Majors in the approved degree may choose to further specialize their degree by adding a concentration in environment. No concentration is required. The environment concentration requires 18 credits, so students choosing a concentration would use their free electives to fulfill the concentration requirement. Concentration courses may double count with/fulfill major requirements.
Required Courses
Examines social approaches to understanding why environmental problems happen and how environmental problems are resolved. Includes concepts such as sustainability, market-based environmental policies, property systems, and environmental justice. Case studies may include biodiversity, deforestation, climate change, water quality, and toxics.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-1-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Additional Courses
Choose at least 6 credits from the following:
A seminar on the study of culture and politics in marginal environments and disadvantaged communities. Draws upon research in anthropology and geography to examine the interaction in the Americas, Asia, Africa, Europe, the Pacific, and the Arctic.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall
- Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman
- Pre-Requisite(s): SS 2100 and UN 1015 and (UN 1025)
This seminar in sustainability topics will cover a rotating set of topics, depending on semester offering. Topics may include energy use, justice, pollution, green design, or regulations bearing on sustainability.
- Credits: 3.0; Repeatable to a Max of 9
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: On Demand
- Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman
- Pre-Requisite(s): UN 1015 and (UN 1025)
Examines changing relationships between social systems (government, economy, etc.) and the environment. Explores the structural and cultural causes and consequences of such topics as production, consumption, population, energy systems, climate change, pollution, and environmental justice and how to respond to these issues through policies and actions.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: On Demand
- Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman
- Pre-Requisite(s): SS 2700 or SS 2400
This course explores changes in human interactions with earth systems over time, starting with the development of agriculture and continuing to the present. Case studies include mining, forestry, water, agricultural, sustainability, and urban development.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, in odd years
- Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore
- Pre-Requisite(s): SS 3520
Considers the efficient and equitable use of environmental resources, including air, water, land, wilderness and parks, wildlife and other ecological systems. Measures the benefits and costs of decreasing pollution, cleaner environment, and protecting scarce ecological resources. Addresses market failures and the economic valuation of environmental amenities.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Spring, in odd years
- Pre-Requisite(s): (EC 2001 or EC 3002) and UN 1015 and (UN 1025)
In this course, students gain knowledge in indigenous history, culture, and policy to enhance understanding of the rights and privileges associated with treaties, government-to-government relationship, and diversity of people, practices and values. Students engage in multidisciplinary scholarship with relevance for today's shared management regime.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Spring
- Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman
- Pre-Requisite(s): UN 1015 and (UN 1025)
Study of sustainability, engineering and design including systems analysis, life cycle analysis, biogeochemical cycles, energy balances, energy conservation and development, models for sustainable engineering, environmental regulations as sustainability instruments, sustainability in the build environment, and industrial ecology and compliance.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Spring
- Pre-Requisite(s): CEE 3501 or CEE 3503
NOTE: You can also select any approved 4000+ level topics course
Choose 0-9 credits from the following:
This course investigates relationships between the world's population, population change, population distribution, resource consumption, and environmental, health, and social consequences. Addresses local and global relationships and the population processes (mortality, fertility, and migration) involved.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, in odd years
- Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman
- Pre-Requisite(s): UN 1015 and (UN 1025)
Examines how human interaction with physical environment has changed in North America over the last four centuries. Topics include uses of land by Native Americans, changes associated with European colonization, incorporation of natural resources into industrial economy, early conservation and preservation movements, and environmental concerns accompanying urbanization and industrialization.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall
- Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman
- Pre-Requisite(s): UN 1015 and (UN 1025)
This course provides an overview of corporate social responsibility (CSR), and how it is being implemented with particular consideration for interaction with government and the non-profit sector.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Spring
- Pre-Requisite(s): UN 1015 and (UN 1025)
The Great Lakes are used as the subject to examine environmental issues. A combination of reading, lecture, and discussion will be used to study the unique ecology, biology, and history of the Great Lakes.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, Summer
Integration of competing stakeholder objectives affects wildlife conservation and management outcomes. Federal law including the Endangered Species Act (ESA), domestic and international treaties, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) are introduced.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (2-1-0)
- Semesters Offered: Spring
- Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman
- Pre-Requisite(s): FW 1050
The development and variety of plant use across cultures, the transition to commercialization of plants, how current uses are tied to traditional uses, and methods of ethnobotanical research.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall
- Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman
- Pre-Requisite(s): UN 1015 and (UN 1025 or Modern Language - 3000 level or higher)
Introduction to biological, social, political, and economic facets of conservation science. Evaluating how best to maintain and restore species, populations, and ecosystems. Topics include human impacts on ecosystems, how science informs strategies, conservation challenges, policy, planning, structured decision making.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Spring
In this course students examine the interdisciplinary relationship between literature and environmental and ecological studies. Topics to be explored include eco-criticism, eco-feminism, environmental (in) justice, indigeneity, sustainability, and animal studies.
- Credits: 3.0; Repeatable to a Max of 6
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall, in odd years
- Pre-Requisite(s): UN 1015 and (UN 1025)
This course explores different ways of reflecting on our relationships to our natural environments, inquiring into the meaning of environment, ecology, resources, and management. It analyzes the social and ethical dimensions; examining how different understandings of 'environment' affect policy, ethics, law, and technology.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: On Demand
- Pre-Requisite(s): UN 1015 and (UN 1025)
Critical and cultural approach to key issues, concepts, and controversies in the field of environmental communication. May include topics such as environmental journalism, rhetoric of sustainability, risk communication, politics of climate representation, advocacy, consumerism, eco-tourism, greening, public policy, environmental justice.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
- Semesters Offered: Fall
- Pre-Requisite(s): UN 1015 and (UN 1025)
Psychological effects of the physical environment and effects of human action on the sociophysical environment, including an examination of global environmental issues and ecologically-relevant behavior.
- Credits: 3.0
- Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
- Semesters Offered: Spring, in even years
- Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman
- Pre-Requisite(s): (PSY 2000 or HF 2000) and UN 1015 and (UN 1025)
NOTE: You can also select any approved 4000+ level topics course