Environmental Studies
The Environmental Studies major gives students an interdisciplinary background and enables them to think critically about, analyze, and understand today’s environmental issues. In this major, students take a core set of fundamental courses in environmental sciences and then a set of interdisciplinary electives that reflect the students’ specific interests and allow them to link environmental sciences and sustainability aspects with management, governance and economics or arts and culture.
Major Requirements (49 Credits)
Foundation Courses (10 credits)
| BIO 101 | Introduction to Biology: Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology | 3 |
| BIO 101L | Laboratory to Introduction to Biology: Genetics, Evolution, and Ecology | 1 |
| ENV 200 | Understanding Environmental Issues | 3 |
| ENV 250 | Quantitative Methods for Environmental Science | 3 |
Required Courses (9 credits)
Major Electives (6 credits)
Two of the following:
| BIO 203 | Plant Biology | 3 |
| BIO 204 | Human Anatomy and Physiology: A Biological and Environmental Perspective | 3 |
| BIO 330 | Epidemiology, Disease and Public Health | 3 |
| ENV 210 | Natural Disasters, Catastrophes, and the Environment | 3 |
| ENV 220 | Ecocritical Approaches to Literature | 3 |
| ENV 240 | Environment and Health | 3 |
| CHEM 301 | Biochemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 302 | Introduction to Aquatic Chemistry | 3 |
Courses from recognized partners (e.g., School for
Field Studies) may also be used to fulfill this requirement. Approval from Program Director necessary.
Practical Skills (6 credits)
Two of the following:
| BIO 215T | Alpine and Nordic Ecosystems Dynamics: from Peaks to Poles | 3 |
| BIO 217T | Extreme Ecosystems (Iceland) | 3 |
| ENV 230T | Freshwater Conservation | 3 |
| ENV 232T | Marine System Conservation | 3 |
| ENV 280T | Managing the New Zealand Environment | 3 |
| ENV 399 | Research in Environmental Studies | 3 |
| ENV 495 | Advanced Research Methods for Environmental Science | 3 |
| ENV 498 | Internship in Environmental Studies | 3 |
| ENV 499 | Senior Research Project in Environmental Studies | 3 |
Courses from recognized partners (e.g., School for
Field Studies) may also be used to fulfill this requirement. Approval from Program Director necessary.
Interdisciplinary Electives (15 credits)
Five of the following:
| AHT 102 | Introduction to Art Histories, Ecologies, Industries I: Antiquity to Early Renaissance | 3 |
| AHT 103 | Introduction to Art Histories, Ecologies, Industries II: High Renaissance to Contemporary Art | 3 |
| AHT 361 | Art and Trauma Studies: The Visual Culture of Disaster | 3 |
| BUS 135 | International Business | 3 |
| BUS 136 | Marketing in a Global Context | 3 |
| BUS 235T | Corporate Social Responsibility | 3 |
| BUS 251 | Sustainable Luxury Management | 3 |
| BUS 342 | Marketing for a Sustainable Society | 3 |
| CLCS 110 | Reading Cultures: Approaches to Cultural Studies | 3 |
| CLCS 250 | Ecocritical Approaches to Film | 3 |
| CLCS 275 | Literature and the Land: Aotearoa-New Zealand | 3 |
| CLCS 331 | Narrative Ecologies: The Uses of Environmental Humanities | 3 |
| CLCS 372 | Tales of Catastrophe | 3 |
| HIS 104 | Global History I: Traditions, Encounters, and Adaptation from the Stone Age to the 16th Century | 3 |
| HIS 105 | Global History II: Globalization, the Emergence of the Modern State, and Coping with Change | 3 |
| POL 100 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| POL 101 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| POL 112 | Markets, Policy and Administration | 3 |
| POL 215 | Inequality and Politics | 3 |
| POL 281T | Politics of Sustainability and Development | 3 |
| POL 321 | International Organization | 3 |
| POL 376T | International Environmental Politics | 3 |
| PSY 100 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 150 | Psychology of Emotions | 3 |
| PSY 215 | Research Methods in the Social Sciences | 3 |
| PSY 311 | Biological Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 315 | Environmental Psychology | 3 |
| SJS 100 | Sustainability and Social Justice: Ethics, Equality, and Environments | 3 |
| SJS 210 | Decent Work and Sustainable Development | 3 |
| SJS 377T | Sustainable Education in Madagascar | 3 |
Courses not present
in the list below can count toward this requirement only if previously approved by the Program Director. Prerequisites may apply to selected courses.
Capstone Course (3 credits)
| ENV 497 | Senior Capstone in Environmental Science | 3 |