Apr 18, 2024  
College Catalog 2012-2013 
    
College Catalog 2012-2013 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Environmental Studies Major


Major Requirements


The Environmental Studies major has four major components that together form the basis for a robust background for our students.

  1. Introductory Courses: These courses are meant to introduce students to the range of topics and approaches utilized in studying environmental issues.
  2. Intermediate Courses: These courses are designed to give students an overview of the important texts that scholars and practitioners use as the basis of their understanding of environmental issues and to give students a “real world” experience working in the environmental field. The courses are also meant to allow students to reflect on their goals as Environmental Studies majors.
  3. Capstone Courses: These courses are intended to provide students the opportunity to utilize their background in environmental studies to address an environmental issue as part of an interdisciplinary team.
  4. Disciplinary or Interdisciplinary emphasis: The emphasis allows students to gain depth in a particular disciplinary approach to examining environmental issues or in a particular environmental theme or problem considered from an interdisciplinary perspective. The emphasis includes a series of six courses to provide depth and a methods course to insure students have the appropriate “tools” to implement their area of study.

The Environmental Studies major consists of nine–ten courses (40 credits) in environmental studies and related subjects plus a seven-course emphasis. Since some double counting of courses is allowed, the total number of courses must exceed 15 (60 credits).

The ten course requirement is distributed as follows:

Introductory Courses: Must take three

Required Environmental Studies Courses: Four courses

Distribution Courses: Introductory environmental studies courses may be distributed as follows:

Capstone Course: The senior capstone requirement in Environmental Studies will be satisfied by completing ENVI 488 - Sr Seminar in Environmental St  or ENVI 644 - Honors Independent .

Disciplinary or Interdisciplinary emphasis of seven courses:

Disciplinary Option

  • 6 courses in a discipline, 2 must be 300 or 400 level courses
  • 1 methods course related to the focus of the emphasis

*Disciplinary emphasis in departments other than anthropology, biology, chemistry, economics, geography, geology, history, philosophy, political science or physics must be approved by the chair.

Interdisciplinary Option

  • 6 courses organized around a clear theme or environmental problem, 2 must be 300 or 400 level courses
  • 1 methods course related to the focus of the emphasis

*All interdisciplinary emphasis plans should be designed in consultation with members of the Environmental Studies Department and must be approved by the chair.

*Some examples of interdisciplinary emphasis plans might be: environmental science, global citizenship, environmental justice, natural resources management.

*Introductory environmental studies courses may not be counted.

Preapproved Emphases


 

Disciplinary Emphases

Anthropology

Biology

Chemistry

Economics

Educational Studies

The above will also fulfill requirements for a minor in Educational Studies. The added course to complete an Educational Studies major will be EDUC 624  - Internship or Independent Study in Environmental Education.

Geography

Geology

A total of 6 courses in the Geology Department must be taken to complete a core in Geology. These courses should be selected after discussion with a faculty member in the Geology Department. There is no single required course, but we expect at least three courses will be at or above the 200-level. Note: A Geology minor is five (5) courses, with GEOL 160  and GEOL 165  required.

No more than THREE courses can be taken at the 100-level.

Recommended courses:

At least THREE courses at the 200+ level.

Recommended courses:

History

  • At least 4 of the 7 required courses should be cross-listed between history and ES (or otherwise have a clear environmental focus).
  • Methods: Any of Prof. Chris Wells’ 300-level courses or HIST 379 - The Study of History 

Philosophy

 

Physics

One 400 level course required.

Political Science

First three required:

Four courses from this list depending on the student’s interest in domestic or international issues (others may be applicable):

Psychology

Religious Studies

Any six of the following (students must focus major projects in these courses on environmental issues):

Methods (one of the following):


 

Interdisciplinary Emphases

Climate Science and Policy

Consensus is growing on the national and international scale that climate change is real and urgent action is needed. However, responses differ among policy makers and other actors about the methods we should use to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. This interdisciplinary core examines the climate change problem and the most effective policy and development options for carbon mitigation strategies. Students can opt for a core that weighs more heavily on either the science or policy dimensions.

5 Required Courses:

2 Courses from this Elective List:

Potential Study Away Options:

  • HECUA - Minnesota - Environmental Sustainability: Science, Public Policy and Community Action
  • SIS - Iceland summer program
  • Macalester South Africa Program
  • SEA- Semester at Sea (Oceans and Climate voyage or other)

Community and Global Health

3 Required Courses:

Any 3 of the Following:

1 Required Methods Course:

Environmental Economics and Policy

Required ES course:

3 Required Courses:

At Least 3 of the Following:

1 Required Methods Course:

Environmental Justice

3 Required Core Courses:

3 Elective Core Courses:

1 Required Methods Course:

Environmental Science

5 Required Core Courses:

3 Elective Core Courses:

  • At least three other Science courses within one discipline (BIOL, CHEM, GEOL, PHYS)

Environmental Thought and Values

At Least 5 of the Following:

1 of the Following:

1 Required Methods Course:

International Environment and Development

1 Required Course:

5 Elective Core Courses:

1 Required Methods Course:

Sustainable Design

Students are also encouraged to take additional Math and Physics courses.  Any course will do, 300 level and above.