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Environmental Studies Major Requirements
*Effective for students declaring major after January 1, 2009*

The major in Environmental Studies is an 11-course sequence consisting of 4 Foundation Courses, 3 Intermediate Breadth Courses, 3 Upper-Level electives, and 1 Independent Study Course, as described below.  Within these requirements, at least one approved 4-hour Field Course and at least one Upper-Level Lab Course (200-level or higher, at least 4 hours) must be completed.  Students may satisfy the lab and field course requirements while fulfilling either the Intermediate Breadth Course or Upper Level Elective requirements.  Students may earn either a BA or a BS in Environmental Studies, with additional science coursework required for the BS.  The same general major requirements apply for students in either degree track.

Foundation courses (14 hrs) 4 required courses.  Foundation courses introduce students to topics, skills, and methods that they will encounter in upper level courses throughout the College, including upper level courses and independent study classes in Environmental Studies. 

• ENVS 131 Introduction to Environmental Studies w/ Lab (4hr)
• ENVS 132 Integrative Methods in Environmental Studies w/ Lab (4hr)
• ENVS 260 Quantitative Methods in Environmental Studies (4hr)
• ENVS 390 Seminar in Environmental Issues (2hr)

Notes:

• Students with a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Environmental Science exam will receive credit for ENVS 131
• Students should also note that ENVS 131 and 132 are prerequisites for most intermediate and upper level ENVS classes, though some 200-level courses may be taken concurrently. 
• ENVS 260 is not a prerequisite for most classes but should be completed before upper level classes or independent study courses are attempted. 
• ENVS 390 may be taken at any time during the major.

Intermediate breadth requirements (12-15 hrs)  Following the introductory 131/132 sequence, students must take at least one currently approved 200-level  course from each of the three disciplines comprising Environmental Studies (ecology, earth sciences, social sciences).  Currently approved courses in each discipline are listed below.

Ecology/Conservation

• ENVS 240 Ecosystem Ecology (4hr)
• ENVS/BIOL 247 Ecology and 247LWR Ecology Lab (4-6hr; 247LWR is not required to fulfill the Breadth Course requirement, but it will fulfill the Upper Level Lab requirement if taken with ENVS/BIOL 247)

Earth Science

• ENVS 222 Evolution of the Earth (4hr)
• ENVS 230 Fundamentals of Geology (4hr)
• ENVS 235 Environmental Geology (4hr)
• ENVS 241/242 Modern and Ancient Tropical Environments (2hr/2hr;  fulfills field course requirement)

Social Science and Policy

• 215 Human Ecology (4hr)
• 225 Institutions and the Environment (4 hr)
• 227WR Environmental Policy (4hr)

Upper level electives (12-16 hrs) Students must complete three upper-level (200, 300, 400) elective courses.  When choosing upper level electives (including the field course), the student should consider focusing his/her course choices in a particular area which can be supported by the academic specialty of a faculty member, and which will prepare him/her for independent study or honors research during his/her senior year.  If possible, elective courses should be chosen in consultation with the student’s academic advisor.  For a current list of possible electives, consult the ENVS Course list on the ENVS website.

Potential focus areas:

1. Sustainability and Development
2. Conservation and Resource Management
3. Environment and Health
4. The Urban Environment
5. Ecology
6. Environmental Policy

• ENVS 491 Service Learning in Environmental Studies
• ENVS 495R Honors research
• ENVS 497R Undergraduate Internship
• ENVS 498R Individual Directed Reading
• ENVS 499R Independent Research

Field Course and Upper Level Lab Course Requirement Students must complete at least one upper level lab course (4-6 hrs) and one field course (4 hours) during their 11 course ENVS major sequence.  The lab and field course requirements are not additional to the above listed course requirements, and may be fulfilled either by one of the three Intermediate Breadth course or by one of the three Upper Level elective courses.

• Upper Level Lab Course:  Any ENVS course above the 100-level that includes a required lab component will fulfill the Upper Level Lab course requirement

• Field Course: Students majoring in ENVS are required to complete the field course requirement before their senior year. The courses listed below currently fulfill the field course requirement. In addition to the bulleted list of courses below, pre-approved study abroad courses may also fulfill the requirement:
• ENVS 241/242 Modern and Ancient Tropical Environments
• ENVS/BIOL 371/371 Ecology of the Tropics
• ENVS 444 Ecosystems of the South Eastern United States
• ENVS 445SAF Field studies in South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies  To complete the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies, students take 5 courses in sciences and mathematics in addition to the general major requirements listed above.  Students must take at least one semester of Chemistry, one semester of Biology or Physics, and one semester of Mathematics or Computer Science.  Students should consult with their advisor to choose a course sequence that will best support their academic goals and interests.

Minor in Environmental Studies is a 5-course sequence consisting of the introductory sequence (ENVS 131 and 132) plus an additional 3 electives in the department.  Students considering a minor in Environmental Studies should contact the Academic Program Coordinator so they can be matched up with appropriate faculty advisors who will help them choose relevant electives within the department.

Requirements for Environmental Studies Major and Minor for students declaring their major after January 1, 2009 in PDF (same information as above)

Audit Sheet for students following 2009 Major Requirements

Pre-2009 Major and Minor Requirements

Requirements for Environmental Studies Major and Minor for students who declared their major before January 1, 2009

The ENVS department is working to ensure that Oxford College students’ coursework matches up with the departmental requirements as closely as possible.  A document detailing how courses completed at Oxford will fulfill the new ENVS major requirements is forthcoming. 

**For information concerning the requirements for a degree in Environmental Studies or for other queries, contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies (John Wegner, jwegner@emory.edu) or the Academic Program Coordinator (Carrie Keogh, ckeogh@emory.edu  ).

The interdisciplinary field of Environmental Studies challenges students to examine both the ecological and social underpinnings of environmental issues and the complex interplay among these systems at local to global scales. The Department of Environmental Studies at Emory University offers an interdisciplinary curriculum that combines coursework in both natural and social sciences and the humanities. Because environmental issues transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries, the structure and content of the Environmental Studies curriculum emphasizes systems thinking and integrative learning. Classroom activities and field and individual study courses allow students to engage in real world issues. The curriculum is designed to sharpen critical thinking and problem solving skills by challenging students to translate theory and classroom learning into practice. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in internships and research with local organizations, and to study abroad when possible. For information concerning the requirements for the BA or BS degree in Environmental Studies or for other queries, contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies, John Wegner, or the Academic Program Coordinator, Carrie Keogh.