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Program and Curriculum

Course Work

As prerequisites to the program, all students must take Economics 152 and a course in statistics (Mathematics 107 or Economics 156), preferably before the spring term of the sophomore year.

The Common Environmental Studies and Sciences Core

Students in both tracks are required to take six course units in a common core of study. Five courses are designed to create a foundation that fosters understanding of this interdisciplinary field. The final writing-intensive course, which should be taken in the senior year, is intended specifically to teach and demonstrate research methods through integrative group research projects and presentations. More information can be found in the course catalog.

  • ENVR 112: Environmental Science
  • ENVR 111: Geology
  • ECON 240: Environmental Economics
  • ENVR 240 (Environmental Policy) or ENVR 244 (Climate Negotiations on the International Stage)
  • PHIL/REL 250: Environmental Ethics
  • ENVR 370: Environmental Studies Seminar

Students in the B.S. track in environmental science also must take the following six courses:

  • BIOL 212: General Zoology or BIOL 219: Introductory Botany
  • BIOL 360: Ecology
  • CHEM 113-114: General Chemistry I and II
  • CHEM 205: Environmental Chemistry
  • ENVR 210: Introductory Geographic Information Systems

In addition, students in the environmental science program must complete at least two of the following:

  • BIOL 220: Biostatistics
  • BIOL 232 TR: Field Marine Ecology
  • BIOL 235: Microbiology
  • BIOL 250: Animal Behavior
  • BIOL 330: Marine Ecology
  • BIOL 332 TR: Advanced Field Marine Ecology
  • BIOL 335: Evolution
  • CHEM 211: Organic Chemistry I
  • CHEM 212: Organic Chemistry II
  • CHEM 222: Quantitative Analysis
  • PHYS 109: Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences I or PHYS 111: Introductory Physics I
  • ENVR 268 TR: Costa Rica as a Model of Tropical Ecology and Sustainability
  • ENVR 330: Environmental Health
  • ENVR 381-384: Independent Study
  • ENVR 386-389: Field Study
  • ENVR 400-401: Honors

Students who intend to pursue the B.A. track in environmental policy and economics also must take the following three courses:

  • ECON 241: Natural Resource Economics and Policy
  • POSC 240: Environmental Policy
  • POSC 340: Energy Policy

Also, they must take three of the following electives:

  • ECON 228: Economic Development
  • ECON 330: Public Economics
  • ECON 236: International Economics
  • ENVR 210: Introductory Geographic Information Systems
  • HIST 260: Environmental History
  • POSC 110: The American Political System
  • POSC 115: International Politics: How the World Works
  • SOC 312: Environmental Law
  • ENVR 381-384: Independent Study
  • ENVR 386-899: Field Study
  • ENVR 400-401:Honors

Appropriate advanced courses offered as special topics or by other LVAIC institutions may be substituted as electives with the prior approval of the program director.

The Minor in Environmental Science

The minor in Environmental Science consists of five (5) courses including ENVR 112 (Environmental Science) plus four (4) additional science courses currently approved for the Environmental Science (B.S.) major. These courses are to be selected by the student in consultation with and approved by the Director of the Environmental Studies & Sciences Program. At least three of these courses must be taken at ̽»¨ÉçÇø or through cross registration at other LVAIC institutions. These courses can be from one department or selected from a number of different departments. At least two courses should be numbered 210 or above (excluding 300-309). In seeking to establish a minor, a student may count a course only once. For example, a student majoring in Environmental Policy & Economics may not count Introductory Geology (ENVR 111) for both the major and a minor in Environmental Science. An alternate course must be substituted for the minor.

Courses that may be used to fulfill the Minor in Environmental Science:

Biology 220Biostatistics
Biology 225Invertebrate Biology
Biology 232Field Marine Ecology
Biology 235Microbiology
Biology 250Animal Behavior
Biology 330Marine Ecology
Biology 332Advanced Field Marine Ecology
Biology 335Evolution
Chemistry 211Organic Chemistry I
Chemistry 212Organic Chemistry II
Chemistry 222Quantitative Analysis
Physics 109 or PHYS 111Introductory Physics for the Life Sciences I or Introductory Physics I
Environmental 268Costa Rica as a Model of Tropical Ecology and Sustainability
Environmental 330Environmental Health
Environmental 286, 381-384Independent Study
Environmental 288, 386-388Internship
Environmental 400-401Honors

Appropriate special topics courses and advanced courses offered by LVAIC institutions may be substituted with the prior approval of the Environmental Studies & Sciences Program Director.

The Minor in Environmental Policy & Economics

The minor in Environmental Policy & Economics consists of five (5) courses including ENVR 112 (Environmental Science), Economics 240 or 241, plus three (3) additional science courses currently approved for the Environmental Policy & Economics (B.A.) major, of which at least one must be a course in economics. These courses are to be selected by the student in consultation with and approved by the Director of the Environmental Studies & Sciences Program. At least three of these courses must be taken at ̽»¨ÉçÇø or through cross registration at other LVAIC institutions. These courses can be from one department or selected from a number of different departments. At least two courses should be numbered 210 or above (excluding 300-309). In seeking to establish a minor, a student may count a course only once. For example, a student majoring in Environmental Science may not count Environmental Economics (ECON 240) for both the major and a minor in Environmental Policy & Economics. An alternate course must be substituted for the minor.

Courses that may be used to fulfill the Minor in Environmental Policy & Economics:

Environmental 210Introductory Geographic Information Systems
Economics 152Principles of Economics
Economics 228Economic Development
Economics 236International Economics
Economics 240Environmental Economics and Policy
Economics 241Natural Resource Economics and Policy
Economics 330Public Economics
Environmental 286Independent Study
Environmental 288Internship
Environmental 370Environmental Studies Seminar
Environmental 381-384Independent Study
Environmental 386-389Internship
Political Science 110 The American Political System
Political Science 115International Politics: How the World Works
Political Science 237Public Administration and Public Policy
Environmental 240Environmental Policy
Political Science 340Energy Policy
Sociology 312Environmental Law

Appropriate special topics courses and advanced courses offered by LVAIC institutions may be substituted with the prior approval of the Environmental Studies & Sciences Program Director.