Curriculum

The ENVS major requires a minimum of 67 credit hours, and overlaps with several College of Arts and Sciences General Education Requirementsincluding Natural Sciences, Contemporary Societies, Ideals and Values, and Upper Division Written Communication. You can explore all of the courses offered byEnvironmental Studies

To complete the ENVS major, students take foundational courses in sciences, policy, ethics, economics, writing and math, as well as aninternshipor field course, and a capstone course. 鶹Ժ will also be required to take twelve (12) credit hours of “specialization” courses. Specializations give students the option to focusin acontent areasuch as climate,energy, hydrology, and sustainable development.

ENVS Major Requirements

Click below to review major requirements.

ENVS Major Requirements

How To Start the ENVS Major

By the end of sophomore year ideally, but not imperatively, one will have completed:

  • First-Year Writing in Energy, Environment and Sustainability (or another Gen. Ed.Lower-division Written Communication)
  • Environmental Studies 1000 and 1001
  • One mathematics course, such as MATH 1150, in preparation for statistics or calculus.
  • Statistics/Calculus requirement (may fulfill Gen. Ed. Skills: QRMS)
  • Introductory biology or earth science, with Lab - first course - partially fulfills Gen. Ed. Distribution: Natural Sciences and Gen. Ed. Distribution: Natural Sciences with Lab
  • Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Arts & Humanities/Global Perspective)
  • Some or all MAPS deficiencies if you have any (see your DARS audit to determine if you have a deficiency and what classes apply

It is likely that scheduling constraints will control the order that these classes are taken.

How to choose a biology sequence

  • Read the course descriptions in the
  • If one is interested in ecology, conservation biology, biogeochemistry, plants, animals or health professions, then take general biology and the associated labs.
    • The EBIO major and minor require this sequence.
  • General Biology is more versatile and opens more science opportunities in the future.
  • Biology: A Human Approach is the more popular biology sequence among ENVS majors.

How to choose a CHEM or PHYS course:

  • Read the course descriptions.
  • Most ENVS students take Environmental Chemistry.
    • It is offered only in the fall semester.
  • ENVS majors considering a science focus should take General Chemistry or Physics.
  • Most science majors require Physics 1 and 2 and General Chemistry 1 and 2.
  • Note that most graduate schools have general chemistry and biology as prerequisites. Biology: A Human Approach and Environmental Chemistry are not accepted.

How to choose an earth science sequence:

  • Read the course descriptions.
  • There are popular minors in all three departments, and double majors with GEOL and GEOG.
    • GEOG is the most popular minor and double major among ENVS students.
  • Think about the prerequisite courses that are required for your specialization.

Math Matters:

  • 鶹Ժ with weak math skills are encouraged to take an introductory math course that fulfills the CORE requirement for Quantitative Reasoning.
  • ENVS requires statistics or Calculus I. Not all statistics classes that fulfill the ENVS requirement will also fulfill the CORE requirement for Quantitative Reasoning.
  • 鶹Ժ who intend to take Calculus, but are not prepared, need to take Pre-calculus.
  • Statistics courses are encouraged for students interested in field work after graduation.

Four-Year Plan for ENVS Majors

Year One

Fall Semester

  • ENVS 1000 (may partially fulfill Gen. Ed. Distribution: Natural Sciences)
  • WRTG 1150 (or take in Spring) (fulfills Gen. Ed. Skills course: Lower-division Written Communication)
  • Begin Natural Science Sequence (ATOC, EBIO, GEOG, or GEOL (with respective labs if applicable) (may partially fulfill Gen. Ed. Distribution: Natural Sciences and Gen. Ed. Distribution: Natural Sciences with Lab)
  • Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Arts & Humanities/Global Perspective)

Spring Semester

  • ENVS 1001 (may partially fulfill GenEd Distribution: Social Sciences)
  • Continue Natural Science Sequence (partially fulfills Gen. Ed. Distribution: Natural Sciences and Gen. Ed. Distribution: Natural Sciences with Lab)
  • One mathematics course in preparation for statistics or calculus. (may fulfill Gen. Ed. Skills: QRMS) OR Gen. Ed. Distribution
  • Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Arts & Humanities/U.S. Perspective)
  • Elective^

^up to 15 hours of electives may be used to fulfill the GenEd Foreign Language Requirement if it was not fulfilled by previous coursework

Fall Semester

  • Intermediate Natural Science (or take in Spring) (may partially fulfill GenEd Distribution: Natural Sciences)
  • Introductory course in chemisty or physics, and lab if required (may partially fulfill Gen. Ed. Distribution: Natural Sciences)
  • Policy: Choose from either PSCI 2106, 2116, or 3206 (may partially fulfill Gen. Ed. Distribution: Social Sciences)
  • Ethics: Choose from either ENVS/PHIL 3140 or ENVS/PSCI 3064 (may partially fulfill Gen. Ed. Distribution: Arts & Humanities)
  • Elective unless other classes total 14-15 credits^

Spring Semester

  • Intermediate Social Science (or take in Fall) (may partially fulfill Gen. Ed. Distribution: Social Sciences)
  • ECON 2010 (Economics requirement - first course - may partially fulfill Gen. Ed. Distribution: Social Sciences)
  • Statistics/Calculus requirement (may fulfill Gen. Ed. Skills: QRMS)
  • Gen. Ed. Diversity course (example: US Perspective)
  • Elective^

^up to 15 hours of electives may be used to fulfill the GenEd Foreign Language Requirement if it was not fulfilled by previous coursework

Fall Semester

  • Upper-Divison ECON: Choose from either ECON 3535 or 3545 (ENVS Economics requirement - second course - may partially fulfill Gen. Ed. Distribution: Social Sciences)
  • ENVS Specialization (refer to ENVS Course Offerings document)
  • ENVS 3020 (or take in Spring) (ENVS Writing requirement - fulfills Gen. Ed. Skills: Upper-division written communication)
  • Elective or Upper-division Elective (if needed)*^
  • Elective or Upper-division Elective (if needed)*^

Spring Semester

  • ENVS Specialization (refer to ENVS Course Offerings document)
  • ENVS Cornerstone (or take in Fall)
  • ​Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities)
  • Elective or Upper-division Elective (if needed)*^
  • Elective or Upper-division Elective (if needed)*^

*number of elective hours will depend on AP/IB and/or transfer credit
^up to 15 hours of electives may be used to fulfill the GenEd Foreign Language Requirement if it was not fulfilled by previous coursework

Fall Semester

  • ENVS Application (or take in Spring)
  • ENVS Specialization (refer to ENVS Course Offerings document)
  • Elective or Upper-division Elective (if needed)*^
  • Elective or Upper-division Elective (if needed)*^
  • Elective or Upper-division Elective (if needed)*^

Spring Semester

  • ENVS Capstone (or take in Fall)
  • ENVS Specialization (refer to ENVS Course Offerings document)
  • Elective or Upper-division Elective (if needed)*^
  • Elective or Upper-division Elective (if needed)*^
  • Elective or Upper-division Elective (if needed)*^

*number of elective hours will depend on AP/IB and/or transfer credit
^up to 15 hours of electives may be used to fulfill the GenEd Foreign Language Requirement if it was not fulfilled by previous coursework