Major and Minor in Environmental Studies
Requirements for the Major:
A Major in Environmental Studies may be of particular interest to students who are considering careers or graduate programs in diverse subjects such as renewable energy technology, non-profit management, education, ecosystems, energy, and environmental policy. Moreover, it will complement any student’s liberal arts education.
A minimum of twelve credits is required. Courses taken Pass-NoPass may not count towards the major or minor in Environmental Studies. A cumulative average of a C (2.0) or better must be maintained across all courses used to fulfill the major.
Required (not necessarily in this order):
- Introduction to Environment and Society (ES 110)
- Introduction to Environmental Sciences (ES 120)
- Introduction to Chemistry (CHEM 115) or Environmental Chemistry (CHEM/ES 108)
- Evolution, Ecology, and Environment (ES 220) or Evolution and Ecology (BIOL 220)
- Introduction to Probability and Statistics (MATH 150) or Reasoning & Statistical Inference (BIOL 150) or Applied Statistics (ECON/BUSN/FIN 130)
- Environmental Ethics (ES 210) or Religious Perspectives on Environmental Issues (ES 240) or Endangered Species and Endangered Languages (ES 368) or Who Speaks for Animals? (ES 387)
- Environmental Politics and Policy (ES 236)
- Senior Studies Requirement in Environmental Studies. Senior Seminar Courses are offered each year. The Senior Studies requirement can be satisfied by completing either the Senior Seminar or by completing a Senior Thesis. The requirement may also be met by the completion of an Independent Research Project with the prior approval of the Department chair.
Additional requirements:
Four elective courses from the lists of elective courses below; at least one must be from each group, and at least two must be 300-level or above.
Group 1 (Natural Sciences)
- Spring Flora of the Great Lakes (ES 203)
- Summer Flora of the Great Lakes (ES 204)
- Prairie Flora of the Great Lakes (ES 205)
- Molecules, Genes, and Cells (BIOL 221)
- Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 220)
- Organic Chemistry II (CHEM 221)
- The Lake by the College (ES 222)
- Biodiversity (ES 224)
- Biochemistry (CHEM 300)
- Sustainable Energy (ES 316)
- Freshwater Ecology of the Great Lakes Region (ES 322)
- Animal Physiology (BIOL 340)
- Developmental Biology (BIOL 342)
- Animal Behavior (BIOL 344)
- Endangered Species & Languages (ES 368)
- Species (ES 369)
- Ecology (BIOL 370)
- Community Ecology (BIOL 373)
- Biogeography (BIOL 374)
- Conservation Biology (BIOL 375)
- Animal Conservation (ES 376)
- Lake Forestry (ES 381)
- The Political Ecology of Infectious Diseases (ES 382)
- Herpetology (ES 383)
- Plant Biology (BIOL 384)
- Plant and Insect Systematics of the Great Lakes (ES 385)
- Experimental Plant Ecology (ES 386)
- Evolution (BIOL 389)
- Plant and Animal Interactions (BIOL 483)
- Biological Implications of Climate Change (BIOL 487)
Group 2 (Humanities and Social Sciences)
- Topics: Chicago Parks and the Politics of Landscape (AMER 200)
- American Environmental Literature (ENGL 206)
- Terrorism and the Environment (ES 209)
- Environmental Ethics (ES 210)
- Environmental Psychology (PSYC 215)
- Society, Climate Change, and the Enivronment (ES 217)
- American Geographies (ES 218)
- History and Literature of the Great Lakes (ES 221)
- Philosophy of Science (PHIL 225)
- Art and Environment: Exploring Landscapes and Sustainability (ART 229)
- Religious Perspectives on Environmental Issues (ES 240)
- United States Environmental History (ES 260)
- US Cities (ES 263)
- Technology and Human Values (ES 271)
- Cultural Ecology of Africa (SOAN 273)
- The Social Ethics of Energy Production and Use (ES 315)
- Landscape and Representation (ES 320)
- Black Environmental Culture (ES 323)
- Medieval Disasters & Climate Change (ES 324)
- Interrogating the Ecology of Place: From Generative AI to Regenerative Neighborhood Development (ES 326)
- Environmental Justice (ES 335)
- Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (ES 340)
- U.S. Environmental Culture in the Great Depression (ES 358)
- Environmental Law (ES 361)
- Environmental Apocalypse (ES 363)
- Poetry and Nature (ES 365)
- Environmental Writing (ES 367)
- Endangered Species & Languages (ES 368)
- The Political Ecology of Infectious Diseases (ES 382)
- Who Speaks for Animals? (ES 387)
- Botanical Imperialism (ES 388)
ES 210, 240, 368, and 387 cannot be double-counted for both Requirement 5 and Group 2.
Students are urged to consult with their advisors to design a program of study that best meets their interests and needs. Students electing to major in environmental studies must choose a member of the Environmental Studies Program Committee as an academic advisor.
Students are also encouraged to consider a research project, off-campus program, or internship as a way to further their studies. An internship cannot replace an elective course, but is in many cases an excellent complement to the student’s coursework.
Requirements for the Minor:
The interdisciplinary minor in Environmental Studies is designed for students who have a strong interest in environmental issues but do not wish to complete a major at the undergraduate level. This minor may be of particular interest to students who are considering careers or graduate programs in diverse subjects such as renewable energy technology, non-profit management, education, ecosystems, energy and environmental policy. Moreover, it will complement any student’s liberal arts education. This minor may also interest students who wish to teach abroad following graduation, as well as students who wish to engage in cross-curricular research projects.
Requirements:
Students must take six courses to complete the minor, one of which must be at the 300 level or above.
1. Introduction to Environment and Society (ES 110) is required.
2. Take the following Natural Science courses:
One of the following:
- World Thirst for Energy (CHEM 107)
- Environmental Chemistry (ES 108)
- Chemistry I (CHEM 115)
- Sustainable Energy (ES 316)
One of the following:
- Introduction to the Environmental Sciences (ES 120)
- Spring Flora of the Great Lakes (ES 203)
- Summer Flora of the Great Lakes (ES 204)
- Prairie Flora of Great Lakes (ES 205)
- Evolution, Ecology, and Environment (ES 220) or Evolution and Ecology (BIOL 220)
- The Lake by the College (ES 222)
- Biodiversity (ES 224)
- Freshwater Ecology of the Great Lakes Region (ES 322)
- Species (ES 369)
- Ecology (BIOL 370)
- Community Ecology (BIOL 373)
- Biogeography (BIOL 374)
- Animal Conservation (ES 376)
- Lake Forestry (ES 381)
- Plant and Insect Systematics of the Great Lakes (ES 385)
- Plant and Animal Interactions (BIOL 483)
- Biological Implications of Climate Change (BIOL 487)
3. Take any three of the following Social Science and Humanity courses:
- Geography and Demography (ES 117)
- Topics: Chicago Parks and the Politics of Landscape (AMER 200)
- United States Environmental Literature (ENGL 206)
- Terrorism and the Environment (ES 209)
- Environmental Ethics (ES 210)
- Environmental Psychology (PSYC 215)
- Society, Climate Change, and the Enivronment (ES 217)
- American Geographies (ES 218)
- History and Literature of the Great Lakes (ES 221)
- Philosophy of Science (PHIL 225)
- Art and Environment: Exploring Landscapes and Sustainability (ART 229)
- Environmental Politics and Policy (ES 236)
- Religious Perspectives on Environmental Issues (ES 240)
- United States Environmental History (ES 260)
- US Cities (ES 263)
- Technology and Human Values (ES 271)
- The Social Ethics of Energy Production and Use (ES 315)
- Landscape and Representation (ES 320)
- Black Environmental Culture (ES 323)
- Medieval Disasters & Climate Change (ES 324)
- Interrogating the Ecology of Place: From Generative AI to Regenerative Neighborhood Development (ES 326)
- Environmental Justice (ES 335)
- Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (ES 340)
- American Environment During the Great Depression (ES 358)
- Environmental Law (ES 361)
- Environmental Apocalypse (ES 363)
- Poetry and Nature (ES 365)
- Environmental Writing (ES 367)
- Endangered Species and Endangered Languages (ES 368)
- The Political Ecology of Infectious Diseases (ES 382)
- Who Speaks for Animals? (ES 387)
- Botanical Imperialism (ES 388)
- Environmental Studies Capstone Seminar (ES 483)
- Internship with an approved environmental focus