{"id":45,"date":"2013-10-10T12:57:08","date_gmt":"2013-10-10T17:57:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/environmental-studies\/?page_id=45"},"modified":"2026-10-21T15:10:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T20:10:59","slug":"environmental-studies-major","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/environmental-studies\/environmental-studies-major\/","title":{"rendered":"Environmental Studies Major"},"content":{"rendered":"

Overview of the Department<\/h3>\n

Environmental Studies combines the strengths of work in contributing departments together with interdisciplinary studies, giving both broad and focused perspectives on environmental problems and issues. The department offers a Major in Environmental Studies with three\u00a0areas of emphasis\u00a0in which students may choose to focus their work: Natural Science<\/strong>, Social Science<\/strong>\u00a0and Arts and Humanities<\/strong>. In many cases work in these areas of emphasis\u00a0overlaps with traditional departmental curricula, and students may choose to complete a second major there.<\/p>\n

All students majoring in Environmental Studies take a common introductory course, an integrative topics course with experiential learning, and a capstone course. Additional coursework provides both breadth and depth within a study area and emphasizes the multidimensionality of environmental study. Students wishing to count courses not specifically designated as satisfying requirements for the major may petition the Chair prior to enrollment.<\/p>\n

Requirements for the Major<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. INTEGRATIVE COURSES<\/strong> (ENVST 137, 237, 399)\u00a0 All students majoring in Environmental Studies take the integration and applications course (237) in the sophomore or junior year and take the senior seminar (399) in the fall semester of their senior year. Students planning to be abroad during the fall semester may register for the 399 course as juniors, provided they have taken at least one course in each of the areas of emphasis.<\/li>\n
  2. AREA STUDY<\/strong> \u00a0Each area of emphasis requires students to develop proficiency with the way a given area approaches study of the environment.<\/li>\n
  3. COURSES IN OTHER AREAS OF EMPHASIS\u00a0<\/strong> All students majoring in Environmental Studies take at least one course from each of the other areas of emphasis and take a total of three courses in this category. \u00a0This provides opportunities to explore the breadth of thought and experience through which others approach environmental issues and seek solutions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Worksheets for the Major Areas of Emphasis:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    <\/td>\n\n\n\n
    ARTS & HUMANITIES<\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Courses counting toward Environmental Studies: 2026-27<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Core Courses<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Fall 26-27<\/em><\/td>\nENVST 137: Intro: Env Studies
    \nENVST 237: Integration Application Env St<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Interim 26-27<\/em><\/td>\nENVST 137: Intro: Env Studies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Spring 26-27<\/em><\/td>\nENVST 137: Intro: Env Studies
    \nENVST 237 A&B: Integration Application Env St
    \nENVST 399: Sem: Env Studies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \n
    \n<\/td>\n    		\n
    \n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \n
    \n
    Arts\/Humanities Courses<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
    		<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Fall 26-27<\/em><\/td>\nENVST 233: Environmental Justice
    \nENVST 281: Environmental History
    \nENVST 281: The Indigenous Arctic
    \nENVST 381: Environmental Storytelling
    \nREL 241: Ecology, Justice & Christianity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    <\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Interim 26-27<\/em><\/td>\nENVST 233: Environmental Justice
    \nENVST 245: Global Climate Change
    \nART 261: O’Keeffe’s art and New Mexico
    \nREL 124: A Green Bible?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    <\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Spring 26-27<\/em><\/td>\nENVST 233: Environmental Justice
    \nENVST 272: Love and Oil in American Cinema
    \nENVST 383: Global Energy Humanities
    \nAS 238: Diasporic Literature of the Pacific
    \nNORW 205: Nordic Nature
    \nPHIL 257: Environmental Ethics
    \nREL 244: Ecospirituality Learning from Place<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \n
    \n<\/td>\n    		\n
    \n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Social Science Courses<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Fall 26-27<\/em><\/td>\nECON 242: Environmental Economics
    \nENVST 233: Environmental Justice
    \nES\/PS 201: Global Environmental Politics
    \nID 234: Human Geography
    \nSOAN 247: Disasters<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    <\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Interim 26-27<\/em><\/td>\nENVST 233: Environmental Justice<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    <\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Spring 26-27<\/em><\/td>\nENVST 281: Top: Mixed Methods Enviro Analysis
    \nENVST 233: Environmental Justice
    \nES\/PS 276: Environmental Politics<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \n
    \n<\/td>\n    		\n
    \n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Natural Science Courses<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Fall 26-27<\/em><\/td>\nENVST 255: Remote Sensing & GIS
    \nBI\/ES 350: Biogeochemistry
    \nBIO 261: Ecological Principles
    \nBIO 371: Field Ecology
    \nCHEM 255\/256: Analytical Chemistry
    \nENVST 255: Remote Sensing\/GIS
    \nENVST 281: Environmental Connections: Systems<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    <\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Interim 26-27<\/em><\/td>\nBI\/ES 228: Environmental Health
    \nBIO 391: Top: Winter Ecology
    \nENVST 245: Global Climate Change<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    <\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Spring 26-27<\/em><\/td>\nENVST 281: Top: Mixed Methods of Enviro Analysis
    \nBIO 261: Ecological Principles
    \nCHEM 255\/256: Analytical Chemistry
    \nENVST 381: Pyroecology
    \nENVST 281: Ecosystem Health<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Distinction<\/h3>\n

    A\u00a0description of the college’s understanding of distinction can be found in the\u00a0college catalog<\/a>. \u00a0Distinction<\/strong> is an academic honor awarded to a limited number of students (up to 10%) in Environmental\u00a0Studies who have demonstrated high academic achievement and the ability to produce an independent\u00a0work of excellence in their area of study. The Environmental Studies Department invites senior majors to\u00a0apply and each spring will review their record of academic achievement in Environmental Studies and\u00a0their independent project. The project may take a variety of forms from a scientific research project to a\u00a0work of art.<\/p>\n

    NOTE: In August 2021, the faculty of the Department of Environmental Studies voted to stop granting of Distinction in Environmental Studies. \u00a0 The Department will offer Department Distinction through the Class of 2025 according to the criteria and guidelines listed below.<\/p>\n

    Guidelines \u00a0<\/strong><\/em>A candidate for Distinction must have an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.50 in the department. Initially the grade\u00a0point average will be calculated based on work through the student\u2019s junior year. Candidacy for\u00a0Distinction will be continued if the minimum GPA is maintained through Interim of the\u00a0senior year. Students\u00a0seeking Distinction are advised not to take any of their EnvSt coursework pass no-credit (S\/U). \u00a0Eligible students will be notified by the Distinction Committee Chair at the beginning of the\u00a0fall of their senior year and asked to apply for Distinction by November 15<\/em>.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Criteria<\/strong><\/em> \u00a0Candidates for Distinction will prepare a substantial piece of original academic work that is beyond\u00a0normal classroom assignments. Types of projects may include a scholarly paper, artistic endeavor, or\u00a0musical composition. The work may originate in summer research projects, independent study\/research,\u00a0the Environmental Studies experiential component, or directed undergraduate research groups if the\u00a0student has a part of the project that is their own. A public presentation in the form of a poster\u00a0presentation, talk, or exhibit of the project is expected. If the candidate is being considered for\u00a0Distinction in more than one department, they must have a separate project for each department.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Timetable<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0\u00a0Seniors applying for distinction will inform the chair of the Environmental Studies Department, in writing,\u00a0by November 15 and select a faculty advisor from the Environmental Studies faculty. The faculty advisor\u00a0will work with the student on the presentation of the project documentation\/distinction application due to\u00a0the Distinction Committee by April 7<\/em>. The Chair will notify candidates of the decision in writing by early\u00a0May. \u00a0(revised & adopted by EnvSt 17 Apr 2014)<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Intended Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\n

    Click on the department’s\u00a0intended learning outcomes<\/a>\u00a0for ES majors to discover more about them.<\/p>\n

    In addition to the major the department offers a\u00a0Concentration in Environmental Studies<\/a>\u00a0for students wishing to complement a disciplinary major with a smaller core of courses and electives focused on the environment.<\/p>\n

    For those students, class of 2020 and earlier, using the old version of the major, see the links below for those worksheets.\u00a0 \u00a0Natural Sciences<\/a>, Social Sciences<\/a>, Arts & Humanities<\/a><\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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