Program Director: John Van Hoesen, Ph.D.
Division of Environmental Studies & Management
Programs offered:
BA in Environmental Studies
Minor in Environmental Studies
The Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies
Environmental Studies at Green Mountain provides students with a solid understanding of ecological processes and a broad background in the range of disciplines, which study human interactions with the environment. The major provides all students with basic information and skills from the natural sciences, environmental policy, and economics, and it provides the opportunity for students to pursue their interests in one of four concentration areas: environmental policy, sustainable design and energy, natural sciences, and environmental education and communications.
Learning Outcomes for Environmental Studies Core Curriculum
The successful student will:
Students will demonstrate the ability to integrate science, economics and policy when solving social and environmental problems creatively in a professional setting.
Students will understand and be able to articulate different perspectives regarding the origins and solutions to social and environmental problems, and develop appropriate processes to resolve differences and bring about positive change.
Our strong emphasis on regional issues and our deep commitment to interdisciplinary studies prepares students to effectively address the complexities of environmental problems. Vermont’s rich environment provides laboratories for the natural science courses, and local issues engage students in ethics and policy classes. With diverse ecosystems close to campus, rich opportunities exist for field study and outdoor adventure. Off-campus field courses broaden students’ perspectives and a variety of courses address the global dimensions of environmental problems, including climate change, loss of biodiversity, and habitat degradation.
Environmental Studies students pursue an internship as their capstone experience, usually completed during the summer following their junior year. Internship proposal guidelines are sent electronically to all majors, and they are available from any faculty advisor. Proposals must be approved by faculty advisors and then submitted for review to the Environmental Studies Committee by April 25 for summer or fall interns, and by November 24 for winter or spring interns. On rare occasions, the Environmental Studies Committee approves proposals for a research capstone experience.
During their junior year students take a course titled The Environmental Professional. In addition to preparing for internships and honing interpersonal skills essential to success in environmental fields, students in this course assess their strengths and areas for development in anticipation of their final year of undergraduate education. To prepare for this junior year assessment, all Environmental Studies majors should keep a portfolio of their academic work.
Departmental Honors
To graduate with honors in the Environmental Studies major, students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 in all courses and have a GPA of at least 3.5 in the major. Candidates must successfully petition to the Environmental Studies Committee to be considered for honors. Petitions will be considered only from students who have completed 75 credits. Candidates must form a three-person honors committee to evaluate an honors research project. The committee should include two faculty members who teach in the Environmental Studies concentration in which the research takes place and one person from outside the department. Candidates must also do a substantive honors research project in the major, write up the project in an honors thesis, and defend the thesis in a public forum. Candidates must take 21 credits in the major at the upper level.
Block Courses
Environmental Studies periodically offers special interdisciplinary block courses, from six to fifteen credits that focus on complex environmental issues in the region and often involve overnight field trips. These have recently included The Northern Forest, The Lake Champlain Basin, The Hudson River, The Adirondacks, Renewing Civil Society, The Promise and Peril of Biotechnology, The Vermont Wilderness Debate, Soil Ecology, and Food, Agriculture, and Community Development in the Northeast.
Requirements for the BA in Environmental Studies
Environmental Studies Core:
| ENV 1001: Introduction to Environmental Studies BIO 2025: Ecology ECO 2023: Economics of the Environment ENV 2011: Public Policy and the Environment ENV 3093: The Environmental Professional ENV 4090: Internship in Environmental Studies Choose one of the following lab courses: CHE 1021: General Chemistry I ELA 1017: Introduction to Environmental Chemistry GLG 1011: Introduction to Geology |
1 4 3 3 1 3 4 Credits: 19 |
Environmental Studies Concentrations
1. Sustainable Design and Energy*
Mission of this concentration: By combining their experiences in the classroom and through hands-on renewable energy and sustainable design projects, students in this concentration will integrate innovative design and fabrication skills and knowledge with an interdisciplinary, liberal arts perspective to prepare them for further studies and/or careers in sustainable design and renewable energy.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will understand the social and environmental challenges of current domestic and global energy systems, and the solutions and regulatory reforms needed to create a sustainable energy future.
Students will understand and be able to apply ecological design principles to the built environment and will be prepared for further study and careers in renewable energy and sustainable design.
Concentration Core
| ELA 1135: The Nature of Design ELA 1123: Energy & Society ENV 3120: Renewable Energy Technology & Applications ENV 3125: Ecological Design Students must choose three credits worth of the following: ENV 1085: REED Skills Intensive ENV 1100: REED External Practicum |
3 3 3 3 3 Total Core: 15 |
| ART 1001: Drawing from the Environment BUS 2045: New Venture Creation & Entrepreneurship ENV 1100: REED External Practicum ENV 2010: Geographical Information Systems ENV 3016: Land Use Planning ENV 3021: Sustainable Development: Theory & Practice ENV 4000: Topics in Energy and the Environment ENV 4025: Environmental Design/Build ENV 4100: LEED Certification Exam Preparation |
3 3 1-3 3 3 3 3 3 1 Total Electives: 9 |
Students will understand and evaluate systems of domestic and international environmental law and policy, and the different philosophical frameworks that shape environmental decision-making.
Students will develop the analytical and advocacy skills appropriate to pursue graduate degrees and to directly engage in public policy processes in the public and private sectors.
Concentration Core:
| ENV 3011: Environmental Law Choose one of the following three courses: PHI 3007: Topics in Social and Political Philosophy PHI 3045: Environmental Philosophy PHI 4011: Philosophy of Law |
3 3 Total Core: 6 |
| ELA 2023: Environmental Justice ENV 2015: Environmental Advocacy, Public Policy & Corp. Resp ENV 2045: International Negotiation & the Environment ENV 3014: Watershed Management & Policy ENV 3016: Land Use Planning ENV 3023: Human Ecology ENV 3021: Sustainable Development: Theory & Practice ENV 3028: Wildlife Law & Policy ENV 3037: International Environmental Law & Policy ENV 3082: Forest Policy & Management ENV 3120: Renewable Energy Technology & Applications ENV 4015: Environmental Policy Research, Writing, and Analysis |
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Total Electives: 12 |
Students will be able to engage diverse audiences while teaching and communicating environmental awareness, knowledge, and skills associated with sustainable interactions with the environment.
Students will be able to lead, manage, and communicate educational- and advocacy-based programs that seek an informed resolution of environmental issues.
Concentration Core:
| EDU 1000: Introduction to Environmental Education CMJ 2015: Media Convergence EDU/CMJ 3012: Environmental Interpretation & Communication |
3 3 3 Total Core: 9 |
| EDU 3014: Environmental Education: Place-Based CMJ 3007: Persuasion CMJ 3020: Media Advocacy and Campaign BIO 3011: Special Topics in Biology BIO 3012: Topics in Organismal Biology BIO 3013: Botany BIO 3021: Conservation Biology BIO 3025: Advanced Topics in Ecology GLG 3001: Special Topics in Geology GLG 3041: Hydrogeology GLG 3051: Sedimentology & Stratigraphy ENV 3054: Sustainable Farming Systems ENV 3057: Advanced Topics in Sustainable Agriculture ENV 4054: Agroecology |
3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 4 4 3 3 3 Total Electives: 9 |
Students will demonstrate understanding of the biological, chemical, and geological bases for environmental problems and their possible solutions.
Students will understand quantitative field study, experimental design, and data analysis. Field study skills will include strong observational skills and the ability to identify organisms.
Students in the Natural Sciences focus area take introductory biology, general chemistry, geology and ecology, and an additional 15 credits as electives within the sciences. We encourage students to develop expertise in one area but also to take electives in other fields of science. We also encourage students to gain research experience, either through summer research opportunities or with GMC faculty.
Concentration Core:
| CHE 1021: General Chemistry I GLG 1011: Introduction to Geology Choose one of the following courses: BIO 1034: From Fins to Fingers BIO 1035: Disease & Disorder BIO 1036: Solar Powered Life BIO 1037: The Four Seasons |
4 4 4 Total Core: 12 |
| CHE 2021: Organic Chemistry I CHE 2022: Organic Chemistry II GLG 2031: Soils GLG 2041: Geomorphology Any 3-4000 level BIO, CHE, or GLG courses |
4 4 4 4 3-15 Total Electives: 15 |
Environmental Studies Minor
The environmental studies minor is available to all Bachelor’s degree candidates. To fulfill the requirements for this minor, students complete at least nineteen credits in the environmental studies area. The following courses are required for the minor:
| ENV 1001: Introduction to Environmental Studies BIO 2025: Ecology ENV 2011: Public Policy and the Environment ENG 3011: Environmental Writing Workshop OR PHI 3045: Environmental Philosophy |
1 4 3 3 |