Environmental Studies
Environmental studies is an interdisciplinary program that allows students to study environmental problems from multiple disciplinary perspectives. Drawing on courses from the departments of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Political Science, English and Creative Writing, Economics, Religious Studies, Sociology and Anthropology, and others, as well as two environmental studies synthesis courses, students develop a holistic, applied approach to environmental problem-solving. Students may earn a major or a minor in environmental studies.
Learning goals:
- Students will be able to describe broad environmental problems in terms of their interrelated scientific, political, economics, ethical, and human dimensions.
- Students will attain factual, in-depth knowledge of contemporary environmental issues from multiple disciplinary backgrounds.
- Students will develop critical thinking, research, and analysis skills.
- Students will understand the inherent complexity of environmental problems and will be able to communicate effectively a position to various stakeholders.
Environmental Studies Major. To earn the B.A. in environmental studies students must complete 56 semester hours of coursework, all with grades of C- or higher. All majors must complete 44 semester hours of program foundation courses and 12 semester hours of electives.
Double-counting restriction: students in the Environmental Studies major may double-count a maximum of 16 semester hours toward another major or minor.
| Semester Hours | View Full Course Catalog >> |
|---|---|
44 Foundation |
|
4 EENV-101 Environmental Science or ECOL-100 Introduction to the Science of Ecology or BIOL-101 Ecology and Evolution or BIOL-010 Issues in Biology when the topic is one of the following: Biology of Climate Change, Conservation Biology, Environmental Biology, or Human Ecology |
|
| 4 EENV-105 Energy and the Environment | |
| or EENV-332 Sustainable Energy Resources | |
| 4 EENV-242 Climate and Global Change | |
| 4 ENST-335 Environmental Laws and Regulations | |
4 WRIT-241 Environmental Writing or ENGL-381 Rhetoric and the Environment or ENGL-205 Literature Studies when the topic is Literature of Climate Change |
|
| 4 RELI-235 Environmental Ethics | |
| 4 POLI-212 Introduction to Public Policy | |
| 4 ECON-202 Principles of Microeconomics | |
| or ECON-105 Elements of Economics | |
| 4 ACCT-210 Legal Environment | |
| 4 ENST-301 Current Topics in Environmental Studies | |
| 4 ENST-505 Environmental Studies Community Project | |
Electives (12 semester hours) Students must complete 12 semester hours forming a cohesive focus, with advisor approval. No more than 4 semester hours may be taken at the 100 level or lower, and at least 4 semester hours must be taken at the 300 level or higher. It is not necessary for students to complete all 12 semester hours from the same category. Biology/Ecology/Earth Sciences |
|
2 BIOL-560 Interdisciplinary Explorations in Biology when the topic is either Sustainable Food Systems or Biology of Invasive Species 4 ECOL-201 Community and Ecosystems Ecology 4 ECOL-408 Aquatic Ecology and ECOL-409 Aquatic Ecology Lab |
|
| 4 EENV-213 Oceanography | |
| 4 EENV-220 Water Resources | |
| 4 EENV-360 Geographic Information Systems | |
| 4 EENV-383 Soil Science | |
Cultural Studies |
|
4 ENGL-205 Literature Studies when the topic is Literature of Climate Change (if not taken for Foundation credit) 4 ENGL-295 Voice and Audience 4 ENGL-315 Themes in Early Modern British Literature, when the topic is Green Romanticism 4 ENGL-381 Rhetoric and the Environment (if not taken for Foundation credit) 4 ENST-117 American Environmental History 4 WRIT-241 Environmental Writing (if not taken for Foundation credit) |
|
| 4 HIST-324 Pennsylvania's Pasts and Their Publics | |
| 4 PHIL-150 Everyday Ethics: Philosophical Issues in the Private Realm | |
| 4 RELI-101 Introduction to Religious Studies | |
| 4 RELI-105 World Religions | |
Economics/Business |
|
| 4 ECON-201 Principles of Macroeconomics | |
| 4 ECON-313 Intermediate Microeconomics Theory | |
| 4 ECON-338 International Political Economy | |
| 4 ECON-370 Game Theory | |
| 4 MKTG-280 Marketing | |
| 4 MGMT-333 New Ventures: Start-Up to Exit | |
| 4 MGMT-369 Values, Ethics and the Good Life | |
Political Science |
|
| 4 POLI-111 American Government and Politics | |
| 4 POLI-121 Comparative Government and Politics | |
| 4 POLI-215 Law and Politics | |
| 4 POLI-317 The U. S. Congress | |
| 4 | |
| 4 POLI-333 Development, Globalization and Society | |
| 4 POLI-334 International Organizations and Law | |
Public Relation |
|
| 4 COMM-192 Public Speaking | |
| 4 COMM-211 Public Relations | |
| 4 COMM-321 Crisis Management | |
Sociology/Anthropology/Psychology |
|
| 4 ANTH-152 Public Culture | |
| 4 ANTH-162 Introduction to Anthropology | |
| 4 ANTH-311 Regulating Bodies: Food, Sex, Drugs and the Economy | |
| 4 PSYC-232 Environmental Psychology | |
| 4 SOCI-101 Principles of Sociology | |
| 4 SOCI-333 Development, Globalization and Society | |
| 4 SOCI-316 Social Justice | |
| 4 SOCI-410 Economic Sociology |
Minor in Environmental Studies. Environmental studies is an interdisciplinary program that allows students to study environmental problems from multiple disciplinary perspectives. Drawing on courses from the departments of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Political Science, English and Creative Writing, Economics, Religious Studies, Sociology and Anthropology, and others, students develop a holistic, applied approach to environmental problem solving.
The minor in environmental studies requires 24 semester hours. Only courses completed with a grade of C- or higher may be counted toward the minor. No more than 8 semester hours may be taken at the 100-level or lower.
Double-counting restriction for interdisciplinary minors: only 8 semester hours of this minor may be double-counted toward the student's major or another minor.
Courses applied to the environmental studies minor must include the following (see below for detailed lists):
- Introductory (100-level) environmental science, biology, or ecology (4 SH)
- Upper-level (200-level or higher) environmental science, biology, or ecology (4 SH)
- Political science, law, or economics (4 SH)
- English, philosophy, religious studies, sociology/anthropology, or creative writing (4 SH)
- Any course from the Foundation or Electives list (4 SH)
- ENST-301 Current Topics in Environmental Studies (4 SH)
ENST-117 American Environmental History
Introduction to topics and methods of environmental history. An interdisciplinary study of the mutual relationships between humans and nature through time. Examines American environmental history from Native American ecology and European contact in the 16th century through urbanization and industrialization, and consequent problems of pollution and resource conservation in the 20th century. 4 SH. CC: Historical Perspectives.
ENST-301 Current Topics in Environmental Studies
An in-depth analysis of a current environmental issue. The topic will be explored through an integration of disciplines, including science, ethics, economics, policy, law and literature, as well as the role of citizen activism. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. 4 SH.
ENST-335 Environmental Laws and Regulations
Surveys important state and federal environmental legislation, the principles on which these laws are founded, and the problems that arise in their practical application. Employs case studies to illustrate how environmental laws function in contemporary American society. 4 SH.
ENST-400 Independent Study
Individual and in-depth study of a specialized topic under a faculty member's direction. 1-4 SH.
ENST-505 Environmental Studies Community Project
A capstone course for Environmental Studies majors. Students complete a community-based project that addresses an ongoing environmental issue. This course emphasizes the development of effective research, stakeholder analysis, communication, and partnership-building skills in a project-based environment. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing. 4 SH. Capstone. CC: Oral Intensive.
Department: Earth & Environmental Sciences
Professor Earth & Environmental Science
straubk@susqu.edu
570-372-4318
Department: Political Science
Associate Professor of Political Science
clarkn@susqu.edu
570-372-4726
Department: English & Creative Writing
Associate Professor of English
hubbell@susqu.edu
570-372-4203
Department: Religious Studies
Associate Professor of Religious Studies
martintw@susqu.edu
570-372-4166
Department: Earth & Environmental Sciences
Associate Professor of Earth & Environmental Sciences
resslerd@susqu.edu
570-372-4216
Department: Earth & Environmental Sciences
Associate Professor of Earth & Environmental Sciences
straubd@susqu.edu
570-372-4767
Department: Earth & Environmental Sciences
Adjunct Faculty in Earth and Environmental Sciences
morrisonr@susqu.edu
570-372-4397
Honors. To graduate with honors, environmental studies majors must:
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and a GPA of 3.50 in the program,
- Request nomination from the ENST program coordinator at the beginning of ENST-500 Environmental Studies Capstone, and
- Complete and publicly present an honors-quality project in the spring of their senior year.