Environmental Studies

Requirements & Courses

  • Major Requirements

    Sixty credits which must include forty credits of Core Courses and sixteen credits of electives (mostly upper-level) that allow focus in a particular area of study.

    1. Core (40 credits): ENV-105; ENV-110 or GEO-101; ENV-205, 291, and 480; eight credits from CHM-115, BIO-121, 222, or 223; eight credits from POL-141, PHL-225 or REL-225, COM-253, ECN-340; eight credits from ENV-319, 360, 370.

    2. Complete one of the following tracks (16 credits):

      1. Environmental Science: Sixteen upper-level credits from the following departments: BIO, BCM, CHM, ENV, IPH, PHY, PSY, and/or MTH/CSC, approved by the ENV department chair.

      2. Environmental Health: Sixteen credits selected from BIO-307 or IPH-226; IPH-270, 331, 328, 430; ENV-265, 380, or other special topics courses approved by the ENV department chair.

      3. Environmental Policy: Four credits from POL-101, PHL-228, HST-271; twelve credits from POL-217, 225/226 (only four credits can count toward major), 231, 233, 242, 305, 341, 401; COM-227, 327, or other special topics courses approved by the ENV department chair.

    • Because ENV is an interdepartmental major, all majors are required to take 56 upper-level credits to graduate in accordance with the academic catalog guidelines.

    • The Program Comprehensive Evaluation is in the form of oral presentation to the Environmental Studies faculty as part of the ENV-480 seminar.

    • Note that ENV-480 is linked with the School for Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) at Indiana University and counts for Master’s level credit for students accepted into the SPEA program.

    Other Considerations:

    • Students are expected to complete an internship or research experience appropriate to their academic and career goals and approved by the department chair.

    • Recommended courses include: PHY-112 or 121, and MTH-121.

    • Potential majors are highly recommended to consult with the ENV program chair as soon as possible to develop an appropriate curricular plan. A firm grasp of statistics is critical for all of the major tracks and a minimum of MTH 116 (which counts towards the Distributive Requirements in the Natural Sciences — Mathematics/Computation) is expected. Further mathematical and analytical requirements will be discussed between the potential major and program chair(s) and will be tailored to the student’s specific academic and career goals.

  • Minor Requirements

    Twenty-six credits which must include: ENV-105; ENV-110 or GEO-101; ENV-205, 480; BIO-121, 122, or 123; CHM-115; 4 credits from POL-141, PHL-225, ECN-340, COM-253.

    Environmental Studies students are recommended to conduct research or take a Spring Term experience abroad that utilizes our relationships with various institutions. MTH-116 (Statistics) and/or MTH-121 (Calculus) are strongly advised to fulfill NS-3 distributive requirements. MTH-121 is required for most graduate work.

Courses

  • ENV
    105
    .
    Intro to Environmental Studies
    4 credits
    Examination of humans and their relationship to the natural environment. Explores current status of environmental problems, controversies and solutions. Laboratory. Course fee.
  • ENV
    110
    .
    Environmental Geology
    4 credits
    Investigation into the causes of geologic hazards such as earthquakes, mass movement, volcanoes and desertification. Includes investigation into geologic process involved in the formation of energy and material resources, their origin, uniqueness and the impact of their use on the environment. Topics center on the interrelationships among all physical Earth processes. Laboratory.
  • ENV
    205
    .
    Environmental Health
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
    Exploration of the relationship between the environment and human health. Topics include exposure to pollution, environmental disasters, injuries, and occupational health. The following concepts will be explored: environmental justice, toxicology, public health, and risk assessment.
  • ENV
    265
    .
    Global Health Perspectives
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
    This course provides an overview of the major human health issues among the global community. Topics include: health education, healthcare, infectious disease, nutrition, violence, pollution and other health hazards. Review of case studies and data organization related to health disparities among different countries will be studied.
  • ENV
    291
    .
    Scientific Writing and Methods
    2 credits
    Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
    Examination of the different types of scientific writing, literature, along with practice of effective science communication within multiple formats. Brief coverage of how science writing and communication is different from everyday writing and communication. Skill development in effectively representing and understanding basic statistical analyses, graphs, diagrams and illustrations and their role in effective communication.
  • ENV
    319
    .
    Toxicology
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: BIO-121 and CHM-115 (one course from CHM-223, BIO-203, or IPH-227 recommended)
    The study of toxic effects of chemicals on human and ecological populations. This includes the basic principles of toxicology and toxicity testing, fate and transport of materials in the environment and the body, key toxins and toxicants, and modes of toxic action among other topics. These subjects are supplemented with scientific literature on current topics in toxicology. Laboratory. Course fee.
  • ENV
    360
    .
    Watershed Hydrology
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: ENV-205 and ENV-291, or permission. CHM-115 recommended.
    Investigation of the methods and means describing how surface water and groundwater move in the environment. Topics include the relationship between surface and groundwater, migration of contaminants in fluvial and subsurface systems, and the theoretical and practical application of mathematical expression of water movement. Real-world, local problems serve as a centerpiece for project development.
  • ENV
    370
    .
    Risk Assessment
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: BIO-291 or ENV-291 or sophomore standing
    Systematic approach to the prediction of risks to human health and the environment. Theoretical framework of basic risk assessments is paired with application of real-world examples of known and unknown chemical and biological agents. Students learn to prepare ecological risk assessments.
  • ENV
    380
    .
    Environmental Problems and Issues
    4 credits
    Prerequisite: ENV-105 or 110 or Permission
    Examination of selected environmental issues and problems. Content varies. Topics may include pollution, energy, natural resources, land use planning and recycling. Course fee.
  • ENV
    380M
    .
    Topics in Env Studies
    4 credits
    Selected topics in Environmental Studies problems. Content varies. Topics may include pollution, energy, natural resources, land use planning and recycling. Course fee.
  • ENV
    385
    .
    Environmental Studies Practicum
    1 credit
    Prerequisite: ENV-105, 110 and one additional course from the ENV curriculum
    Practicum in the field of Environmental Studies.
  • ENV
    480
    .
    Topics Seminar in Environmental Studies
    2 credits
    Prerequisite: Sixteen credits of ENV or Senior Standing or Permission
    Capstone course in environmental studies. Interdisciplinary approach incorporating scientific knowledge with policy and humanistic issues that are applied to real-life environmental problems.
  • ENV
    499
    .
    Environmental Studies Independent Study
    1 credit
    Prerequisite: ENV-105, 110 and one additional course from the ENV curriculum
    Independent study in the field of environmental studies.