Environmental Studies

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Purpose and Focus

The Department of Environmental Studies performs basic and applied research, instruction, and community service in the area of environmental management. The department equips its students with both an understanding of the environmental challenges facing our world and the skills necessary for a successful career in the field of environmental management. The interdisciplinary curriculum includes essential knowledge from both the biophysical and social sciences, and it emphasizes active learning through internships, student involvement in research, and community-based projects. The department promotes environmentally sustainable practices and prepares its students for a broad variety of careers in the field, including natural resource management and conservation, environmental education and communication, environmental policy and politics, and the mitigation of adverse human impacts on the environment.

Overall Degree Objective

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies is intended to provide students with a broad theoretical background in the natural sciences and social sciences, a practical understanding of environmental issues facing our world, and the skills necessary to apply this knowledge to environmental management.

Specific Degree Objectives

Upon completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies, a student should be able to:

1. Understand and apply fundamental theories from the natural and social sciences to environmental issues, and identify the multiple dimensions of environmental issues.
2. Understand and apply detailed knowledge from some specific natural and social sciences relevant to environmental issues.
3. Use models and other decision support methods to analyze environmental issues and contribute to management decisions.
4. Identify technical and socioeconomic trade-offs associated with diverse approaches to environmental management.
5. identify and understand practical issues currently faced by environmental decision makers.
6. Design and complete a professional report addressing a research question or problem related to the environment, through which the student will:
   1. Demonstrate the ability to locate and access information on an environmental issue,
   2. Demonstrate technical skills required for basic fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and/or acquisition and analysis of other relevant data.
   3. Demonstrate proficiency in technical writing and oral presentation.
7.  Have the skills and qualifications to compete for a career as an environmental professional.

Overall Degree Objective

The Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies is intended to provide students with a broad theoretical background in the natural sciences and social sciences, a practical understanding of environmental issues facing our world, and quantitative skills necessary to apply this knowledge to environmental management.

Upon completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies, a student should be able to:

1. Understand and apply fundamental theories from the natural sciences and social sciences to environmental issues and identify the multiple dimensions of environment issues.
2. Understand and apply detailed knowledge from some specific natural and social sciences relevant to environmental issues.
3. Use models and other decision support methods to analyze environmental issues and contribute to management decisions.
4. Identify technical and socioeconomic trade offs associated with diverse approaches to environmental management.
5. Identify and understand practical issues currently faced by environmental decision makers.
6. Design and complete a professional report addressing a research question related to the environment, through which the student will:
   1. Demonstrate the ability to locate and access information on an environmental issue.
   2. Demonstrate technical skills required for basic fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and/or other data acquisition and analysis.
   3. Demonstrate proficiency in technical writing and oral presentation.
7. Demonstrate proficiency in calculus (integration and differentiation) and physics.
8. Have the skills and qualifications to compete for a career as an environmental professional, including positions requiring quantitative analytical skills.

Meeting and Assessing Degree Objectives

Students will meet these degree objectives through required course work and a senior thesis project. Achievement of these objectives will be assessed in three ways: successful completion of required course work, faculty evaluation of senior projects, and an annual survey of available environmental career opportunities.

Accreditation

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Undergraduate Majors

Environmental Studies — Bachelor of Arts
Environmental Studies — Bachelor of Science

Certification and Licensure Programs

Environmental Manager

Graduates of Environmental Studies, with the appropriate work experience, are eligible for certification by the state of Nevada Division of Environmental Protection as an Environmental Manager. See department chair for more information.

Internships

Because environmental education demands more than the study of the abstract, the department helps students find internship opportunities with government, business, or industry. Students are strongly encouraged to gain critical environmental and business experience while in undergraduate school. See undergraduate coordinator for more information.

Admission to the Major

Minimum GPA: 2.50

Admission Policy

A cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher is required to declare and to graduate in the Environmental Studies major.

Transfer Policies

Transfer students are required to consult with an academic advisor from the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Student Advising Center. This initial advising session will determine to what extent those credits accepted by the university will be accepted as part of the major.

Department Policies

Thesis

Each student will complete a thesis project on an environmental issue. We recommend all students explore alternative topics with faculty members during their sophomore and junior years. The most successful theses are based on internships, student involvement in research, and community-based projects. To provide a formal structure to support completion of the thesis project, we require two senior thesis classes. The purpose of ENV 499A is to define the major components of a thesis and develop a research plan to complete the project (also known as a prospectus). The purpose of ENV 499B is to write and present the thesis. Copies of all thesis projects are kept in the department archives and are made available upon request.

Bachelor of Science Requirements

Students seeking a B.S. degree must include MATH 182 and PHYS 151/151L.

Advisement

The Department of Environmental Studies strongly suggests that all students be advised each semester by an advisor in the Greenspun College Student Advising Center.

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