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Minor in E&S

Minor in Environmental Studies


Environmental considerations permeate almost every facet of modern life, and concern for "the environment" is practically universal as we approach the twenty-first century. The minor in Environmental Studies is designed to provide students with the opportunity to become conversant in a range of environmental topics, whether as private citizens in their daily lives or as professional members of corporate, government, legal, medical, and educational circles.

The minor draws on topics and perspectives from the natural and physical sciences, the social sciences, and the humanities to underscore the interdisciplinary nature of environmental issues and problems. Students taking the minor are encouraged to integrate the program with their major study focus in order to gain a competitive advantage in grappling with environmental topics.

The minor in Environmental Studies requires 18 hours of course work including the following:

  1. ENS 200 Introduction to Environmental Studies* [3]
  2. Six hours chosen from the following list of sociocultural perspectives:
    • ANT 350 Topics in Anthropology (subtitle required) [3]
    • GEO 210 Pollution, Hazards, and Environmental Management [3]
    • GEO 550 Sustainable Resource Development and Environmental Management [3]
    • PS 456G Appalachian Politics [3]
    • PS 491 Special Topics in Political Science (subtitle required) [1-3]
    • SOC 260 Population, Resources and Change [3]
    • ENS 300 Special Topics (subtitle required) [3]
    • ENS 395 Independent Work [3]
  3. Six hours chosen from the following list of science and technology perspectives:
    • FOR 205 Forest and Wildland Soils and Landscapes [4]
    • FOR 340 Forest Ecology [3]
    • FOR 350 Silviculture [4]
    • GEO 251 Weather and Climate [3]
    • EES 341 Landforms [3]
    • EES 585 Hydrogeology [3]
    • BIO 325 Introductory Ecology [4]
    • ENS 300 Special Topics (subtitle required) [3]
    • ENS 395 Independent Work [3]
  4. ENS 400 Senior Seminar (subtitle required)* [3]

*ENS 200 and ENS 400 satisfy the University Studies cross-disciplinary requirement.

At least six of the twelve elective hours must be at the 300-level or above.

Elective courses must be drawn from outside the student's major.

Alternative elective courses may be approved by the Environmental Studies Program Director.