This page outlines requirements for the major in
Environmental Studies (BA or BS, Environmental Studies). Students can also study this subject as a minor or as part of a
self-designed major (BA or BS, Liberal Arts).
Requirements for the major in Environmental Studies (BA or BS, Environmental Studies)
BA students can concentrate in Urban Ecosystems and Public Policy. BS students can concentrate in Urban Ecosystem Design. Credit for a concentration is earned by completing three 3000- or 4000-level courses approved for that concentration. Students are encouraged, but not required, to choose a concentration. Only specific courses satisfy the major requirements, including
electives. Not all courses are offered each semester. Courses should be chosen carefully, in consultation with the chair of the program.
The BA degree in Environmental Studies requires successful completion of 16 courses distributed as described below and the senior capstone/directed research project. The BS degree course distribution requirements are the same plus three additional studio courses (for a total of 19 courses).
Required Courses:
Choose 3 Core Courses:
- UENV 2000 Environment and Society (4 credits)
- UENV 2400 Urban Ecology (4 credits)
- LSCI 2500 Chemistry of the Environment (4 credits)
Advanced Core Courses:
- UENV 3200 Spatial Thinking with GIS (4 credits)
- UENV 3400 Urban Resilience (4 credits)
Economics and Math Courses:
- LMTH 2050 Math Models in Nature (4 credits)
- LMTH 2030 Statistics with SPSS (4 credits)
- UENV 3501 Economics of the Environment (4 credits)
Choose one (1) Lab Course:
- UENV 3450 Ecology Lab (4 credits)
- LSCI 3029 Water Quality Lab (4 credits)
Choose one (1) Social Science elective (3-4 credits):
- UENV 2530 Environmental Justice
- UENV 3510 Planning Sustainable Cities
- UENV 4703 Social Justice in Sustainable Food Systems
Choose three (3) Design Electives from the list below:
- PSDS 2510 Visualizing Urban Change (3 credits) - recommended
- PUDM 2101 Economics and Ethics of Sustainable Design (3 credits) - recommended
- PSDS 2100 Research and Developmental Methods (3 credits) - recommended
- PSDS 2532 Urban Interventions (3 credits)
- PUDM 1100 Intro to Design and Management (3 credits)
- PUDM 1101 Design Strategies and Everyday Experience (3 credits)
Internship Requirement:
- UENV 3901 Professional Internship - recommended summer before senior year (0-2 credits)
Senior Capstone:
- UENV 4210 Directed Research (Pre-Thesis) (4 credits)
- Choose one (1), (3-4 credits):
- UENV 4211 Directed Research
- or one 4000-level US elective course
Optional: three (3) concentration electives (12 credits)
BA total credits without concentration: 55-59
BA total credits with concentration: 67-71
Additional requirements for BS students only:
Choose 12 credits from the following:*
- PSDS 2532 Collab: Urban Interventions (3 credits)
- PSDS 3100 Integrative Research/Development (3 credits)
- PSDS 3510 Designing Urban Food Agric. (3 credits)
- PSDS 3601 Sustainable Business Design
(6 credits)
- PSDS 3602 Sustainable Everyday Practices* (6 credits)
- PUDM 3301 Research/Develop. Methods (3 credits)
- PSCE 4021 Designing Sustainable Foodscapes (3 credits)
*Alternative courses may be approved, in consultation with an advisor.
BA total credits without concentration: 67-71
BA total credits with concentration: 79-83
Requirements Worksheet
Track your progress using the Program Requirement Worksheet for the year in which you declared your major in Environmental Studies:
Students who declared earlier than 2015 should see their academic advisor for degree requirements.