Environmental Studies

UW-PARKSIDE 2019-21 CATALOG
Greenquist 344C • 262-595-2744

College:
Natural and Health Sciences

Degree and Programs Offered:
Bachelor of Science
Major - Environmental Studies
Minor - Environmental Studies
Major Concentrations: Environmental Biology, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Geography, Environmental Geology, Environmental Policy and Society, General Environmental Studies

Student Organizations/Clubs:
BIOS Club, Geosciences Club, Geography Club, Parkside Environmental Club.

Career Possibilities:
Environmental consulting, ecology, environmental law and law enforcement, environmental restoration, environmental education, farming, forestry, journalism, land-use planning, natural resource management, science teaching, sustainable management, wetlands management, wildlife conservation.

Program Overview

The environmental studies program provides a learning environment that prepares students to understand and respond to local, regional, and global environmental challenges. The rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum fosters an understanding of the complexity of humans’ relationship with nature and an appreciation of humankind’s dependency on functioning ecosystems for survival. Through course work, research, and community engagement, the environmental studies faculty create an environment for students that cultivates independent thinking, creative problem solving, and effective communication skills. Environmental studies graduates are well prepared for a diversity of careers or graduate studies in environmental sciences, management, consulting or advocacy through a unique combination of course work and practical experience.

Academic Plan: Students wishing to complete a major in environmental studies must complete all the listed courses within the core of the environmental studies major.  In addition, each student must complete at least one concentration listed below.  Students who complete specific concentrations within the environmental studies major might qualify to receive a minor from the department whose classes make up the majority of the concentration (i.e. Students who complete the environmental geology concentration have met all the academic requirements for a minor in geosciences). 

  1. A common core set of classes
    1. These classes are the primary pre-requisites for nearly all the courses that will be listed within the concentrations
    2. These classes will also provide a solid amount of diversity and exposure to ENVS students within the various concentrations in the ENVS major
  2. Concentrations with similar thematic courses
    1. Six separate concentrations
      1. Environmental Biology
      2. Environmental Chemistry
      3. Environmental Geography
      4. Environmental Geology
      5. Environmental Policy and Society
      6. General Environmental Studies

Note: The completion of this major will not satisfy all of the graduation requirements within the University (i.e. Thirty-six (36) credits of 300 level or higher coursework).  It is the student’s responsibility with consultation with the advisors for this program to ensure that both their major requirements and graduation requirements are satisfied.

Program-Level Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the environmental studies major, students will be able to:

  1. Understand the physical, biological and social forces that govern the development and evolution of environmental systems and demonstrate expertise in how these systems can be sustainably managed.
  2. Collect, manage and analyze quantitative data to draw inferences about the nature of reality.
  3. Work collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary team to analyze and solve environmental problems through a combination of content knowledge and critical reasoning.
  4. Analyze the roles of economics, politics, and society in evaluating and resolving environmental issues and have a thorough understand local, national, and international environmental laws, regulations and policies.
  5. Effectively communicate environmental problems and solutions to both professional and non-professional audiences.

Requirements for the Environmental Studies Major (67-72 credits)

The major in environmental studies consists of 40-41 credits forming a core curriculum with an additional 27-32 credits within the students chosen concentration area.

  1. Core Courses (40-45 credits)
    1. Required Courses (31 credits)
      ENVS 101 Introduction to Environmental Studies 3 cr
      ENVS 102 Chemistry of the Environment 3 cr
      ENVS 109 Fundamentals of Climate Change 3 cr
      ENVS 201 Laboratory Experiences in Environmental Studies 3 cr
      ENVS 335 Energy 4 cr
      ENVS 336 Environmental Justice 3 cr
      ENVS 495 Environmental Studies Seminar 1 cr
      GEOG 100 Physical Geography and the Environment 4 cr
      GEOG 108 Culture and Environmental Sustainability 3 cr
      PHYS 101 Principles of Physics 4 cr
    2. Math Requirement (3-4 credits)
      Choose one course:
      MATH 103 Elementary Statistics 3 cr
      MATH 111 College Algebra I 4 cr
    3. Writing Requirement (3 credits)
      Choose one course:
      ENGL 201 Advanced Composition 3 cr
      ENGL 202 Technical Writing 3 cr
      ENGL 204 Writing for Business and Industry 3 cr
    4. Social Science Requirement (3 credits)
      Choose one course:
      ANTH 100 Introduction to Anthropology 3 cr
      SOCA 101 Introduction to Sociology 3 cr
      POLS 100 American Politics 3 cr
  2. Required Concentrations (27-32 credits)
    Choose one:
    1. Environmental Biology Concentration (32 credits)
      1. Required courses (28 credits)
        BIOS 101 Bioscience 4 cr
        BIOS 102 Organismal Biology 4 cr
        BIOS 210 Biostatistics 4 cr
        BIOS 305 Principles of Ecology 4 cr
        BIOS 333 Restoration Ecology 4 cr
        BIOS 336 Conservation Biology 3 cr
        MATH 114 College Algebra II with Trigonometry 5 cr
      2. Choose one course (4 credits)
        BIOS 313 Invertebrate Zoology 4 cr
        BIOS 318 Vertebrate Zoology 4 cr
        BIOS 324 Botany

        4 cr

        BIOS 340 Animal Behavior 4 cr

        Students may satisfy the requirements for a biological sciences minor with this concentration. It is the student’s responsibility to officially declare the minor by submitting a plan declaration form to the department.
         

    2. Environmental Chemistry Concentration (27 credits)
      Required courses:
      CHEM 101 General Chemistry I 4 cr
      CHEM 102 General Chemistry II 4 cr
      CHEM 103 General Chemistry Lab I 1 cr
      CHEM 104 General Chemistry Lab II 1 cr
      CHEM 206 Quantitative Analysis 4 cr
      CHEM 230 Introduction to Green Chemistry 2 cr
      CHEM 321 Organic Chemistry I 4 cr
      CHEM 322 Organic Chemistry II 4 cr
      CHEM 323 Organic Chemistry Laboratory 3 cr
      Students may satisfy the requirements for a chemistry minor and a certificate in green chemistry with this concentration.  It is the student’s responsibility to officially declare the minor by submitting a plan declaration form to the department.
       
    3. Environmental Geography Concentration (30 credits)
      1. Required courses (26 credits)
        GEOG 250 Map Use and Analysis 3 cr
        GEOG 326 Biogeography 3 cr
        GEOG 350 Cartography and GIS 3 cr
        GEOG 365 Geography in Land Use Planning 3 cr
        GEOG 382 Soil Ecosystems and Resources 4 cr
        GEOG 384 Landscape Ecology 4 cr
        GEOG 460 Introduction to GIS Analysis 3 cr
        GEOG 465 Advanced GIS Applications 3 cr
      2. Elective course (4 credits)
        Choose one:
        GEOG 324 Landforms and Environmental Processes 4 cr
        GEOG 396 Field Methods in Geography 4 cr
        Students may satisfy the requirements for a geography minor and GIS certificate with this concentration.  It is the student’s responsibility to officially declare the minor by submitting a plan declaration form to the department.
         
    4. Environmental Geology Concentration (28 credits)
      Required courses:
      GEOS 101 Introductory Geology 3 cr
      GEOS 102 Origin and History of the Earth 3 cr
      GEOS 104 Introductory Geology Laboratory 2 cr
      GEOS 200 Minerals and Rocks 4 cr
      GEOS 301 Geomorphology 4 cr
      GEOS 330 Environmental Geology 4 cr
      GEOS 420 Glacial Geology 4 cr
      GEOS 445 Environmental Sampling, Monitoring, and Assessment 4 cr
      Students may satisfy the requirements for a geosciences minor with this concentration.  It is the student’s responsibility to officially declare the minor by submitting a plan declaration form to the department.
       
    5. Environmental Policy and Society Concentration (30 credits)
      Required courses:

      ANTH 200/
      INTS 210

      Cultural Anthropology 3 cr
      ECON 120 Principles of Microeconomics 3 cr
      ECON 300 Environmental Economics 3 cr
      ENGL 460 Literature and Other Disciplines 3 cr
      GEOG 308 Conservation of Natural Resources 3 cr
      GEOG 365 Geography in Land Use Planning 3 cr
      POLS  202 Public Policy 3 cr
      POLS 302 Environmental Policy 3 cr
      SOCA 379 Society and Environment 3 cr
      SOCA 382 Environmental Anthropology 3 cr
      Students pursing this concentration should take MATH 111, which is a specified pre-requisite for ECON 120.
       
    6. General Environmental Studies Concentration (30 credits)
      To complete this concentration, students must complete the following:
      1. Choose at least two courses from four other concentrations (above). These must be unique courses; a student cannot count a course in two different concentrations. *

      2. Students must complete a minimum of thirty (30) credits overall within the courses offered within the concentrations. This may require students to take more than two (2) classes from certain concentrations. This may or may not be satisfied by completing #1.

      3. Students must complete of at least twelve (12) credits at the 300 level or higher.

        *Within the environmental chemistry concentration, CHEM 101/103 and CHEM 102/104 are paired as a lecture/laboratory and if students choose these course pairs, each pair is counted as one course for students pursuing the general environmental studies concentration.

        Depending on the courses taken within each concentration, students may qualify for a minor in the department offering the majority of courses within the concentration.  Please consult with your advisor for more information.

 

Requirements for the Environmental Studies Minor (19 credits)

The environmental studies minor consists of a minimum of 20 credits, of which a minimum of 6 credits must be taken in science and a minimum of 6 credits in liberal arts, chosen from the following courses:

  1. Required Course (1 credit)
    ENVS 495 Environmental Studies Seminar 1 cr
  2. Environmental Survey Course (3 credits)
    Choose one:
    BIOS 104 Environmental Science: A Biological Approach* 3 cr
    ENVS 101 Introduction to Environmental Studies 3 cr
    ENVS 102 Chemistry of the Environment 3 cr
    GEOG 308 Conservation of Natural Resources 3 cr
    *  Biological sciences majors should take BIOS 305 Principles of Ecology, not BIOS 104.
     
  3. Environmental Policy Course (3 credits)
    Choose one:
    ECON 300 Environmental Economics 3 cr
    POLS 302 Environmental Policy 3 cr
    SOCA 379 Society and Environment 3 cr
  4. Elective Courses (12 credits)
    Twelve elective credits taken outside one’s major field (except for a possible 3-credit independent study which may be taken within the major) selected from the list below or from ENVS 495 and core courses beyond those used to meet requirements A and B.
    • BIOS 102, 202 or 303, 305, 313, 318, 324, 330

    • ECON 120, 320

    • ENGL 202

    • ENVS 290, 335, 336, 390, 490, 499

    • GEOG 108, 306, 323, 324, 326, 382, 384, 365, 396

    • GEOS 106, 108, 320, 361, 440, 445, 465, 470

    • PHIL 220

    • POLS 202, 250

    • SOCA 482
      Some of these courses have prerequisites; see an environmental studies advisor to plan your program of studies.

      Independent study for 3 credits may be taken under supervision of a member of the environmental studies faculty. An independent study within the student’s major field must be approved by the environmental studies faculty committee.

      Recommended Background Courses for the Minor
      Students pursuing an environmental studies minor are encouraged to take as many of the following as possible:

    • CHEM 101, 102

    • ECON 121, 325, 405

    • ENGL 402

    • GEOG 100, 105, 110, 215, 250, 315, 320, 360, 375

    • GEOS 100, 101, 102, 301

    • HIST 101, 102, 120, 128, 313, 324, 341, 346

    • PHIL 101, 206, 320

    • POLS 100, 104, 214, 215, 216, 320, 331, 341, 360, 400

      Statistics is an important tool for environmental studies, and therefore students are urged to take one of the following:

    • BIOS 210

    • GEOG 300

    • MATH 103, 309, 310

    • PSYC 250

    • QM 210

    • SOCA 250

Courses in Environmental Studies (ENVS)
 

101

Introduction to Environmental Studies
Prereq: None. Freq: Fall.
Examines interactions between earth system processes and humans including geologic hazards, water quality, pollution, land use, energy, and mineral resources. Addresses impacts on environmental justice, economic development and policy. Uses a multidisciplinary, environmental studies approach to evaluate the conditions and human values conducive to environmental quality.

3 cr
102

Chemistry of the Environment
Prereq: None. Freq: Spring
Covers chemistry of the environment in three major areas: Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, and terrestrial environment. Focuses on key environmental issues, their origins, understanding and alleviation.

3 cr
109

Fundamentals of Climate Change
Prereq: None. Freq: Fall
Surveys the current state of climate science including Earth’s energy budget, the atmosphere, the greenhouse effect, ocean circulation, climate feedbacks, climate modeling and Earth’s past climate. Also considers uncertainty in projections of future climate and solutions involving carbon sequestration, carbon-trade markets and energy efficiency. Three-hour lecture.

3 cr
201

Laboratory Experiences in Environmental Studies
Prereq: ENVS 102. Freq: Fall.
Provides laboratory experience in assessing, measuring, analyzing and monitoring environmental problems. Experiments may include measurements of environmental pollutants, use of instruments to detect environmental contaminants, and collection and sampling for water, soil and air analysis.

3 cr
290

Special Topics in Environmental Studies
Prereq: Consent of instructor.  Freq: Occasionally.
Special topics in environmental studies will be examined.

1-4 cr
335

Energy
Prereq: MATH 111, PHYS 101; or consent of instructor. Freq: Spring.
Discuss various forms of energy and related topics including mechanical energy; chemical energy; fossil fuels; and fuel cells; thermal energy and the laws of thermodynamics; electrical energy; and nuclear energy. Investigates environmental impacts of each type of energy and alternative energy sources. Three-hour lecture and one-hour discussion.

4 cr
336

Environmental Justice
Prereq: ENVS 101 or BIOS 104. Freq: Occasionally.
Evaluates unsolved questions regarding themes of social inequalities and environmental contamination. Includes topics such as industrial zoning, brownfield development, urban agriculture, air quality and toxic waste processing. Three-hour lecture.

3 cr
390

Special Topics in Environmental Studies
Prereq: Consent of instructor.  Freq: Occasionally.
Special topics in environmental studies will be examined.

1-4 cr
490

Special Topics in Environmental Studies
Prereq: Consent of instructor.  Freq: Occasionally.
Special topics in environmental studies will be examined.

1-4 cr
494

Internship/Fieldwork
Prereq: Sophomore or higher standing and ENVS Director approval.  Freq: Fall, Spring, Summer.
Provides students with learning experiences within professional fields that are related to their professional career goals; such as business operations, professional competencies and conduct, and overall work environment. Requires placement approval by ENVS Director.  May be repeated for credit.

1-3 cr
495

Environmental Studies Seminar
Prereq: Junior or senior standing; ENVS major. Freq: Fall, Spring, Summer.
Explores major environmental issues from a multidisciplinary perspective.

1 cr
499

Independent Study
Prereq: Consent of instructor and director. Freq: Fall, Spring, Summer.
An independent project carried out under the supervision of a member of the environmental studies faculty. Up to 3 credits may count as elective credit toward the minor.

1-3 cr
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