Environmental Studies
Interdepartmental Undergraduate Program
Environmental Studies deals with the relationship and interactions between humans and the environment. Students in any college at ISU may elect to take a secondary major or minor in Environmental Studies. The curriculum is designed to give students an understanding of current and emerging environmental issues and an appreciation of different perspectives regarding these issues. Courses are provided for students pursuing careers related to the environment and for others who simply want to know more about environmental issues.
The secondary major in Environmental Studies requires a total of 24 credits, including 1 course from the list of general survey courses, 1 course from the list of integrative/issues courses, and 2 courses from the list of human/societal perspectives courses. At least 12 credits must be 3000 level or above. At least 6 credits must be earned at ISU. Credits used to meet the secondary major requirements may also be used to satisfy the credit requirement of graduation and to meet credit requirements in courses numbered 300 or above.
Environmental Studies is a secondary major; students must meet all university-wide requirements for the Secondary Major.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate a broad understanding and appreciation for a range of environmental issues spanning natural and human systems.
- Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of different perspectives regarding environmental issues.
- Demonstrate an understanding of approaches used in addressing environmental problems including data analysis and problem-solving.
Secondary Major
The Environmental Studies secondary major is taken in addition to a primary major and provides the breadth of preparation and integrated perspective necessary to understand environmental issues. See the university-wide requirements for an explanation of secondary majors in the context of degree planning.
Students seeking a major in Environmental Studies complete 24 credits of ENVS coursework including:
| At least one general survey course chosen from: | ||
| Environmental Geology: Earth in Crisis | ||
| Introduction to Renewable Resources | ||
| Environmental Biology | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Issues | ||
| At least one integrative/issues course chosen from: | ||
| Water Resources of the World | ||
| Biodiversity | ||
| Energy and the Environment | ||
| World Food Issues: Past and Present | ||
| Global Change | ||
| Sustainable and Environmental Horticulture Systems | ||
| Issues in Sustainable Agriculture | ||
| At least two human/societal perspectives courses chosen from: | ||
| Foundations in Natural Resource Policy and History | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Politics and Policies | ||
| Environmental Planning | ||
| Ecofeminism | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Population and Society | ||
| Literature and the Environment | ||
| U. S. Environmental History | ||
| Energy, Environmental and Resource Economics | ||
| Environmental Sociology | ||
| Sustainable Communities | ||
| Environmental Law and Planning | ||
Beyond these three requirements, any Environmental Studies course and up to six credits of approved environmental coursework outside of Environmental Studies may be applied toward the 24-credit total for the major. Regardless of their home college, Environmental Studies majors must complete at least 9 credits in natural sciences from the LAS General Education approved course list. Unless prohibited by program or college rules, courses used to fulfill requirements of the Environmental Studies major may also be used to satisfy general education and other requirements of departments and colleges. A combined average grade of C or higher is required in courses applied to the major.
Minor
The minor in Environmental Studies requires a total of 15 credits, including 1 course from the list of general survey courses, 1 course from the list of integrative/issues courses, and 2 courses from the list of human/societal perspectives courses. At least 9 credits must be numbered 2000 level or above, of which at least 6 credits are in courses numbered 3000 level or above. At least 3 credits must be earned at ISU. At least 3 credits must be used only in the minor, the additional 12 credits can be used to satisfy other university, college, or major requirements. A combined average grade of C or higher is required in courses applied to the minor,
Students will choose from the list of approved courses:
| At least one general survey course chosen from: | ||
| Environmental Geology: Earth in Crisis | ||
| Introduction to Renewable Resources | ||
| Environmental Biology | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Issues | ||
| At least one integrative/issues course chosen from: | ||
| Water Resources of the World | ||
| Biodiversity | ||
| Energy and the Environment | ||
| World Food Issues: Past and Present | ||
| Global Change | ||
| Sustainable and Environmental Horticulture Systems | ||
| Issues in Sustainable Agriculture | ||
| At least two human/societal perspectives courses chosen from: | ||
| Foundations in Natural Resource Policy and History | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Politics and Policies | ||
| Environmental Planning | ||
| Ecofeminism | ||
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Population and Society | ||
| Literature and the Environment | ||
| U. S. Environmental History | ||
| Energy, Environmental and Resource Economics | ||
| Environmental Sociology | ||
| Sustainable Communities | ||
| Environmental Law and Planning | ||
| Elective Environmental Studies Courses: | ||
| ENVS 1080 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 |
| ENVS 1110 | Geological Disasters | 1 |
| ENVS 1300 | Natural Resources and Agriculture | 3 |
| ENVS 1400 | Climate and Society | 3 |
| ENVS 2200 | Globalization and Sustainability | 3 |
| ENVS 2500 | Environmental Geography | 3 |
| ENVS 3190 | Analysis of Environmental Systems | 3 |
| ENVS 3900 | Internship in Environmental Studies | 1-30 |
| ENVS 4070 | Watershed Management | 4 |
| ENVS 4600 | Controversies in Natural Resource Management | 3 |
| ENVS 4900 | Independent Study | 1-30 |
The Environmental Studies Undergraduate Minor is an LAS Minor. In addition to University policies governing minors, LAS minors require at least 6 credits in courses numbered 3000 and above, with a grade of C or higher.