Download A Guide to Completing the Environmental Studies Major (for

A Guide to Completing the Environmental Studies Major
(for students entering R-MC as freshmen in Fall, 2015)
Introduction
This document provides guidelines for students and advisors of freshmen and sophomores
contemplating a major in EVST. A description of the goals and philosophy of the major is included
in the catalog. This Guide provides nuts and bolts advice about how to complete the major.
Summary of the Major
The EVST major consists of the Core (28 hours) which is focused on foundational content, skilldevelopment, interdisciplinary problem-solving (teamwork) and integrating those aspects; and the
Area of Expertise (15 hours) designed to provide technical expertise in a discipline chosen by the
student. All courses counted towards the major must be passed with at least a C-.
I. The Core
The Core is a set of required courses that contain interdisciplinary problem-solving courses and
foundational content/skill-development courses. The problem-solving courses (EVST 105, 305, 405)
must be taken in sequence. EVST 105 and EVST 106 can be taken in any order. Because the Core
courses are sequenced, it is important that students considering EVST begin the sequence in their
freshman year (although it can be started as a sophomore if absolutely necessary). The internship
(EVST 451) can be done anytime during the Junior or Senior years.
**It is recommended that the foundational content/skill-development courses (EVST 200, 213, 226
and COMM 334) be completed before taking EVST 305.
Environmental problem-solving courses
EVST 105: Environmental Problem-solving I
EVST 305: Environmental Problem-solving II
EVST 405: Environmental Problem-solving III (the Capstone)
Foundational content and skill-development courses
It is recommended that majors complete all courses listed below before taking EVST 305. EVST 106
must be taken during the freshman or sophomore year to help students identify their Area of
Expertise:
EVST 106: Environmental Studies Success Strategies
EVST 200: Geographic Information Systems with Environmental Applications
EVST 213: Environmental Ethics (cross-listed with PHIL 213)
EVST 226: Environmental Policy (or EVST 219 or EVST 225)
COMM 334: Leadership Communication
Integration courses
EVST 451: Internship in Environmental Studies (or EVST 450: Field Studies in Environmental
Studies for GPA < 2.25)
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II. The Area of Expertise
The Area of Expertise is a set of electives from any department or program on campus with the
following constraints:
1. They must total at least 15 credit hours.
2. All credit hours must be within a single discipline and must be beyond the introductory level.
Courses that count in various disciplines are given in the table below (consult the Director of
the EVST Program about disciplines not listed or for information about what courses in a
discipline can count towards the Area of Expertise). Students are encouraged to satisfy the
College’s AOK requirement with pre-requisite(s) needed to take courses in the Area of
Expertise. For example, if a student plans to use Political Science as their Area of Expertise,
PSCI201 and PSCI201 should be taken to fulfill the College AOK Social Science
requirements so that the student has the pre-requisites needed for the Area of Expertise.
3. We encourage students to minor or double major in their area of expertise, but keep in mind
the college rule stipulating that at least ½ the credit hours counted towards a major must be
unique to that major (i.e., 21 of the credits counted towards EVST cannot be counted towards
a second major).
Discipline
Biology
Chemistry
Communications
Economics and Econ/Business
English
Ethics
Geology
Mathematics
Physics and Engineering Physics
Political Science
Sociology
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Courses Counting on the EVST
Area of Expertise:
200 level or above
200 level or above
300 level and above (except COMM 225, and
internships approved by the COMM Chair)
300 level or above
300 level or above
Consult EVST Chair
200 level or above
200 level or above
200 level or above
300 level or above
300 level or above
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Course Descriptions
105 – Environmental Problem Solving I – Interdisciplinary problem solving is the central skill
needed by environmental professionals, and examining real-world issues best develops this skill.
This course will focus on a local or regional environmental issue, and we will work with
government, business, and community leaders in order to analyze the issue from the varying
perspectives of these stakeholders. At the end of the course we will provide the stakeholders with a
detailed analysis that draws on information from the natural sciences, social sciences, and the
humanities. Partially fulfills the collegiate requirements in the Natural Science Area of Knowledge.
Intended primarily for students seriously considering EVST as their major. Four hours. Gowan,
Fenster.
305 – Environmental Problem Solving II – This course is the second in a three-course sequence
devoted to environmental problem solving using real-world issues. Building on the skills and
knowledge introduced in EVST 105, this course will focus on a more complex local or regional
environmental issue than the one analyzed in EVST 105, and you will be expected to use
information from your Area of Expertise courses when analyzing the issue. Like EVST 105, students
will work with government, business, and community leaders in order to analyze the issue from the
varying perspectives of these stakeholders. At the end of the course we will provide the stakeholders
with a detailed analysis that draws on information from the natural sciences, social sciences, and the
humanities. Partially fulfills the collegiate requirements in the Natural Science Area of Knowledge.
Recommended for those with junior standing in the EVST major. Prerequisite: EVST 105. Four
hours. Gowan, Fenster.
405 – Environmental Problem Solving III – This course is the third in a three-course sequence
devoted to environmental problem solving using real-world issues, and it is the capstone to the
EVST major. Building on the skills and knowledge introduced in EVST 105, deepened in the Area
of Expertise, and practiced in EVST 305, this course will focus on a different local or regional
environmental issue than was analyzed in EVST 105 and EVST 305. Like EVST 105 and EVST
305, we will work with government, business, and community leaders, but students will be in charge
of all aspects of the analysis. Moreover, students enrolled in EVST 405 will meet concurrently with
and serve as project leaders for EVST 305 students who will be working on the same issue. At the
end of the course we will provide the stakeholders with a detailed analysis drawing on information
from the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities. Partially fulfills the collegiate
requirements in the Natural Science Area of Knowledge, and as an Interdisciplinary course.
Recommended for those with senior standing in the EVST major. Prerequisites: EVST 105 and 305.
Four hours. Gowan, Fenster.
106 – EVST Success Strategies – This course is for freshman or sophomores considering EVST as
a major. Because EVST is a broad topic, you have to decide which area of specialty most interests
you. You might choose some aspect of biology, political science, geology, sociology, chemistry,
physics, or any of a number of other disciplines. You will explore career options in EVST with the
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help of outside guests from government, private industry, and non-profit environmental
organizations, and will plan your EVST Area of Expertise to prepare you for the upper-level EVST
core courses and your chosen area of specialty. One hour. Gowan, Fenster
200 – Geographic Information Systems with Environmental Applications – This course covers
the fundamentals of geographic information systems (GIS) to display and analyze spatial data with
emphasis on environmental applications and the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) to collect
spatial data in the field. Students will use ESRI’s ArcMap software to learn basic mapping theory
(e.g., coordinate systems), edit geographic and tabular data, analyze spatial data, create databases,
and produce maps that display and analyze spatial data. Students will also learn how to collect
spatial field data using state-of-the-art, survey-grade GPS units and software and import those data
into GIS. The course is taught in an integrated lecture-field (laboratory) approach. Prerequisite:
EVST 105. Three hours. Gowan.
213 – Environmental Ethics – This course addresses basic issues of environmental ethics: the value
of ecosystems (both inherent and instrumental), human beings’ treatment of animals and non-animal
nature, the meaning and justification of moral obligations to species and to the environment, and the
complex and profound ways in which our actions with regard to the environment affect our fellow
human beings. We will apply moral theory to environmental problems in the enterprise of
formulating an adequate ethical approach to our environment. Recommended: PHIL 212 and EVST
105. Offered every two-three years. Cross-listed with EVST 213. Three hours. Huff. 220
219 – Politics of the Environment – Students will gain an overview of the political ramifications of
the interaction of environmentalism, environmental science, and politics. We will examine this
relationship in terms of environmental and democratic theory, as well as through a political science
understanding of the American system of law and regulation. The seminar based course tracks how
environmental issues have historically developed into legitimate political issues and how those
issues translate into the current United States political climate. To this end, students will examine
germane, contemporary issues, such as the climate change debate where political disagreement over
the legitimacy of the issue with respect to public opinion and the state of science in the field. No
prior knowledge of political science or environmental science is required. This course satisfies an
AOK in the social sciences. Three hours. Staff.
225 – Environmental Law – Students will gain an overview of the essential concepts of
environmental law that shape the practice of environmental and political science, and learn how to
analyze issues in their legal contexts with regard to the environment. The course provides a historical
survey of the field from its common law roots to its current applications dealing legislatively with a
variety of complex environmental issues, such as air and water pollution, loss of species diversity,
and global climate change. It is taught as a seminar in which the historical development of common
law concepts and the evolution of the present complex of statutory laws are highlighted through
study of the major court cases that have guided environmental legislation and policies. Cross-listed
with PSCI 225. Three hours. Staff.
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226 – Environmental Policy – Students will be afforded the opportunity to develop an awareness
and appreciation of the national public policymaking process, especially as it applies to the
environment. Students will be involved actively in the study of environmental policymaking through
a variety of approaches: seminar discussions, the case study approach to problem-solving,
cooperative research projects and presentations, and field trips. Cross-listed with PSCI 226. Three
hours. Staff.
334 – Leadership Communication – An examination of the paradigms and strategies of leadership,
the course will, first, offer lessons in which concepts, models, and tools are introduced and, second,
form students into consulting teams working to solve real problems. Three hours. Merrill.
450 – Field Studies in Environmental Studies – Field studies is intended to provide environmental
studies majors with an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the environmental workplace.
Placements are possible with private, state, or federal agencies, committees of the U.S. Congress, or
with environmental advocacy groups. Open only to environmental studies majors or by permission
of the Environmental Studies Council. Junior standing required. Offered any term throughout the
year. Three hours. Staff.
451-452 – Internship in Environmental Studies – The internship in environmental studies is
intended to provide qualified environmental studies majors with an opportunity to gain first-hand
experience in the environmental workplace. Internship placements are possible with private, state, or
federal agencies, committees of the U.S. Congress, or with environmental advocacy groups. Open
only to environmental studies majors or by permission of the Environmental Studies Council. Junior
standing required. Offered any term throughout the year. Three hours each term. Staff.
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