Environmental Studies
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Minor Requirements — 18 Credits
The environmental studies minor enhances a student’s ability to help find solutions to the growing environmental problems facing humanity caused by increasing human demands on the finite physical resources of the planet. This focus has two branches: 1) increasing the knowledge base about the natural resource and human components of environmental issues, which includes population growth; pollution of land, air and water; urban and rural land use; food production possibilities; existing and alternative energy technologies; wilderness preservation; and species extinction; 2) developing an understanding of the methods and paradigms of various disciplines from the natural sciences, the social sciences and the humanities and their potential contributions and limitations in the context of environmental problems. Thus, students develop insights and problem-solving skills not as readily available within single disciplines.
The minor is useful for students majoring in disciplines that contribute to the solution of environmental problems. Students acquire a broad perspective of the nature of environmental problems and their possible solutions. The minor facilitates cooperative, interdisciplinary problem-solving in subsequent employment or graduate study.
Employment opportunities are diverse and are shaped by the student's major. Environmental jobs can be laboratory, people, writing or outdoor oriented. Typical employers include resource development companies, environmental consulting firms, government agencies, educational facilities (public and private, traditional and innovative) and environmental groups. There are also self-employment opportunities.
Minor requirements
Take all of the following courses:
Choose 12 credits from the following courses:
Social Processes (Physical Science majors-choose two of the following courses; Non-Physical Science majors choose one of the following courses):
| ENST 205 | Environment, Politics and Law | 3 |
| ENST 215 | Human Behavior and Environment | 3 |
| ENST 272 | Environmental Conflict Resolution | 3 |
| ENST 283 | The Psychology of Sustainability | 3 |
| ENST 285 | Gender in Global and Cross Cultural Perspectives | 3 |
| ENST 291 | Sustainability and Capitalism | 3 |
| ENST 315 | Nature & Society | 3 |
| ENST 331 | Anthropology and Contemporary Human Problems | 3 |
| ENST 335 | Environmental and Resource Economics | 3 |
| ENST 356 | Water Resource Economics | 3 |
| ENST 364 | Leadership and Community Building | 3 |
| ENST 389 | Human Perception of the Built Environment | 3 |
| ENST 460 | Sociology of Disasters | 3 |
| PHIL 311 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
Physical Resource Science: (Physical Science majors-choose one of the following courses; Non-Physical Science majors choose two of the following courses)
| ENST 225 | Energy and the Environment | 3 |
| ENST 235 | Chemistry and the Environment | 3 |
| ENST 265 | Conservation of Natural Resources | 3 |
| ENST 321 | Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment | 3 |
| ENST 355 | Introduction to Environmental Health | 3 |
| ENST 380 | Sustainable Geographies | 3 |
| ENST 390 | Building Materials for a Sustainable Environment | 3 |
| ENST 391 | The Built Environment and Sustainability | 3 |
Sensory Perception (choose one of the following courses):
Special Problems
| ENST 422 | Directed Studies | 1-3 |
| ENST 492 | Internship in Environmental Studies | 1-4 |
| ENST 495 | Special Topics in Environmental Studies/Sustainability | 1-3 |
NOTES: At least 12 credits of the minor must be taken as formal coursework and should be completed before enrollment in the internship (if elected) and the senior seminar.
The type of internship or particular elective courses are determined jointly by the coordinator and student in light of the student's goals.