Environmental Studies Minor

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Coordinator: Dr. Alice Mulder
Location: SS 302
Telephone: 801-626-6198

The Environmental Studies Minor is an interdisciplinary degree that focuses on the work of science in human activity. The curriculum is rooted in science to ground factual knowledge. However, its trunk is solidly comprised of social science and humanities courses because they teach the application of science in policy-making, business decisions and historical precedent even as they call upon the arts for their expression and upon ethics in consideration of health and social justice issues. The minor reaches across campus because all disciplines play an essential role in shaping environmental thought.

Students will gain an appreciation for local, national and international environmental issues and problems as well as their potential solutions. They will develop a personal philosophy about the environment’s role in their lives and their own ability to affect nature and their physical environment by making ethical choices.

Grade Requirements: A grade of “C” or better is required for all courses.
Credit Hour Requirements: A minimum of 25 credit hours is required, at least 15 of these must be upper division (numbered 3000 or higher).
Program Code: 6066
CIPC: 030104

Students must select courses from outside their major academic department whenever a choice is offered. Students are encouraged to consider diversity in curriculum selection.

Course Requirements for Minor

Core Courses (19 credit hours)

Select a minimum of 19 hours from the following list

PHYS 2090 PS SUS - Energy and the Environment Credits: (3)
GEOG 3060 SUS - Environmental Issues: Local to Global Impacts and Solutions Credits: (3) *
BTNY 1403 LS SUS - Principles of Environmental Science Credits: (3-4) (4 credit hours required)
or
GEOG 1000 PS SUS - Planet Earth: Air, Water, Land and Life Credits: (3) and
GEOG 1005 - Planet Earth: Local Field Studies Credits: (1)
or
GEO 1060 PS - Environmental Geosciences Credits: (3) and
GEO 1065 - Environmental Geosciences Lab Credits: (1)
ECON 1100 SS - Environmental Issues and Economic Policy Credits: (3) or
POLS 4940 - Topics in American Politics & Thought Credits: (3) (3 credit hours required)
ENGL 3520 HU - Literature of the Natural World Credits: (3) or
HIST 3270 SUS - American Environmental History Credits: (3)
ARTH 3030 - Native American Art of the Southwest: From the Anasazi to the Present Credits: (4) * or
HNRS 3900 - Honors Colloquium Credits: (3)

Elective Courses (6 credit hours)

Select a minimum of 6 hours from the following list with no more than one class from each department

BTNY 1303 LS - Plants and People Credits: (3)
BTNY 2413 - Introduction to Natural Resource Management Credits: (3)
BTNY 3454 - Plant Ecology Credits: (4) *
CS 4830 - Advanced Topics in Computer Science Credits: (1-4) Social (and Environmental) Implications of Computing (1 credit hour required) *
ENGL 3750 HU - Topics and Ideas in Literature Credits: (3)
ENGL 4530 - American Literature: Realism and Naturalism Credits: (3)
ENGL 4710 - Eminent Authors Credits: (3)
as approved by the Environmental Studies Advisor
MENG 6030 - Studies in Literary Theory and Criticism Credits: (3)
GEO 1130 PS - Introduction to Meteorology Credits: (3)
GEO 3010 SUS - Oceanography and Earth Systems Credits: (3) *
GEOG 3050 - Weather and Climate: from daily storms to decades of drought Credits: (3) *
GEOG 3070 - Wetland Environments Credits: (3) *
GEOG 3080 - Arid Lands: Resources, Landforms, and the Quest for Water Credits: (3) *
GEOG 3090 - Arctic and Alpine Environments Credits: (3) *
PUBH 3200 - Epidemiology and Biostatistics Credits: (3) *
HNRS 1540 HU - Perspectives in the Humanities Credits: (3)
HNRS 4920 - Short Courses, Workshops, Institutes, and Special Programs Credits: (1-6)
as approved by the Environmental Studies Advisor
MICR 3484 - Environmental Microbiology Credits: (4) *
MICR 3502 SUS - Environmental Health Credits: (2) *
PHYS 3570 - Foundations of Science Education Credits: (3)
OCRE 4550 - Outdoor Education Philosophies & Principles Credits: (3)
SOC 3300 SUS - Environment and Society Credits: (3)
ZOOL 1010 LS - Animal Biology Credits: (3)
ZOOL 3450 - Ecology Credits: (4) *
ZOOL 3500 - Conservation Biology Credits: (3) *

Note:

* A prerequisite or consent of the instructor is required. Most prerequisites are in the core curriculum.