Environmental Studies Major
The Environmental Studies curriculum robust and interdisciplinary. Majors complete foundation courses in the natural sciences humanities and social sciences, a professional skill acquisition course, three electives, and a capstone.
To ensure additional disciplinary depth, all Environmental Studies majors also fulfill the requirements for a complementary major or minor in another department or interdisciplinary program. Popular choices include Biology, Business, Chemistry, Communications, Economics, English, International Studies, Finance, Marketing, Politics, Public Administration, Sociology, Anthropology, and several regional studies programs. Students may double-count Environmental Studies courses toward these majors and minors as well as University core curriculum requirements.
Students who study abroad can work with the Program Director and their advisor to match courses taken overseas with Environmental Studies and core curriculum requirements. The Program also works with students to identify and prepare for internships in local and state government, non-governmental organizations, businesses, scientific organizations, law firms, media, and other locations. Students also have opportunities to conduct research and do internships in locations around the world through Fairfield's study abroad programs.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Science Foundations | ||
| BIOL 1074 | Biology of Food 1 | 3 |
| BIOL/CHEM 1076 | Environmental Science | 3 |
| CHEM 1085 | Chemistry, Energy, and the Environment 2 | 3 |
| Select one Natural Science elective from the following: | 3 | |
| Ecology and Society | ||
| Introduction to Marine Science | ||
| Vertebrate Zoology | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Zoology Field Experience | ||
| Freshwater Ecology | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Environmental Toxicology | ||
| Chemical Analysis | ||
| Chemical Instrumentation | ||
| Materials Science | ||
| Physics of the Atmosphere, Ocean, and Climate | ||
| Energy and Environment | ||
| Introduction to Geophysical Fluid Dynamics | ||
| Social Science and Humanities Foundations | ||
| AETH 2284 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| ECON 2120 | Introduction to Environmental Economics | 3 |
| Select one Environmental Policy and Law course from the following: | 3 | |
| Environmental Law and Policy | ||
| United States Environmental Politics and Policy | ||
| International Environmental Policies | ||
| Select one Social Science and Humanities elective from the following: | 3 | |
| Environmental Justice | ||
| Environmental Law and Policy | ||
| Applied Environmental Economics | ||
| American Literature and the Environment | ||
| The Greenworld: English Literature and the Environment | ||
| United States Environmental Politics and Policy | ||
| International Environmental Policies | ||
| Climate Change: International Policy and Politics | ||
| Seminar on Global Environmental Politics | ||
| Environmental Studies Electives | ||
| Select three additional courses from the list of Natural Science or Social Science and Humanities electives above or the courses below. | 9 | |
| Campus Sustainability | ||
| Special Topics (Shell) | ||
| Internship | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Applied Professional Skills | ||
| Select one course from a group that includes courses in proposal and grant writing, leadership, management, negotiation, risk communication, statistical analysis, modeling, and research methods. | 3 | |
| Capstone | ||
| EVST 4001 | Environment Workshop 3 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 39 | |
| 1 | Alternatives are available for Biology majors/minors. |
| 2 | Alternatives are available for Chemistry majors/minors. |
| 3 | In rare cases, and with the prior written permission from the Director, students may fulfill the capstone requirement with EVST 3980 Internship or EVST 3990 Independent Study. |