Program and Curriculum
Course Work
As prerequisites to the program, all students must take Economics 152 and a course in statistics (Mathematics 107 or Economics 156), preferably before the spring term of the sophomore year.
The Common Environmental Studies and Sciences Core
Students in both tracks are required to take six course units in a common core of study. Five courses are designed to create a foundation that fosters understanding of this interdisciplinary field. The final writing-intensive course, which should be taken in the senior year, is intended specifically to teach and demonstrate research methods through integrative group research projects and presentations. More information can be found in the course catalog.
- ENVR 112: Environmental Science
- ENVR 111: Geology
- ECON 240: Environmental Economics
- ENVR 240 (Environmental Policy) or ENVR 244 (Climate Negotiations on the International Stage)
- PHIL/REL 250: Environmental Ethics
- ENVR 370: Environmental Studies Seminar
Students in the B.S. track in environmental science also must take the following six courses:
- BIOL 212: General Zoology or BIOL 219: Introductory Botany
- BIOL 360: Ecology
- CHEM 113-114: General Chemistry I and II
- CHEM 205: Environmental Chemistry
- ENVR 210: Introductory Geographic Information Systems
In addition, students in the environmental science program must complete at least two of the following:
- BIOL 220: Biostatistics
- BIOL 232 TR: Field Marine Ecology
- BIOL 235: Microbiology
- BIOL 250: Animal Behavior
- BIOL 330: Marine Ecology
- BIOL 332 TR: Advanced Field Marine Ecology
- BIOL 335: Evolution
- CHEM 211: Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 212: Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 222: Quantitative Analysis
- PHYS 109: Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences I or PHYS 111: Introductory Physics I
- ENVR 268 TR: Costa Rica as a Model of Tropical Ecology and Sustainability
- ENVR 330: Environmental Health
- ENVR 381-384: Independent Study
- ENVR 386-389: Field Study
- ENVR 400-401: Honors
Students who intend to pursue the B.A. track in environmental policy and economics also must take the following three courses:
- ECON 241: Natural Resource Economics and Policy
- POSC 240: Environmental Policy
- POSC 340: Energy Policy
Also, they must take three of the following electives:
- ECON 228: Economic Development
- ECON 330: Public Economics
- ECON 236: International Economics
- ENVR 210: Introductory Geographic Information Systems
- HIST 260: Environmental History
- POSC 110: The American Political System
- POSC 115: International Politics: How the World Works
- SOC 312: Environmental Law
- ENVR 381-384: Independent Study
- ENVR 386-899: Field Study
- ENVR 400-401:Honors
Appropriate advanced courses offered as special topics or by other LVAIC institutions may be substituted as electives with the prior approval of the program director.
The Minor in Environmental Science
The minor in Environmental Science consists of five (5) courses including ENVR 112 (Environmental Science) plus four (4) additional science courses currently approved for the Environmental Science (B.S.) major. These courses are to be selected by the student in consultation with and approved by the Director of the Environmental Studies & Sciences Program. At least three of these courses must be taken at É«ÖÐÉ« or through cross registration at other LVAIC institutions. These courses can be from one department or selected from a number of different departments. At least two courses should be numbered 210 or above (excluding 300-309). In seeking to establish a minor, a student may count a course only once. For example, a student majoring in Environmental Policy & Economics may not count Introductory Geology (ENVR 111) for both the major and a minor in Environmental Science. An alternate course must be substituted for the minor.
Courses that may be used to fulfill the Minor in Environmental Science:
Biology 220 | Biostatistics |
Biology 225 | Invertebrate Biology |
Biology 232 | Field Marine Ecology |
Biology 235 | Microbiology |
Biology 250 | Animal Behavior |
Biology 330 | Marine Ecology |
Biology 332 | Advanced Field Marine Ecology |
Biology 335 | Evolution |
Chemistry 211 | Organic Chemistry I |
Chemistry 212 | Organic Chemistry II |
Chemistry 222 | Quantitative Analysis |
Physics 109 or PHYS 111 | Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences I or Introductory Physics I |
Environmental 268 | Costa Rica as a Model of Tropical Ecology and Sustainability |
Environmental 330 | Environmental Health |
Environmental 286, 381-384 | Independent Study |
Environmental 288, 386-388 | Internship |
Environmental 400-401 | Honors |
Appropriate special topics courses and advanced courses offered by LVAIC institutions may be substituted with the prior approval of the Environmental Studies & Sciences Program Director.
The Minor in Environmental Policy & Economics
The minor in Environmental Policy & Economics consists of five (5) courses including ENVR 112 (Environmental Science), Economics 240 or 241, plus three (3) additional science courses currently approved for the Environmental Policy & Economics (B.A.) major, of which at least one must be a course in economics. These courses are to be selected by the student in consultation with and approved by the Director of the Environmental Studies & Sciences Program. At least three of these courses must be taken at É«ÖÐÉ« or through cross registration at other LVAIC institutions. These courses can be from one department or selected from a number of different departments. At least two courses should be numbered 210 or above (excluding 300-309). In seeking to establish a minor, a student may count a course only once. For example, a student majoring in Environmental Science may not count Environmental Economics (ECON 240) for both the major and a minor in Environmental Policy & Economics. An alternate course must be substituted for the minor.
Courses that may be used to fulfill the Minor in Environmental Policy & Economics:
Environmental 210 | Introductory Geographic Information Systems |
Economics 152 | Principles of Economics |
Economics 228 | Economic Development |
Economics 236 | International Economics |
Economics 240 | Environmental Economics and Policy |
Economics 241 | Natural Resource Economics and Policy |
Economics 330 | Public Economics |
Environmental 286 | Independent Study |
Environmental 288 | Internship |
Environmental 370 | Environmental Studies Seminar |
Environmental 381-384 | Independent Study |
Environmental 386-389 | Internship |
Political Science 110 | The American Political System |
Political Science 115 | International Politics: How the World Works |
Political Science 237 | Public Administration and Public Policy |
Environmental 240 | Environmental Policy |
Political Science 340 | Energy Policy |
Sociology 312 | Environmental Law |
Appropriate special topics courses and advanced courses offered by LVAIC institutions may be substituted with the prior approval of the Environmental Studies & Sciences Program Director.