Skip to Navigation
George Mason University
    George Mason University
   
 
 
 
2016-2017 University Catalog 
  
2016-2017 University Catalog

Environmental and Sustainability Studies, BA (COS)


Banner Code:  LA-BA-EVSS

College: College of Humanities and Social Sciences  and College of Science  
Department: School of Integrative Studies  and Environmental Science and Policy  

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 six 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  section of this catalog.

Degree Requirements


Students must fulfill all requirements for bachelor’s degrees , including Mason Core  requirements. Students pursuing a BA in environmental and sustainability studies must complete additional college requirements for the BA degree  in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Students pursuing this degree must complete a minimum of 60 credits within the major, with a minimum grade of 2.00 in each course.

Of the credits required for this degree, 14 credits simultaneously fulfill core requirements for the major and Mason Core  requirements, and, depending on the concentration and electives chosen, up to 9 credits may simultaneously fulfill Mason Core  requirements and college BA requirements.

Twelve required core courses (42-43 credits)


Core requirements may satisfy Mason Core  requirements in natural science (EVPP 110 EVPP 111 ) and the college BA requirement for social and behavioral science (GOVT 361 ).

Two courses (7 credits) in individual and group behavior


Three courses (9 credits) in business and public policy


One course (4 credits) in statistics chosen from:


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


One Concentration (18-22 credits)


Students must complete one concentration.

▲ Concentration in Business and Sustainability (BUSU)


The requirements for this concentration, depending on the electives chosen, may satisfy the college BA requirement in philosophy and religious studies (PHIL 243 , PHIL 305 ).

Students who have already taken and received credit for MGMT 303  or OM 303  shall substitute MGMT 303 for MBUS 301  and OM 303 for MBUS 306 . Both courses cannot be taken for credit. Students who have taken and received credit for both ACCT 203  and FNAN 303  shall substitute the combination for MBUS 300 . All three courses cannot be taken for credit.

For this concentration, students may substitute OM 211  for SOCI 313  (core requirement for degree). Students cannot receive credit for more than one of these.

Four core courses (12 credits)

Total: 18 credits

▲ Concentration in Climate Change and Society (CCSO)


The requirements for this concentration, depending on the electives chosen, may satisfy the college BA requirement in philosophy and religious studies (PHIL 243 , PHIL 343 ).

Three courses (9 credits) chosen from:

Total: 18-19 credits

▲ Concentration in Environmental Policy and Economics (EVPE)


The requirements for this concentration satisfy the Mason Core requirement in social and behavioral science (ECON 104 ) and, depending on the elective chosen, may fulfill the college BA requirement in non-Western culture   (ECON 362 ).

Four required courses (12 credits)

Completion of these courses will satisfy the Mason Core social and behavioral science requirement.

Total: 18 credits

▲ Concentration in Equity and Environmental Justice (EQEJ)


Total: 18 credits

▲ Concentration in Sustainable Food and Agriculture (SFG)


Total: 18 credits

▲ Concentration in Conservation and Sustainability (CSUS)


Smithsonian-Mason Program (16 credits)

Students complete 16 credits offered through the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation in cooperation with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

Total: 19-22 credits

Total: 60-65 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.

Mason Core (40 credits)


Note: some Mason Core  requirements may already be fulfilled by the major requirements listed above.  Students are strongly encouraged to consult their advisors to ensure they fulfill all remaining Mason Core  requirements.

Expand each item below for a link to specific course lists for each category.

College Level Requirements for the BA degree


In addition to the Mason Core program, students pursuing a BA degree must complete the course work below. Except where expressly prohibited, a course used to fulfill a college level requirement may also be used simultaneously to satisfy other requirements (Mason Core requirements or requirements for the major).

Philosophy or religious studies (3 credits)


Fulfilled by any course in philosophy or religious studies (PHIL, RELI) except for PHIL 323 , 324 , 327 , 393 , 460 PHIL 253  and RELI 235  cannot be used to fulfill both the philosophy/religious studies requirement and the Mason Core  literature requirement.

Social and behavioral science (3 credits)


3 credits in addition to the university-wide requirement in social and behavioral science for a total of 6 credits. The two courses used to fulfill the combined college and university requirements must be from different disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences.  This requirement may be fulfilled by completing any course in ANTH, CRIM, ECON, GOVT, HIST (except 100 or 125), LING, PSYC, or SOCI and these courses in GGS: 101 , 103 , 110 , 301 , 303 , 304 , 305 , 306 , 315 , 316 , 320 , 325 , 330 , 357 , 380 .

Foreign language


Intermediate-level proficiency in one foreign language. This requirement may be fulfilled by completing a course in a foreign language numbered 202, 209, or 210 (or higher level courses taught in the language) or achieving a satisfactory score on an approved proficiency test. A three course sequence in American Sign Language (EDSE 115 - American Sign Language (ASL) I EDSE 116 - American Sign Language (ASL) II , and EDSE 219 - American Sign Language (ASL) III  will also meet the foreign language requirement. Students who are already proficient in a second language may be eligible for a waiver of this requirement. Additional information on waivers can be found at the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

Non-Western culture (3 credits)


3 credits of an approved course in the study of a non-Western culture  in addition to the course used to fulfill the Mason Core  requirement in global understanding. A course used to fulfill the Mason Core global understanding requirement may not be simultaneously used to satisfy this college-level requirement. A course used to fulfill this requirement may be used simultaneously to fulfill any other requirements (Mason Core requirements, college-level requirements, or requirements for the major). Additional information on waivers can be found at the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs

Electives


Any remaining credits may be completed with elective courses to bring the degree total to 120.

Degree Total: Minimum 120 credits