Environmental Studies: Policy, Culture, and Society, BA

Introduction

Environmental Studies in Policy, Culture and Society (PCS) offers students an interdisciplinary curriculum and a disciplinary approach towards understanding complexities of the human relationship to the environment. These are not merely scientific matters; they are also political, social and cultural problems, grounded in the ways in which human beings perceive nature and their own relationship to it. This major provides students with the background and understandings appropriate for civic engagement in numerous directions, including law and public service. The major prepares students to address environmental issues by requiring an interdisciplinary core of courses in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, with advanced study in a disciplinary concentration in economics, history, philosophy or politics and government.

Students in this major will write a thesis in their area of concentration. Students who wish to pursue this major should see the chair of the program for initial advising. Once a concentration is declared, student advising will move to a faculty member in the area of concentration.

Admissions  

Program Length

Four years for a complete BA degree.  Two years for students transferring in with an AAOT degree.  Program length may vary depending upon the student’s course load and academic progress.

Program Learning Outcomes

A student completing a major in Environmental Studies: Policy, Culture and Society (PCS) will:

• Develop a basic scientific understanding of environmental issues through the program’s core electives.
• Understand environmental issues from multiple disciplinary vantage points.
• Master methodology and knowledge through intensive upper-division course work in one social science or humanities discipline
• Be able to apply disciplinary knowledge and methods towards a critical environmental issue.
• Learn to reason and write clearly.

PCS offers students an interdisciplinary curriculum and a disciplinary approach towards understanding complexities of the human relationship to the environment. It should be of particular value to students who are interested in pursuing careers in environmental law or environmental policy, or design. Students should be aware that they will need, by the end of their sophomore year, to choose a disciplinary emphasis in which they will complete a senior thesis paper or project.

Baccalaureate Degree Core

Baccalaureate Degree Core Requirements   

Major Requirements