Environmental issues are arguably among the most pressing facing humanity.  The interdisciplinary minor in environmental studies will encourage students to investigate the nature and causes of environmental problems and to consider solutions to those problems.  Any study of the environment requires that many sides of the issue are considered.  Environmental studies is by its very nature interdisciplinary.  Courses in the minor address the biological, physical, and social aspects of ecology and environment.  All of the courses taught emphasize the interconenction of the various facets of life that comprise ecosystems.

The minor is administered by the Department of Biological Sciences and receives managerial oversight from an interdisciplinary committee of faculty members.

Requirements for a Minor in Environmental Studies

A minimum of 6 units with the following distribution:

At least one course must be chosen from the following:
Biology 110 (Environmental Biology); Biology 326 (Environmental Issues); Economics 306 (Economics of the Environment)

At least one course must come from each of three groups (life sciences, physical sciences, social sciences) listed below.  A maximum of three courses may be chosen from one group.

At least two courses must include a laboratory component.  (Note:  Psychology 305 [Experimental Psychology: Environment] meets this requirement although it does not contain a separate laboratory component.)

Courses Which May be Used to Fulfill the Minor in Environmental Studies

Life Sciences
    Biology 110 (Environmental Biology, with lab)
    Biology 215 (Biodiversity and Ecology, with lab)
    Biology 326 (Environmental Issues)
    Biology 334 (Ecological and Evolutionary Theory)
    Biology 413 (Marine Ecology)
    Microbiology 512 (Applied, Food, and Industrial Microbiology, with lab)
    Microbiology 523 (Microbial Ecology, with lab)

Physical Sciences
    Chemistry 101 (Chemistry in the Environment and Society)
    Chemistry 214 (Quantitative Analysis, with lab)
    Chemistry 511 (Instrumental Analysis, with lab)
    Chemistry 512 (Environmental Analysis, with lab)

Social Sciences
    Anthropology 234 (I) (Land of the Inca: Peru Past and Present)
    Anthropology 235 (D) (North American Indians)
    Economics 305 (International Trade)
    Economics 306 (Economics of the Environment)
    Economics 412 (I) (Economic Development: The Third World)
    Psychology 305 (Experimental Psychology: Environment, fulfills one lab requirement)
    Sociology 103 (D) (American Society and its Social Problems)
    Sociology 302 (The Urbanized Society)

Note: this list is not complete. Additional courses, such as appropriate Special Topics courses, are approved on a semester-by-semester basis.