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Requirements for the Environmental Science Major (44 semester hours)

Environmental Science, Bachelor of Arts degree

32 semester hours in Environmental Science, 4 semester hours in flexible electives, and 8 semester hours in Arts and Humanities, World Engagement, or selected graduate coursework

Core (16 semester hours)

  • ENVS120 Social Systems and the Environment (4)

  • ENVS121 Earth Systems Science and the Environment (4)

  • ENVS250 Geographic Information Systems (4)

  • ENVS495W Senior Capstone Course in Environmental Science (4)

Upper Level Electives (20 semester hours)

Four (4) semester hours from each of the five categories below. Three to four of these classes should fall within an intentional emphasis area designed by student & advisor (see examples provided at the end of the Major Requirements section).

Social Science-Critical Inquiry (4 semester hours)

  • ENVS304W Politics of Environmental Ethics (4)

  • ENVS321 Environmental Policymaking: Politics and Process (4)

  • ENVS327W Water Resources in the Western US (4)

  • ENVS328 Health and the Global Environment (4)

  • ENVS334 Political Ecology (4)

Social Science-Research Intensive (4 semester hours)

  • ENVS360 Research in Environmental Health Geography (4)

  • ENVS365 Research in Climate Change Impacts on Society (4

  • ENVS380W Research in Forest Management and Policy (4)

Natural Science-Critical Inquiry (4 semester hours)

  • ENVS340 Biogeochemistry (4)

  • ENVS343 Biogeography (4)

  • ENVS345 Aerial Methods in Field Research (4)

  • ENVS347 Earth's Climate: Past, Present, and Future (4)

  • ENVS358 Principles of Hydrology (4)

Natural Science-Research Intensive (4 semester hours)

  • ENVS381 Research in Spatial Science (4)

  • ENVS381 Research in Dendrochronology (4)

  • ENVS383W Geomicrobiology (4)

  • ENVS385 Research in Urban Geochemistry (4)

  • ENVS386 Research in Earth System Modeling (4)

  • ENVS391W Research in Geoarchaeology (4)

Additional Elective (4 semester hours)

  • Any additional course from the above Critical Inquiry/Research Intensive courses

  • Any ENVS Department approved study abroad credit

  • Any of the following courses from other departments:

    • ANTH344 Medical Anthropology (4)

    • BIOL345 Ecology (4)

    • CHEM230 Environmental Chemistry (4)

    • ECON 445 Environmental Economics (4)

    • EXHS221 Epidemiology (4)

    • HIST 315 Western Civilization and Sustainability (4)

    • HIST331 Asian Environmental History (4)

    • PHEAL214 Public Health Epidemiology (4)

Additional Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree

  • Completion of an additional eight semester hours of courses with either an A&H or WE designation beyond a student's general education requirements. Non-English language credits must be from 200-level courses or above. Listed major elective courses may not satisfy this requirement; or

  • Completion of the equivalent of eight semester hours of courses from the Atkinson Graduate School of Management or School of Law.

Examples of Emphasis Areas

CLIMATE

  • Water Resources in the Western US

  • Health & the Global Environment

  • Environmental Policymaking: Politics and Process

  • Research in Climate Change Impacts on Society

  • Earth's Climate

  • Biogeography

  • Principles of Hydrology

ENVIRONMENTAL GEOSCIENCE

  • Earth's Climate

  • Biogeochemistry

  • Principles of Hydrology

  • Research in Urban Geochemistry

  • Research in Geoarchaeology

  • Research in Spatial Science

  • Research in the Anthropocene

  • Environmental Chemistry (CHEM230)

NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

  • Water Resources in the Western US

  • Political Ecology

  • Environmental Policymaking: Politics and Process

  • Research in Forest Management and Policy

  • Biogeography

  • Principles of Hydrology

  • Research in Dendrochronology

  • Research in Spatial Science

  • General Ecology (BIOL 255)

  • Environmental Economics (ECON 445)

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

  • Research in Urban Geochemistry

  • Health & the Global Environment

  • Politics of Environmental Ethics

  • Environmental Policymaking: Politics and Process

  • Political Ecology

  • Environmental Chemistry (CHEM230)

  • Medical Anthropology (ANTH344)

  • Epidemiology (EXHS221)

NATURE, SOCIETY & SUSTAINABILITY

  • Politics of Environmental Ethics

  • Research in Forest Management and Policy

  • Indigenous Peoples, Human Rights, and the Environment (ANTH 351)

  • Western Civilization and Sustainability (HIST315)

  • Asian Environmental History (HIST331)

Willamette University

Environmental Science