ENVS Concentrations

After taking the introductory Environmental Studies core courses (ENVS 001 and 002), students explore their interests and take topical courses. Typically, then, they enroll in ENVS 151 Intermediate Environmental Studies in their fourth or fifth semester. During this course students develop a concentration to direct their choices relating to their environmental courses and high impact learning activites through graduation. We have developed six concentrations, each with a list of regularly offered courses relevant to that concentration. These lists are meant to serve as guidelines. Course choices are not limited to those on the sheet.

There are six pre-designed concentrations for students to choose from:

With advising support, you may also design your own concentration.

Ecology and Conservation

This concentration emphasizes the scientific and management aspects of caring for landscapes, both "wild" and settled. Students gain understanding in the ecological and social processes that inform human choices in relation to landscape protection, stewardship, and development. Students develop critical skills in scientific observation, environmental planning, and policy development with an interdisciplinary grounding in the environmental and conservation sciences.

To download a PDF version of the Ecology and Conservation concentration sheet, click here.

Food, Land and Community

This concentration emphasizes the ecological aspects of caring for soils and agricultural landscapes as well as related food production and distribution systems. Students gain understanding in the ecological and social processes that inform human choices in relation to food, farms, and community agricultural development. Students develop skills in scientific and social analysis and gain knowledge in food and agriculture-related aspects of environmental planning and community development, drawing on an interdisciplinary grounding in agroecology and sustainable food systems.

To download a PDF version of the Food, Land and Community concentration sheet, click here.

Environmental Policy and Development

This concentration emphasizes the social, political, economic, and historic forces that impact environmental decision-making. Students gain understanding in the legislative and market processes that determine environmental policy and economic development. Students develop critical skills in problem analysis, systems thinking, and social evaluation with an interdisciplinary grounding in the environmental social sciences.

To download a PDF version of the Environmental Policy and Development concentration sheet, click here.

Nature, Culture and Justice

This concentration emphasizes the environmental humanities and prepares students for engaging nature-culture concerns in environmental studies. Students develop critical skills in a variety of environmental communication methods, with an interdisciplinary grounding in environmental thought and culture. Within this concentration, students may choose courses that focus on the creative arts such as writing, studio art, or media applications; explorations in environmental ethics, religion, and philosophy; or environmental education, advocacy, and activism.

To download a PDF version of the Nature, Culture and Justice concentration sheet, click here.

Sustainability Studies

This concentration emphasizes multiple aspects of sustainability studies as applied to the core infrastructural elements that support ecological, economic, and social well-being. Students gain understanding in the ecological and social processes that inform human choices in relation to energy, transportation, food systems, climate, and waste management. Students develop skills in scientific and social analysis and apply sustainability principles to environmental problem-solving, developing an interdisciplinary grounding in systems thinking and ecological processes.

To download a PDF version of the Sustainability Studies concentration sheet, click here.

Environment and Health

This concentration emphasizes the connection between ecosystem health and human health. Students gain understanding in the environmental and human health impacts of degraded and toxic soils, water, food, and air. Students develop critical skills in problem analysis, systems thinking, and social evaluation with an interdisciplinary grounding in environmental science and social science. Students may choose to emphasize western medical or alternative or complementary health models of health and healing.

To download a PDF version of the Environment and Health concentration sheet, click here.

Last modified October 24 2012 10:58 AM