The Environmental Studies Minor will help students to identify, analyze, communicate about, and influence the complex forces that shape the environment and the lives of living things. Studies will focus on the interactions between humans and other components of the natural environment.

Coursework will combine selected studies in the earth's physical, chemical, and/or biological systems with studies in the humanities and social systems. A capstone experience, in which the student completes an environmentally beneficial experience outside of class, is a key part of this minor.

Each student will prepare a Learning Plan that lists the elective courses to be completed and the capstone experience to be undertaken.  Faculty members on the Environmental Studies Minor Committee must approve each student's Learning Plan and monitor its completion.

ENVS Curriculum

Study in the minor will include multiple perspectives on interactions between humans and other parts of the natural environment, with a goal of generating positive environmental change.

Minor Requirements
(1) Successful completion of 6 courses (16 credit hours min.), consisting of 2 required courses and 4 elective courses.
(2) Successful completion of a capstone project.
(3) At least 3 courses (7 hours min.) at the 300-level or above.
(4) A maximum of 2 courses may also count for major and/or JINS requirements.

Required Courses
     - (W/E) Introduction to Environmental Studies (ENVS 200) (3 hours)
     - Seminar in Environmental Studies (ENVS 480) (1 hour)

Elective Courses
Students will select four elective environmental-related courses, representing at least three of these four categories*:
     - Science (AGSC, BIOL, CHEM, PHYS)
     - Social Science (ECON, GEOG, HIST, POL, PSYC, SOAN)
     - Humanities (PHRE, ENG, other L&L)
     - Interdisciplinary (JINS)
        * See course descriptions for a list of courses for each category.

Learning Plan
Each student will submit to the Environmental Studies Minor Committee a Learning Plan, detailing elective courses to be taken for the minor and a proposal for the capstone project.  See Course Descriptions for a list of the courses that will presumably be acceptable components of a Learning Plan for this minor.

Capstone Project
Each student will complete an applied project outside of class (e.g. as an extension of one of the 4 elective courses, an internship, research, or volunteerism).  The project is based on principles of service learning, with a goal of engaging the student in a hands-on environment-related experience.  Projects might engage a student in water quality monitoring, designing a public awareness campaign for campus recycling, or implementing a plan to compost campus food waste.