This list is available on the Environmental Studies website and in the Environmental Studies program office.
Except for internships and teaching practica, courses taken Pass/Fail may not be counted toward the major. A grade of C- or better is required for courses applied to the major.
Minor in Environmental Studies
The six-course minor in environmental studies allows a student to explore the interdisciplinary structure of the environmental studies curriculum without completing the full major. Requirements are:
- ENVI 101 and ENVI 201
- One of ENVI/PHIL 149 or ENVI 225, or ENVI/GEOG 239
- Two upper-division ENVI courses
- Either ENVI 413 or ENVI 415
Honors Program in Environmental Science and Environmental Studies
Graduation with honors in environmental science or environmental studies is granted for superior independent work, usually in the form of an honors thesis. To qualify, students must have demonstrated excellence in coursework and must receive the approval of a faculty member to register for ENVI 498 and ENVI 499. Normally, honors students enroll in ENVI 498 in their next-to-last semester to start their research and in ENVI 499 in their last semester, during which they complete the thesis. The student's work must be submitted to a thesis committee consisting of the supervising professor and at least one other faculty member associated with the Environmental Studies Program.