Environmental Studies (BA)
The information on the tabs below will help students planning to major in Environmental Studies to choose appropriate classes for their first semester. The recommendations below are for your first semester only, so you may have additional Core requirements, for example, that you'll learn more about during your first semester here.
Advising Notes
Important Notes for Environmental Studies majors from Advising:
- Don’t forget to check the AP/IB guide to ensure you know if you have any incoming credit that will count towards your Core requirements.
- This is a medium-sized major in terms of total credits and academic requirements, making it very manageable to add a minor in the future and study abroad at almost any time.
- If you prefer to take a foreign language in your first semester, you may do so and make room by swapping out one Core class. Be sure to take your placement exam unless you have no classroom experience with the language. The placement exam will tell you which course to enroll in for fall.
First Semester Course Recommendations
As an Environmental Studies major, you will enroll in the following courses:
- ENVS 137 or ENVS 101 if ENVS 137 is not available (3 credits)
One Freshman Seminar:
- UNIV 101 (1 credit)
Three of the following Core classes (Pick only one course per category, 9 total credits):
- College Writing Seminar: UCWR 110, based on writing placement
- Foundational Historical Knowledge: HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 103, or HIST 104
- Foundational Philosophical Knowledge: PHIL 130
- Foundational Literary Knowledge: UCLR 100M, UCLR 100C, or UCLR 100E
- Foundational Theological Knowledge: THEO 100 or THEO 107
- Ethics Knowledge: PHIL 181, PHIL 182, THEO 185, or THEO 186
- Artistic Knowledge: ()
The total number of credits you will enroll in for the fall is 16 credits.
Interdisciplinary Honors First Semester Course Recommendations
As an Environmental Studies major, you will enroll in the following courses:
- ENVS 137 or ENVS 101 if ENVS 137 is not available (3 credits)
One Freshman Seminar:
- UNIV 101 (1 credit)
Interdisciplinary Honors Requirements (6 credits)
- HONR 101
- HONR D101
Two of the following classes (Pick only one course per category, 6 total credits):
- Foundational Historical Knowledge: Any 100/200/300-level HIST course
- Foreign Language course based on experience/placement
- Any course to explore a minor
The total number of credits you will enroll in for the fall is 16 credits.
The information on the tabs below will help students planning to major in Environmental Studies to choose appropriate classes for their first semester. The recommendations below are for your first semester only, so you may have additional Core requirements, for example, that you'll learn more about during your first semester here.