2011-2012 University Catalog 
  
2011-2012 University Catalog

Environmental and Sustainability Studies, BA


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).

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.

This has been designated a Green Leaf program.  For further information, please go to Green Leaf Programs and Courses .

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

Degree Requirements


Students pursuing a BA in environmental and sustainability studies must satisfy university general education requirements and the requirements for a bachelor of arts degree in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences as well as the requirements for all bachelor’s degrees as stated in the Academic Policies  chapter of the catalog. 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 34 and 43 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 (18-19 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).

▲ 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.

Total: 18 credits

▲ 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).

▲ 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).

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.