Environmental Studies, B.A.

Program Overview

The Environmental Studies B.A. program at Saint Louis University interweaves environmental science with specialized concentrations, preparing students for careers in diverse fields, including business, law, government, and environmental consulting. The flexible curriculum allows students to tailor their studies to their interests and pursue advanced degrees or participate in internships and field trips to enhance their practical knowledge and career prospects.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Environmental Studies B.A. The program emphasizes the growing importance of understanding the interplay between environmental and social systems in decision-making and planning, particularly in the context of rising global population and consumption. The program aims to prepare students for careers that require a dual awareness of scientific and social perspectives and their connection to the natural environment. It provides a comprehensive curriculum that blends environmental science with specialized concentrations, allowing students to tailor their studies to their specific interests.

Outline:

The Environmental Studies curriculum follows a breadth-plus-depth model. All students are required to complete a core set of preparatory science and skill-development courses, providing a broad introduction to environmental sciences. Subsequently, students choose a specialized concentration, offering more advanced instruction in their chosen area of interest. This structure allows for flexibility in course selection within the tracks, enabling students to fuse an understanding of environmental science with a self-designed minor in their area of interest.

Required Courses:

• Physical Sciences:
• EAS 1430 & EAS 1435: Introduction to the Solid Earth and Introduction to the Solid Earth Lab (4 credits)
• EAS 1030: Earth's Dynamic Environment II (3 credits)
• Chemistry Elective (3-4 credits): Choose one from CHEM 1000 (Chemistry and the Environment) or any other CHEM 1xxx course.
• Life Sciences:
• Select two from the following (6-8 credits):
• BIOL 1260 & BIOL 1265: General Biology: Transformations of Energy and Matter and Principles of Biology II Laboratory
• BIOL 1200: Ecological Issues and Society
• BIOL 1340: Diversity of Life
• Integrated Science Course:
• EAS 3100: Environmental Issues (3 credits)
• Mathematical/Statistics Requirement:
• Select one from the following (3-4 credits):
• MATH 1200: College Algebra
• MATH 1400: Pre-Calculus
• MATH 1510: Calculus I
• Mathematical/Statistics Elective:
• Select one from the following (3-4 credits):
• OPM 2070: Introduction to Business Statistics
• MATH 1510: Calculus I
• MATH 1520: Calculus II
• PSY 2050: Foundations of Research Methods and Statistics
• STAT 1300: Elementary Statistics with Computers
• Skill Development:
• CMM 1200: Public Speaking (3 credits)
• GIS 4010: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
• Senior Experience:
• EAS 4910: Internship (3 credits)

Concentrations:

Students choose one of the following concentrations, each with First Tier and Second Tier courses:

• Advocacy and Discourse:
• First Tier:
CMM 2100 (Journalism: News Writing), CMM 3060 (Political Communication)
• Second Tier:
CMM 3200 (Organizational Communication), CMM 3060 (Political Communication), CMM 3600 (Public Relations Principles and Practices), CMM 4430 (Culture, Technology and Communication), ENGL 3885 (Writing Personal Narratives), ENGL 3590 (Nature and Literature), PHIL 3450 (Disaster Narratives)
• Economics, Politics, and Public Policy:
• First Tier:
ECON 1900 (Principles of Economics 1), POLS 1100 (Introduction to American Government)
• Second Tier:
CMM 3060 (Political Communication), ECON 3140 (Intermediate Microeconomics), POLS 2600 (Introduction to International Political Economy), POLS 3600 (Problems of Globalization), POLS 3640 (International Law), POLS 4730 (Seminar: Contemporary Political Ideologies)
• Natural Sciences:
• First Tier:
EAS 1600 (Sustainable Energy), BIOL 1200 (Ecological Issues and Society), BIOL 1340 (Diversity of Life), BIOL 3450 (Economic Botany)
• Second Tier:
Any upper-division BIOL, CHEM, or EAS course.
• Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics:
• First Tier:
PHIL 3420 (Environmental and Ecological Ethics), THEO 2820 (Religion and Science 1), THEO 3510 (Faith and Politics), THEO 3525 (Green Discipleship: Theology & Ecology)
• Second Tier:
ANTH 2210 (Biological Anthropology), PHIL 4150 (Philosophy of Science), ANTH 2200 (Cultural Anthropology), THEO 3510 (Faith and Politics), THEO 4930 (Special Topics)
• Society and the Environment through Space and Time:
• First Tier:
SOC 1180 (World Geography 1), ANTH 2200 (Cultural Anthropology), ANTH 3270 (Climate Change & Environmental Futures), HIST 3660 (History of Nature in America)
• Second Tier:
ANTH 2210 (Biological Anthropology), GIS 4020 (Intermediate GIS), POLS 3330 (Metropolitan Environment), POLS 3600 (Problems of Globalization), POLS 3640 (International Law), POLS 4730 (Seminar: Contemporary Political Ideologies), SOC 4640 (Demographic Methods, Analysis, and Public Policy)

Careers:

The Environmental Studies program prepares students for a variety of careers in fields such as:

• Business
• Law
• Government
• Non-profit organizations
• Environmental consulting
• Research
• Education
The program also provides a foundation for pursuing advanced degrees in fields like law, economics, public policy, and environmental science.

Other:

• Students have the opportunity to participate in weekend field trips, canoe trips, and social events throughout the year.
• Annual, weeklong field trips across the country are available, allowing students to visit environmentally important sites and interact with faculty, other students, and alumni.
• Internship opportunities are available through the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and in collaboration with other departments.
• Students can participate in a capstone project to gain real-world experience.
• The program can be completed in part or in full at SLU's campus in Madrid.