Environmental Studies

The Environmental Studies minor is an interdisciplinary minor that includes courses from economics, sociology, physics, architecture, and hospitality management. The minor offers students the opportunity to explore environmental topics and issues from a cross-disciplinary perspective. It can be completed in all BS degrees and most BTech degrees within the required credits of the degree program.

Topics include an examination of the relationship of individuals, communities, and societies to the natural environment, the nature of technological change and its ecological impacts, the development of environmental policy, and the effects of mass production and the consumer-driven economy on the environment. Also explored are the evolution of current environmental problems such as industrial agriculture, resource use and scarcity, habitat/ecosystem loss, and the economic and environmental impacts of fossil-fuel-based energy use and the connection of these issues to the understanding of climate change. The minor also offers the opportunity to study and evaluate sustainable alternative paths and policies for resource allocation, economic and social development, energy sources, food systems, and building design and construction practices.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Acquire knowledge of key issues and trends in sustainability, climate policy and environmental issues in their social, economic and scientific contexts

• Synthesize and evaluate information from diverse disciplinary perspectives to describe and interpret and critically examine information about environmental issues, practices and policies across disciplinary boundaries.

• Effectively communicate ideas and concepts orally, visually and in writing

• Work collaboratively with others

• Purposely connect and integrate cross-discipline knowledge and skills to solve problems.

Graduation Requirements

•  Students must achieve a C or higher in all required courses in the minor.

Advisement Information

If you’re interested in declaring and earning an academic minor in Environmental Studies, please consult the Academic Minors page for more information about minors and to download the appropriate forms. The coordinator for this academic minor is Professor Sean MacDonald.