Environmental Studies
Major and interdisciplinary majors offered

The increase in human population coupled with increasing use and misuse of natural resources has led to serious degradation of the environment and now threatens natural ecosystems and human societies which depend upon them. In order to understand these problems, their root causes, contemporary driving forces, impacts and potential solutions to move society toward sustainability, the environmental studies core curriculum incorporates environmental science (both natural and social) and perspectives from the humanities (e.g. literature, philosophy).

Environmental studies gives -students a broad understanding of the complex nature of environmental problems. Students learn that study of these problems cannot occur piecemeal. A careful examination of the interrelationships and intricacies of both natural and social systems is essential if we are to preserve environmental quality and achieve sustainable integration of ecosystems and society. The overall aims of the curriculum are to provide specific knowledge of the relationship between traditional disciplines, such as biology, geology and economics, and interdisciplinary environmental studies and to foster integrated approaches for environmental problem-solving. Courses recognize and explore the holistic nature of environmental issues by making interdisciplinary analyses of environmental problems and their solutions, for example health effects of pollution, climate change, degradation of aquatic ecosystems, forest conservation and restoration, land use, energy use and food production. The curriculum includes courses listed with other departments as well as in particular areas of environmental studies.

While many students incorporate off-campus study for at least one semester, most courses focus on the study of rural issues, both inside and outside the classroom, to make maximum use of the Adirondacks and St Lawrence River Valley.

To have environmental studies as a major, a student may choose environmental studies as a single major (B.A.) or as an interdisciplinary major (see below) in conjunction with other departments (B.S. or B.A.), or use environmental studies as one field in a multi-field major (see Curriculum, Multi-field Major Program). Students can earn a B.S. degree emphasizing environmental science via combined majors with biology, geology, chemistry, or psychology. Students can earn a B.A. degree in the solo major or in a combined major with anthropology, economics, English, government, philosophy or sociology.

Single Major

The department has created a solo major (B.A.) for students who wish to concentrate their efforts in environmental studies. This major is -tailored to individual interests and emphasizes depth in selected sub-areas, as well as the integrative, interdisciplinary approaches of environmental studies.

Requirements for Single Major

101. Introduction to Environmental Studies. 1 unit
Policy/Pollution courses (PP) 3 units
Natural Science course 1 unit (from dual-listed options)
Social Science/Humanities course 1 unit (from dual-listed options)
335. Foundation of Environmental Thought. 1 unit
Electives 3 units (from environmental studies and dual-listed courses)
Senior Year Experience 1 unit
(Environmental Studies 404 , 421, 451, 461, 489, 490 or 499)
Total 10 units

Interdisciplinary Majors

Environmental studies, in conjunction with other departments, has created 10 interdisciplinary majors for students to integrate substantial efforts in traditional disciplines with environmental studies. These majors are designed for students who wish to acquire expertise in another department while still benefiting from the integrative approaches of environmental studies. Four options are available with natural science departments: biology, chemistry, geology,  and psychology. Six options are available with departments in the social sciences and humanities: anthropology, economics, English, government, philosophy and sociology.

Progress in both halves of the interdisciplinary major should take place at about the same pace. Students enroll in Environmental Studies 101 in their first or second year and 335 in their sixth or seventh semester. Students intending to pursue an interdisciplinary major in environmental studies must take 101 by the end of their fourth semester. A major in environmental studies cannot be declared later than the end of a student’s fifth semester, or equivalent. In each interdisciplinary major, it is essential that the -student work closely with advisors in both -departments.

Interdisciplinary Major Core Courses

All interdisciplinary majors in environmental studies require the following courses:

101. Introduction to Environmental Studies. 1 unit
Environmental Science & Policy Courses (ESP) 3 units
335. Foundation of Environmental Thought. 1 unit
Electives* 2 units
Total: 7 units

*One elective must be a dual-listed natural science course for B.A. students or a social science or humanities course for B.S. students.

Environmental Studies/Anthropology

Interdisciplinary Major Core (listed above) 7 units

Anthropology
102. Cultural Anthropology. 1 unit
201. Introduction to Human Origins 1 unit
205. Language and Human Experience. 1 unit
420. Views of Human Nature. 1 unit

And two dual-listed courses, such as:
240. Environment and Resource Use in Kenya. or
255. Environmental Perceptions
2 units

Electives* 2 units
15 units

*Electives that are dual-listed should be taken under the Anthropology number. Electives must include one on a specific cultural or geographic area.

Environmental Studies/Biology
Interdisciplinary Major Core (listed above) 7 units

Biology
101,102. General Biology. 3 units
221. General Ecology. 1 unit

Electives* 5 units
16 units

*Electives that are dual-listed should be taken under the Biology number. Biology electives must include two 300- or 400-level courses. No more than one course designated as major credit restricted can be used as an elective under biology. Students anticipating graduate work in Biology should take Chemistry and Statistics.

Environmental Studies/Chemistry

Interdisciplinary Major Core (listed above) 7 units

Chemistry
103,104. General Chemistry. 2.5 units
105. Accelerated General Chemistry 1.25 units
205. Quantitative Analysis. 1.25 unit
221,222. Organic Chemistry. 2.5 units
306. Environmental Chemistry. 1 unit
341. Physical Chemistry. or
342. Biophysical Chemistry 1 unit
351. Advanced Organic Laboratory. or
352. Physical and Inorganic Chemistry. 1 unit
15 or 16.25 units

Environmental Studies/Economics

Interdisciplinary Major Core (listed above) 7 units

Economics
100. Introduction to Economics. 1 unit
200. Quantitative Methods in Economics. 1 unit
251. Intermediate Microeconomic Theory. 1 unit
252. Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory. 1 unit
308. Environmental Economics. or
384. Natural Resource Economics. 1 unit
Electives* 3 units
15 units

*Electives that are dual-listed should be taken under the economics number. Economics electives must include at least two 300- or 400-level courses. Economics 108 cannot be counted as an elective.

Environmental Studies/English

Interdisciplinary Major Core (listed above) 7 units

English

A. At least three and a maximum of five writing courses, two of which are in the sequence of journalism* or creative non-fiction+:

201. Introduction to Newswriting.*
241. Techniques of Fiction.
242. Techniques of Poetry.
243. Creative Non-Fiction Writing.+
290. Expository Writing.
295. Nature and Environmental Writing
308. Advanced Creative Non-Fiction Writing+.
309. Feature Writing*.
310. Advanced Fiction Writing
311. Advanced Poetry Workshop.

A relevant special topics course in writing or independent study in writing may count as one course.

B. At least three and a maximum of five literature courses, which must include:

1. At least one course of the following 200-level survey courses:

226. Survey of English Literature.
237. Survey of American Literature.
263. Native American Literature.

2. At least one of the following 300-level literature courses:

328. English Romanticism.
331. American Romanticism: 1830-1860.
Or a relevant special topics or independent study in literature.

3. At least one dual-listed English/Environmental Studies course:

346. American Literature and the Environment.
352. Contemporary Literature and the Environment.

SYE in English or Environmental Studies

16 units

Note: Courses that are dual-listed should be taken under the course number for English. These electives count toward the English portion of the combined major.

Environmental Studies/Geology

Interdisciplinary Major Core (listed above) 7 units

Geology
103. The Dynamic Earth. or
110. Environmental Geology. 1 unit
211. Geomorphology. 1 unit
216. Sedimentology. 1 unit
319. Hydrology/Hydrogeology. 1 unit
347. Geochemistry (see note below) 1 unit

Electives* 3 units
15 units

*Electives that are dual-listed should be taken under the geology number. These count toward the geology portion of the combined major. Geochemistry has a prerequisite of either Geology 203 or Chemistry 103 and 104 or Chemistry 105.

Environmental Studies/Government

Interdisciplinary Major Core (listed above) 7 units

Government
103.* Introduction to American Politics. 1 unit
105.* Introduction to Comparative Politics. 1 unit
290. Research Seminar in Government. 1 unit
312. Environmental Law and Politics. 1 unit

Electives** 4 units
15 units
*At least one of these courses must be taken as a writing-intensive course.
**Electives that are dual-listed should be taken under the government number. Government electives must include one international course and one theory course.

Environmental Studies/Philosophy

Interdisciplinary Major Core (listed above) 7 units

Philosophy
202. Reasoning. 1 unit
203. Ethical Theory. 1 unit
204. Theories of Knowledge and Reality. 1 unit
206. Introduction to Political Theory. 1 unit
310. Philosophy of the Environment. 1 unit

Electives 3 units
15 units

*Electives that are dual-listed should be taken under the -philosophy number and count toward the philosophy -portion of the combined major.

Environmental Studies/Psychology

Interdisciplinary Major Core (listed above) 7 units

Psychology
100. Introductory Psychology. or
101. Introductory Psychology. (with lab) 1 unit
205. Research Methods in Psychology. 1 unit
318. Environmental Psychology. 1 unit

Electives* 5 units
15 units

*Electives must include two courses from the biological/-acquisition processes list, one from the developmental/-social processes list and one from the clinical and applied areas list (see the psychology section of this Catalog). One additional course (beyond 205 and 318) must be taken for lab credit.

Environmental Studies/Sociology

Interdisciplinary Major Core (listed above) 7 units

Sociology
161. Social Problems and Policy.or
112. Inequality. or
187. Environment and Society. 1 unit
One departmental course in research methods. 1 unit
One departmental course in social theory. 1 unit
465. Environmental Sociology. 1 unit
Two socio-environmental dynamics courses 2 units

Electives* 2 units
15 units

*Electives that are dual-listed should be taken under the sociology number and count toward the sociology portion of the combined major.

Honors

Students enrolled in one of the environmental studies majors may pursue honors in that major. To qualify for graduation with honors, students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 in all courses of the major at the time of graduation. In addition, students must successfully complete an honors project supervised by at least one faculty advisor in the environmental studies core. Juniors interested in the honors program should consult with the environmental studies faculty and enroll in Environmental Studies 499 (SYE: Honors Project) in the fall semester of their senior year. (See also Honors in the Curriculum section.)

Ecological Sustainability Landscape
The environmental studies department cares for and utilizes an approximately 100-acre parcel of University land which encompasses farmland, wetlands, woods, a barn and farmhouse adjacent to the Little River. This working landscape involves students in experiential learning activities in a number of courses, including Energy and the Environment, Environmental Interpretation, Sustainable Agriculture, Issues in Air Pollution, Once and Future Forest, and special topics courses. Students help maintain gardens with heirloom crops, a small flock of three rare breeds of sheep, a solar panel system, energy conservation renovations to the farmhouse, an interpretive trail and a reforestation effort, among other activities. The farmhouse has a seminar room used for teaching classes. Also, the ESL hosts the Adirondack Semester orientation program in August, and provides space for environmental monitoring equipment for groundwater and climate research in collaboration with other science -departments of the University.

Professors

Duriel E. Harris, B.A., Yale; M.A., New York University; Ph.D., Illinois
Assistant Professor of English

Carolyn E. Johns, B.A., Colby; Ph.D., Montana
Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Chair of Department

Amanda S. Lavigne, B.A., Brown; M.S., Clarkson
Instructor of Environmental Studies

Jon Rosales, B.A., Minnesota; M.A., Mankato State; M.A., Ph.D., Minnesota
Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies