2010-2011 University Catalog 
  
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2010-2011 University Catalog

Environmental and Sustainability Studies, BA (pending SCHEV approval)

Banner Code:LA-BA-EVSS

Colleges:  College of Humanities and Social Sciences  and College of Science 

Departments: ■ New Century College  and ■ Environmental Science and Policy 

The BA in environmental and sustainability studies is a joint program between two colleges and their departments (listed above).

The program described below has been approved by the Board of Visitors and sent to the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia for consideration as a new degree program. The university cannot accept applications or enroll students in this program until SCHEV approval has been granted.

This degree provides students with theoretical and practical knowledge of three aspects of environmental and sustainability studies: people, prosperity, and planet. In addition to required core courses, students develop more in-depth knowledge in one of four concentrations. This degree prepares students for employment and graduate study in fields related to social justice, business and public policy, and environmental protection as they relate to the environment and sustainability.

For policies governing all undergraduate degrees, see the Academic Policies  chapter of the catalog.

Degree Requirements

In addition to satisfying university general education requirements and the requirements for a bachelor of arts degree in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Science, students pursuing this degree must complete 59 credits with a minimum grade of 2.00 in each course.

Of the credits required for this degree, two credits may simultaneously fulfill the the experiential learning requirement and requirements of the concentration, 14 credits simultaneously fulfill core requirements for the major and general education requirements, and, depending on the concentration and electives chosen, up to 9 credits may simultaneously fulfill university general education requirements and college BA requirements. Thus, depending on the concentration, electives, and experiential learning, this degree requires between 43 and 34 unique credits.

Eleven required core courses (39 credits)

Core requirements fulfill university general education requirements in natural science (EVPP 110, 111)  and the BA requirement for social and behavioral science (GOVT 361).

Three courses (11 credits) in environmental science and society

Fulfills the general education natural science requirement.

Two courses (7 credits) in individual and group behavior

Two courses (6 credits) in business and public policy chosen from:

One course (4 credits) in statistics

Three courses (11 credits) in integration, analysis, innovation

Experiential learning (2 credits)

Students must complete 2 credits of experiential learning through NCC or EVPP courses offering experiential learning credit, an additional internship, field studies, or study abroad. These credits may simultaneously be applied to the credits required for a concentration.

One Concentration (18 credits)

Students must complete one concentration.

▲ Concentration in Climate Change and Society (CCSO)

The requirements for this concentration, depending on the electives chosen, may fulfill the BA requirement in philosophy and religious studies (PHIL 343).

Three required courses (9 credits)
9 credits chosen from:

▲ Concentration in Environmental Economics (EVEC)

The requirements for this concentrate fulfill the university general education requirement in social and behavioral science (ECON 103 or 104) and, depending on the electives chosen, may fulfill the BA requirement in non-Western culture (ECON 361 or 362).

Four required courses (12 credits)

Fulfills general education requirement in social and behavioral science.

6 credits chosen from:

▲ Concentration in Environmental Policy and Politics (EVPO)

The requirements for this concentration fulfill BA requirements in social and behavioral science (ECON 105) and, depending on the electives chosen, philosophy and religious studies (PHIL 343).

Four required courses (12 credits)
6 credits chosen from:

▲ Concentration in Equity and Environmental Justice (EQEJ)

The requirements for this concentration fulfill the BA requirements in non Western culture (ANTH 114), social and behavioral science (ANTH 114), and philosophy and religious studies (PHIL 343).

Four required courses (13 credits)
6 credits chosen from:

Total: 59 credits

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated as “writing intensive” in their major at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in environmental and sustainability studies should consult an advisor to learn how to fulfill this requirement.