Environmental Studies (BA/BS)

The environmental studies major provides students with opportunities to work alongside world-class scholars and researchers, develop concrete skills and analytical abilities, and gain hands-on experience solving environmental issues. The environmental studies major emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to environmental topics that combines the natural sciences, social sciences, policy studies, sustainable design, and the humanities. The curriculum includes environmentally-related courses taught by more than 100 participating faculty from 30 campus programs and departments.

The environmental studies major is flexible, allowing you to tailor coursework with a focal point of your choice to meet specific educational and career goals. We prioritizes practical learning experiences where you will link theory to practice and build transferable skills through internships, research, and community involvement. Our Environmental Leadership Program and a robust internship program offer capstone experiences for undergraduate students that provide training in teamwork, time management, communication, and problem solving skills that are increasingly valued in all careers.

Program's Admission Requirements

Please visit the program's website.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Articulate the contributions from the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities in understanding environmental issues.
  • Articulate major root causes of environmental problems and avenues for addressing them.
  • Discuss several key concepts within the field of environmental studies (e.g. sustainability, environmental justice, climate change, humans varied ways of understanding and representing nature, the relationship between nature and culture), drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking and communication skills, including the ability to: a) Critically analyze environmental information, data and problems; b) Interpret a variety of environmental writings; c) Synthesize diverse information sources; d) Communicate effectively through written and oral communication.

Environmental Studies Major Requirements

The Environmental Studies major is customizable, allowing students to tailor their coursework to meet specific education and career goals. Students can concentrate on focal areas of their choosing and select from a variety of courses across disciplines, which provides students with a robust, well-rounded educational experience.

The major requires a minimum of 92 credits including 56 upper-division credits.

Except for ENVS 401-409, all courses applied to the major must be graded, and a C- or better must be earned in all graded courses. As many as four upper-division courses may be used to fulfill the requirements of another major. This limit only applies to courses with the same primary subject code as the second major.

Major requirements sheets containing detailed information about specific courses are available on the Environmental Studies website, in the Environmental Studies office, or by visiting an advisor in Tykeson Hall. 

Check prerequisites for all upper-division courses. Environmental Studies majors are not exempt from the required prerequisites.

Area 1. Lower-Division ENVS Core
ENVS 201Introduction to Environmental Studies: Social Sciences4
ENVS 202Introduction to Environmental Studies: Natural Sciences4
ENVS 203Introduction to Environmental Studies: Humanities4
Area 2. Lower-Division Math and Science
MATH 111ZPrecalculus I: Functions 14
Statistics course4
STAT 243Z
Elementary Statistics I
MATH 425
Statistical Methods I
ERTH 418
Earth and Environmental Data Analysis
GEOG 495
Geographic Data Analysis
Approved introductory sequence iin natural science12
Course from different natural science sequence or from the list of approved science courses4
Area 3A. Upper-Divisioin Natural Science
Two upper-division natural science courses from the major requirements sheet8
Area 3B. Upper-Division Soc Sci, Policy, Humanities, and Design
Social science foundation course4
Policy foundation course4
Humanities foundation course4
Design foundation course4
Six additional courses: three from one of the above areas; three from another24
Area 4. Environmental Issues
ENVS 411Environmental Issues: [Topic]4
or ENVS 425 Environmental Education Theory and Practice
or ENVS 427 Environmental and Ecological Monitoring
Area 5. Practical Learning Experience
All ENVS majors must complete 4 upper-division credits that provide career or graduate school readiness skills.4
ENVS 403
Thesis
ENVS 404
Internship: [Topic]
ENVS 429
Environmental Leadership: [Topic]
OGWI 488
Overseas Studies: GlobalWorks Institute Internship (Internship)
Total Credits92
1

Recommended course; however, a university-level mathematics course that counts toward the bachelor of science mathematics requirement fulfills the requirement.

Approved Courses

Introductory Sequence in Natural Science
Life Sciences
BI 221Z
& BI 222Z
& BI 223Z
Principles of Biology I: Cells
and Principles of Biology II: Organisms
and Principles of Biology III: Ecology and Evolution
or CH 150Z
& BI 221Z
& BI 223Z
 Preparatory Chemistry
and Principles of Biology I: Cells
and Principles of Biology III: Ecology and Evolution
or CH 221Z
& BI 221Z
& BI 223Z
 General Chemistry I
and Principles of Biology I: Cells
and Principles of Biology III: Ecology and Evolution
Chemistry
CH 221Z
& CH 222Z
& CH 223Z
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry III
Earth Sciences
ERTH 101
Exploring Planet Earth
or ERTH 201
 Dynamic Planet Earth
ERTH 102
Exploring Earth’s Environment
or ERTH 202
 Earth's Surface and Environment
ERTH 103
Exploring Earth History
or ERTH 203
 History of Life
Physical Sciences
CH 150Z
& PHYS 161
& PHYS 162
Preparatory Chemistry
and Physics of Energy and Environment
and Solar and Other Renewable Energies
or PHYS 201
& PHYS 202
& PHYS 203
 General Physics
and General Physics
and General Physics
Non-Sequence Science Courses
ANTH 110
Introduction to Traditional Ecological Knowledge
ANTH 170
Introduction to Human Origins
ANTH 270
Introduction to Biological Anthropology 1
BI 130
Introduction to Ecology 1
BI 150
Ocean Planet 1
CH 113
Sustainability and the Science Behind It
GEOG 141
The Natural Environment
ERTH 213
Geology of National Parks
1

These courses cannot be used with the Life Science sequence.

Upper-Division Natural Science Courses

ANTH 341Food Origins4
ANTH 344Oregon Archaeology4
ANTH 361Human Evolution4
ANTH 362Human Biological Variation4
ANTH 369Human Growth and Development4
ANTH 463Primate Behavior4
ANTH 467Paleoecology and Human Evolution4
ANTH 472Primate Conservation Biology4
ANTH 487Bioanthropology Methods4
BI 307Forest Biology4
BI 357Marine Biology4
BI 359Plant Biology4
BI 370General Ecology4
BI 380Evolution4
BI 390Animal Behavior4
BI 432Mycology5
BI 442Systematic Botany5
BI 448Field Botany4
BI 451Invertebrate Zoology1-10
BI 454Estuarine Biology5
BI 455Marine Birds and Mammals1-6
BI 457Marine Biology: [Topic]1-8
BI 458Biological Oceanography5
BI 471Population Ecology4
BI 472Community Ecology4
BI 474Marine Ecology 11-8
CH 331Organic Chemistry I4
CH 335Organic Chemistry II4
CH 336Organic Chemistry III4
CH 341Majors Track Organic Chemistry I4
CH 342Majors Track Organic Chemistry II4
CH 343Majors Track Organic Chemistry III4
ENVS 465Wetland Ecology and Management4
ENVS 477Soil Science4
ERTH 304The Fossil Record 24
ERTH 305Dinosaurs 24
ERTH 306Volcanoes and Earthquakes 24
ERTH 307Oceanography 24
ERTH 308Geology of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest 24
ERTH 310Earth Resources and the Environment4
ERTH 311Earth Materials5
ERTH 315Earth Physics4
ERTH 316Introduction to Hydrogeology4
ERTH 319Field Studies Oregon Geology4
ERTH 331Mineralogy5
ERTH 332Introduction to Petrology5
ERTH 334Sedimentology and Stratigraphy4
ERTH 353Geologic Hazards4
ERTH 434Vertebrate Paleontology4
ERTH 436Paleoecology and Functional Morphology4
ERTH 441Hillslope Geomorphology4
ERTH 451Hydrogeology4
ERTH 454Fluid Dynamics4
ERTH 455Mechanical Earth4
ERTH 468Introduction to Seismology4
ERTH 473Isotope Geochemistry4
ERTH 474Soil and Environmental Chemistry4
GEOG 321Climatology4
GEOG 322Geomorphology4
GEOG 323Biogeography4
GEOG 360Watershed Science and Policy4
GEOG 361Global Environmental Change4
GEOG 421Advanced Climatology: [Topic]4
GEOG 423Advanced Biogeography: [Topic]4
GEOG 425Hydrology and Water Resources4
GEOG 427Fluvial Geomorphology4
GEOG 430Long-Term Environmental Change4
GEOG 433Fire and Natural Disturbances4
GEOG 481GIScience I4
GEOG 482GIScience II4
GEOG 485Remote Sensing I4
GEOG 486Remote Sensing II4
GEOG 489Mapping with Drones4
GEOG 491Advanced Geographic Information Systems4
GEOG 495Geographic Data Analysis4
1

If 8 credits, then counts as 2 courses.

2

Only one course of ERTH 30X will apply.

Upper-Division Social Science, Policy, Humanities, and Design Courses

Social Science - Foundation Courses
ENVS 435Environmental Justice4
ENVS 450Political Ecology4
ENVS 455Sustainability4
ES 354Environmental Racism4
GEOG 341Population and Environment4
SOC 416Issues in Environmental Sociology: [Topic]4
Social Science - Elective Courses
ANTH 320Native North Americans4
ES 350Native Americans and the Environment4
GEOG 342Geography of Globalization4
GEOG 442Urban Geography4
GEOG 465Environment and Development4
GEOG 468Contemporary Food Systems4
GLBL 420Global Community Development4
GLBL 421Gender and International Development4
SOC 304Community, Environment, and Society4
WGS 331Science, Technology, and Gender4
WGS 432Gender, Environment, and Development4
Policy - Foundation Courses
ENVS 335Allocating Scarce Environmental Resources4
PPPM 443Natural Resource Policy4
PPPM 444Environmental Policy4
PS 367Politics, Science, and Climate Change4
PS 477International Environmental Politics4
Policy - Elective Courses
EC 330Urban and Regional Economic Problems4
EC 333Resource and Environmental Economic Issues4
EC 434Environmental Economics4
LAW 310Environmental Regulation4
PPPM 331Environmental Management4
PPPM 340Climate Change Policy4
PPPM 370Global Sustainable Development and Policy4
PPPM 418Introduction to Public Law4
PPPM 438Transportation Issues in Planning: [Topic]4
PPPM 442Sustainable Urban Development4
PPPM 446Socioeconomic Development Planning4
PPPM 480Nonprofit Management4
Humanities - Foundation Courses
ARH 368Arts and Visual Cultures of Climate Change4
ENG 469Literature and the Environment: [Topic]4
ENVS 345Environmental Ethics4
ENVS 430Nature in Popular Culture4
HIST 378American Environmental History to 18904
HIST 379American Environmental History 1890 to Present4
HIST 473American Environmental History: [Topic]4
PHIL 340Environmental Philosophy4
Humanities - Elective Courses
ENG 325Literature of the Northwest4
FLR 320Car Cultures4
GER 357Nature, Culture, and the Environment4
JPN 473Japanese Environmental Cinema4
PHIL 309Global Justice4
PHIL 339Introduction to Philosophy of Science4
PHIL 345Place in the Cosmos4
Design - Foundation Courses
ARCH 431Community Design3
ARCH 435Principles of Urban Design4
ARCH/ENVS 494MPassive Heating4
ENVS 459Water, Public Health, and the Environment4
ENVS 467Sustainable Agriculture4
MGMT 422Sustainable Business Strategy and Implementation4
PPPM 442Sustainable Urban Development4
PPPM 445Green Cities4
Design - Elective Courses
LA 326Plants: Fall4
LA 328Spring Plants4
LA 337Landscape Field Work: [Topic]1-4
LA 390Urban Farm2-4
LA 429Civic Agriculture4
LA 441Principles of Applied Ecology2-6
MGMT 443Life Cycle Assessment4
MKTG 468Marketing, Sustainability, and Ethics4

Four-Year Degree Plan

The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.

Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies (Policy and Social Science Focus)

Degree Map
First Year
FallMilestonesCredits
ENVS 201 Introduction to Environmental Studies: Social Sciences 4
WR 121Z Composition I 4
First term of 1st-year second-language sequence 4
Core-education course 4
 Credits 16
Winter
ENVS 202 Introduction to Environmental Studies: Natural Sciences 4
WR 122Z Composition II 4
Second term of 1st-year second-language sequence 4
Core-education course 4
 Credits 16
Spring
ENVS 203 Introduction to Environmental Studies: Humanities 4
Third term of 1st-year second-language sequence 4
MATH 111Z Precalculus I: Functions 4
Core-education course that also satisfies global perspective cultural literacy requirement 4
 Credits 16
Second Year
Fall
First term of 2nd-year second-language sequence 4
ERTH 201 Dynamic Planet Earth 4
SOC 312 Statistical Analysis in Sociology 4
Core-education course 4
 Credits 16
Winter
Second term of 2nd-year second-language sequence 4
ERTH 202 Earth's Surface and Environment 4
Core-education course 4
Core-education course that also satisfies US: DIA cultural literacy requirement 4
 Credits 16
Spring
Third term of 2nd-year second-language sequence 4
ERTH 203 History of Life 4
Core-education courses 8
 Credits 16
Third Year
Fall
ANTH 170 Introduction to Human Origins 4
GEOG 341 Population and Environment 4
PS 477 International Environmental Politics 4
Core-education course 4
 Credits 16
Winter
GEOG 321 Climatology 4
LA 440 Introduction to Landscape Planning Analysis 4
PHIL 340 Environmental Philosophy 4
Course that satisfies minor requirements 4
 Credits 16
Spring
ES 350 Native Americans and the Environment 4
ERTH 304 The Fossil Record 4
Course that satisfies minor requirements 4
 Credits 12
Fourth Year
Fall
GLBL 425 Global Food Security 4
Course that satisfies minor requirements 4
 Credits 8
Winter
ENVS 411 Environmental Issues: [Topic] 4
GLBL 446 Development and Social Change in Latin America 4
Course that satisfies minor requirements 4
 Credits 12
Spring
EC 330 Urban and Regional Economic Problems 4
ENVS 404 Internship: [Topic] 4
Course that satisfies minor requirements 4
 Credits 12
 Total Credits 172

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies (Humanities and Sustainable Design Focus)

Degree Map
First Year
FallMilestonesCredits
ENVS 201 Introduction to Environmental Studies: Social Sciences 4
WR 121Z Composition I 4
Core-education course in arts and letters 4
Cultural literacy course in global perspective 4
 Credits 16
Winter
ENVS 202 Introduction to Environmental Studies: Natural Sciences 4
WR 122Z Composition II 4
Core-education course in social science 4
Core-education course in arts and letters 4
 Credits 16
Spring
ENVS 203 Introduction to Environmental Studies: Humanities 4
MATH 111Z Precalculus I: Functions 4
Cultural literacy course in US: DIA 4
Core-education course in arts and letters 4
 Credits 16
Second Year
Fall
CH 150Z Preparatory Chemistry 4
MATH 112Z Precalculus II: Trigonometry 4
GEOG 141 The Natural Environment 4
Core-education course in social science 4
 Credits 16
Winter
BI 221Z Principles of Biology I: Cells 5
Core-education course in arts and letters 4
STAT 243Z Elementary Statistics I 4
Elective course 4
 Credits 17
Spring
BI 223Z Principles of Biology III: Ecology and Evolution 5
GEOG 341 Population and Environment 4
PS 367 Politics, Science, and Climate Change 4
Elective course 4
 Credits 17
Third Year
Fall
ENVS 345 Environmental Ethics 4
PPPM 445 Green Cities 4
BI 357 Marine Biology 4
Elective course 4
 Credits 16
Winter
ENG 325 Literature of the Northwest 4
LA 390 Urban Farm 4
BI 307 Forest Biology 4
Elective course 4
 Credits 16
Spring
HIST 378 American Environmental History to 1890 4
ENVS 467 Sustainable Agriculture 4
Elective courses 8
 Credits 16
Fourth Year
Fall
ENVS 411 Environmental Issues: [Topic] 4
PHIL 309 Global Justice 4
Elective course 4
 Credits 12
Winter
ARCH 435 Principles of Urban Design 4
Elective courses 8
 Credits 12
Spring
ENVS 404 Internship: [Topic] 4
Elective courses 8
 Credits 12
 Total Credits 182