Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies

Description

The Environmental Studies major, leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree, is designed to provide students with the analytical and communication skills and the broad background necessary to understand and address complex environmental issues. The major also offers the opportunity for students to carry out focused study within a specific area of interest. Environmental issues are not resolved in the scientific, technological, social, or political arenas alone. The curriculum is, therefore, interdisciplinary and integrates principles and methodologies from the social sciences, engineering, the natural sciences, and humanities. The goal is to address the complex scientific, legal, political, socio-economic and ethical issues that define and surround environmental issues.

 The major in Environmental Studies prepares the student for further education and entry-level employment in areas such as public interest science and advocacy, environmental conservation, law, journalism, management, television documentary production, ecotourism, population studies, and public service including public health.

To demonstrate depth of learning, an area of concentration is required of all students in the major. Additionally, a research course, an internship, or field study is an essential part of the curriculum to provide real-world experience in an appropriate subject area. Seniors are expected to share these experiences with the rest of the academic community through participation in an annual environmental studies colloquium.

The Environmental Studies major is administered by the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences and as of Fall 2007 is offered on two campuses—the Stony Brook main campus and at Stony Brook Southampton. Southampton students may choose to pursue one of four concentrations, whereas main campus students may pursue any of the published ten concentrations as described in Requirements for the Major. All other aspects regarding the academic requirements for the major remain the same on both campuses.

On the main campus, a Living Learning Center and a minor, with a residential component, are also available, housed in Hendrix College. Students pursuing the major or minor in Environmental Studies are given priority housing in Hendrix College. A lounge and study area are also available within the Living Learning Center for commuter students enrolled in the major or minor. The Living Learning Center, which is part of the Science and Society College, offers special programs, such as a seminar series showcasing faculty research and selected courses in the major and minor. Southampton students may not pursue the minor in conjunction with the major.

 All students should consult with the appropriate faculty advisor based on the location in which they are studying. Students on the main campus should contact the director of undergraduate studies to design and approve an acceptable course of study before declaring the major. Students at Stony Brook Southampton should consult with the Southampton Coordinator to discuss the academic options in Southampton.

For more information about the Southampton campus, please read the Introduction to Stony Brook in this Bulletin or visit http://www.stonybrook.edu/southampton. Students may learn more about the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences by visiting http://www.somas.stonybrook.edu.

Courses Offered in Environmental Studies

ENS 101-E Prospects for Planet Earth
ENS 119-E Physics for Environmental Studies
ENS 301-H Contemporary Environmental Issues and Policies
ENS 311-H Ecosystem Ecology and the Global Environment
ENS 312-H Population, Technology, and the Environment
ENS 333 Environmental Law
ENS 380 Stony Brook in Tanzania: Lake Victoria Environment and Human Health
ENS 443 Environmental Problem Solving
ENS 487 Independent Research in Environmental Studies
ENS 488 Internship in Environmental Studies

Requirements for the Major in Environmental Studies

The major in Environmental Studies leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. No more than one course required for the major can receive a letter grade less than C. Completion of the major requires approximately 66 credits.

A. Foundation Courses (34 credits)

1. Natural Sciences
   
   
   1. BIO 201 - Fundamentals of Biology - From Organisms to Ecosystems
      
   2. BIO 204 Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in Biological Sciences I
   3. CHE 131 - General Chemistry, CHE 133 - General Chemistry Lab¹
   4. MAT 125 or MAT 131 or MAT 141 - Calculus
   5. PHY/ENS 119 - Physics for Environmental Studies²
   6. One of the following: GEO 101 - Environmental Geology or MAR 104 Oceanography or ATM 102 Weather and Climate or ENS 101 Prospects for Planet Earth
      
      
2. Social Sciences
   
   
   1. ANP 120 - Introduction to Physical Anthropology
   2. ECO 108 - Introduction to Economic Analysis
   3. POL 102 - Introduction to American Government
      
      
3. Humanities
   
   
   1. PHI 104 - Moral Reasoning or PHI 105 - Politics and Society
      
      
4. Communications - Proficiency in writing, oral communication, and computer literacy will be encouraged in all students. These skills will be developed within the context of formal course work and no additional credits are required.
   
   
5. Upper-Division Writing Requirement - All students in the major must submit two papers from any upper division course in the major to the Director of Undergraduate Programs for evaluation by the end of the junior year.

B. Core Courses (20 credits)

1. One of the following statistics courses: AMS 102, AMS 110, AMS 310, ECO 320, POL 201, PSY 201, or SOC 202.
   
   
2. MAR 340 - Environmental Problems and Solutions
   
   
3. MAR 301 - Contemporary Environmental Issues and Policies
   
   
4. ENS 311/BIO 386 Ecosystem Ecology and the Global Environment
   
   
5. ENS 312 - Population, Technology, and the Environment
   
   
6. One of the following (2credits):
   
   
   1. ENS 443 - Environmental Problem Solving
   2. Independent Research (see Note 3)
   3. Internship (See Note 4)
      
      

C. Concentrations (12 credits)

All students in the major must complete an area of concentration consisting of four courses to develop depth of knowledge in a specific field of interest.

1. Archaeology
   
   
   1. ANT 104 - Introduction to Archaeology
   2. ANT 357 - The Agricultural Revolution
   3. ANT 362 - Long Island Archaeology
   4. One additional upper-division archaeology course
      
      
2. Atmospheric Studies
   
   
   1. ATM 205 - Introduction to Atmospheric Science
   2. ATM 237 - Global Atmospheric Change
   3. ATM 397 - Air Pollution and its Control
   4. MAR 334 - Remote Sensing in the Environment
   5. Other upper-division ATM courses (ATM 345, ATM 346, or ATM 348) may be substituted with the permission of the Undergraduate Programs Director
      
      
3. Conservation/Physical Anthropology
   
   
   1. ANP 210 - The Living Primates
   2. ANP 350 - Primate Behavior and Ecology
   3. ANP 360 - Primate Conservation
   4. MAR 315 - Conservation Biology and Marine Biodiversity
      
      
4. Ecology*
   
   
   1. BIO 351 - Ecology
   2. BIO 352 - Ecology Lab
   3. BIO 353 - Marine Ecology
   4. BIO 354 - Evolution or BIO 385 - Plant Ecology
   5. Other upper-division ecology or marine science courses (e.g., MAR 320 - Limnology) may be substituted for BIO 353 and BIO 354/BIO 385 with the permission of the Undergraduate Programs Director
      
      
5. Environmental Economics*
   
   
   1. ECO 303 - Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
   2. ECO 305 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
   3. ECO 373 - Economics of the Environment and Natural Resources
   4. One additional upper-division economics course with the permission of the Undergraduate Programs Director
      
      
6. Environmental History
   1. HIS 108 American History to 1877 or HIS 104 United States since 1877
   2. HIS 365 Environmental History of North America
   3. HIS 398 Environment in World History
   4. Additional upper-division history course with the permission of the Undergraduate Programs Director (e.g. AAS/HIS 353 Environmental History of China)
      
      
7. Environmental Law
   1. ENS/POL 333 Environmental Law
   2. POL 320 - Constitutional Law and Politics
   3. POL 329 - Administrative Law
   4. POL 366 - Government Regulation of Business
   5. Other upper-division courses (e.g. POL 351, POL 359, PHI 375) may be substituted for POL 366 with the permission of the Undergraduate Programs Director
      
      
8. Marine Environmental Studies*
   
   
   1. MAR 333 - Coastal Oceanography
   2. MAR 336 - Marine Pollution
   3. MAR 315 - Conservation Biology and Marine Biodiversity
   4. MAR 385 - Principles of Fisheries Biology and Management
   5. Other upper-division courses (BIO 343, 353, MAR 301, 302, 304, 307, 308, 334, 350, 351, 366, 371, 390) may be substituted for MAR 315 and/or MAR 385 with the permission of the Undergraduate Programs Director
      
      
9. Public Policy*
   
   
   1. POL 325 - Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
   2. POL 359 - Public Policy Analysis
   3. POL 364 - Organizational Decision Making
   4. PHI 364 - Philosophy of Technology or PHI 366 - Philosophy and the Environment
   5. One additional upper-division waste reduction or environmental policy course (with the permission of the Undergraduate Programs Director)
      
      
10. Waste Reduction and Management
    
    
    1. MAR 392 - Waste Management Issues
    2. MAR/POL 333 Environmental Law
    3. BCP/MAR 394 - Toxicology and Public Health

E. Notes

1. This requirement can also be satisfied by CHE 141, 143 Honors Chemistry and Lab.
   
   
2. This requirement can also be satisfied by PHY 121/123, 122/124 or 125, 126, 127 or 131/133, 132/134 or 141, 142.
   
   
3. Two credits of any course numbered 487 or equivalent with one of the following designators: ANP, ANT, ATM, BCP, BIO, CHE, ECO, ENS, EST, GEO, MAR, PHY, POL. In addition to other prerequisites, credit for major requires approval of the research topic by the Director of Undergraduate Programs of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. A presentation at the annual senior colloquium is also required.
   
   
4. Two credits of any course numbered 488 or equivalent with one of the following designators: ANP, ANT, ATM, BCP, BIO, CHE, ECO, ENS, EST, GEO, MAR, PHY, POL. In addition to other prerequisites, credit for major requires approval of the internship by the Director of Undergraduate Programs of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences.

Sample Course Sequence for the Major in Environmental Studies

Page last modified on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 by George E. Carroll