B.A. in Environmental Studies Minor in Environmental Studies Minor in Geology Renewable Energy & EcoDesign Certificate
E.S. Concentrations Sustainable Design & Energy Environmental Policy Environmental Education & Communication Natural Sciences
B.A. in Environmental Studies
The GMC Environmental Studies Program 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 opportunities for students to pursue their interests in sustainable agriculture, public policy, law, writing, philosophy, education, the visual arts, international politics, biology, geology, chemistry, recreation, history, anthropology, GIS, communications, and economics. Students choose one of six concentrations in the program. The major consists of a minimum of 37-46 credits which include a set of core requirements and a selection of courses from one or more of the concentration areas listed above. First year students are encouraged to take ENV 1001 Introduction to Environmental Studies during their first fall. This course provides an overview of the field of environmental studies, and it counts as an elective in the major. Environmental studies students pursue an internship as their capstone experience, usually completed during the summer following the 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. Download the degree requirements (PDF format) Minor in Environmental Studies 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. Download the degree requirements (PDF format) Minor in Geology The geology minor provides students with an opportunity for interdisciplinary studies within the field of geology and is open to all majors, but is particularly well suited for environmental studies, biology, and education majors. The minor prepares students considering graduate school for geology, especially those disciplines related to geomorphology/surficial processes. The minor also provides students with the necessary field skills needed for employment with environmental consulting and geotechnical firms. It is recommended, but not required, that students pursuing a geology minor participate in a field experience. Download the degree requirements (PDF format) 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 program. 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.
