https://www.uvm.edu/cas/ba-major-environmental-studies
There are many pathways to study the environment at UVM. The College of Arts and Sciences collaborates with the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to offer an interdisciplinary major in Environmental Studies.
CAS Environmental Studies Major
The Environmental Studies Program at University of Vermont was established in 1972 to understand the ecological and cultural systems that support life on Earth. The Environmental Program established the Environmental Studies major, one of the first in the nation, which drew on faculty expertise and courses from many different disciplines. Currently, the College of Arts and Sciences continues the tradition and offers an Environmental Studies major which draws on the sciences, social sciences, and humanities to create an interdisciplinary community for learning, one that addresses local and global issues with equal concern. The program emphasizes collaborative problem-solving, experiential learning, and the power of human imagination to create a sustainable future.
Courses
ENVS 1010. Topics In: First-Year Seminar. 3 Credits.
Intensive first-year seminar focused on specific themes and/or disciplinary perspectives. Emphasis on developing critical reading and writing skills, substantive revision, information literacy, and analytical thinking. First-year seminars are frequently organized to meet one of the disciplinary Catamount Core requirements. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years.
ENVS 1020. Topics In: LASP Writing. 3 Credits.
Intensive course in a broad disciplinary area (humanities, social sciences, arts, or natural sciences). Part of an integrated first-year experience in which students take 2-4 classes exploring aesthetic, humanistic, social, linguistic, environmental, or scientific issues. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Co-requisite: Enrollment in the appropriate Liberal Arts Scholars Program.
ENVS 1025. Topics In: LASP Seminar. 3 Credits.
Intensive course in a broad disciplinary area (humanities, social sciences, arts, or natural sciences). Part of an integrated first-year experience in which students take 2-4 classes exploring aesthetic, humanistic, social, linguistic, environmental, or scientific issues. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years.
ENVS 1500. Intro to Environmental Studies. 0 or 4 Credits.
Survey of the interdisciplinary field of environmental studies. Examines ecological, cultural, historical, and political influences on the role of humans in local and global ecosystems and the grand challenges humanity faces. Required for Environmental Studies majors and minors. Catamount Core: SU.
ENVS 1510. Solutions in Enviro Studies. 0 or 4 Credits.
Analysis and critique of grand challenges in environmental studies with an emphasis on understanding and solving pervasive global and local environmental problems such as global climate change. Catamount Core: D2, SU.
ENVS 1990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
Introductory courses of current areas of interest which vary each semester. Topics have included environmental health, energy, regional planning, international studies, literature, ethics, and natural areas management.
ENVS 2210. Sustainablity Cultural Hst. 3 Credits.
Through selected readings spanning over two thousand years traces the trajectory of modern notions of ecological and socio-economic sustainability back through time. Includes experiential component at the Instructor's sheep farm. Prerequisites: Three hours in Environmental Studies, Classics, or a related discipline. Cross-listed with: CLAS 2581. Catamount Core: AH3, SU.
ENVS 2220. Ecofeminism. 3 Credits.
Exploration of a broad range of ecofeminist texts. The field of ecofeminist studies specifically addresses the traditional interpretation of nature as female or feminine, the connection between the oppression of women and the exploitation of nature, and ways in which environmental issues often affect women. Prerequisites: ENVS 1500, GSWS 1010, or GSWS 1500. Cross-listed with: GSWS 2811. Catamount Core: D2.
ENVS 2240. Gender, Space & Environment. 3 Credits.
Examination of the ways in which human relationships to both the built and the natural environment are mediated by gender. Prerequisites: Six hours in Environmental Studies, Geography, or Gender, Sexuality, & Women's Studies. Cross-listed with: GEOG 2774, GSWS 2735.
ENVS 2250. Topics in Environmental Ethics. 3 Credits.
Exploration of topics in environmental ethics, such as the ethical crisis of climate change and human obligations to non-human animals and ecosystems. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: One course in Environmental Studies or Philosophy. Cross-listed with: PHIL 2630.
ENVS 2270. Topics in Rel & Environment. 3 Credits.
Exploration of themes involving religion and the natural environment. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisites: Three hours of Environmental Studies or Religion. Cross-listed with: REL 2700. Catamount Core: AH3, SU.
ENVS 2410. Environmental Anthropology. 3 Credits.
Introduction to how culture mediates human-environmental interactions. Topics include cultural, spiritual, and political ecology; forms of resource management; environmentalism; sustainable development; and environmental justice. Prerequisite: ANTH 1100, ANTH 1800, or Instructor permission. Cross-listed with: ANTH 2152. Catamount Core: D2.
ENVS 2412. Hunters and Gatherers. 3 Credits.
Explores how the category hunter-gatherer has been studied over the years by anthropologists and archaeologists as a form of human social organization. The range of behavioral variation that exists among living and sub-recent hunter-gatherer groups will be discussed, along with the utility of this information, and the various stakeholder issues facing modern hunter-gatherers today. Prerequisite: ANTH 1100 or ANTH 1800. Cross-listed with: ANTH 2930.
ENVS 2420. Econ of Environmental Policy. 3 Credits.
Investigation of the relationship of markets and government regulation to environmental quality. Alternative public policies to improve efficiency and equity will be evaluated. Prerequisites: ECON 1400, ECON 1450. Cross-listed with: ECON 2800. Catamount Core: S1, SU.
ENVS 2430. Political Ecology. 3 Credits.
Human-environment interactions under globalization. The politics of using particular ideas of 'nature' for the benefit of some and to the detriment of others in spaces from local backyards to global contexts. Environmental movements and livelihoods. Prerequisites: GEOG 1760, GEOG 1780, or ENVS 1510; and ENSC 1010, ENVS 1500, GEOG 1200, GEOL 1025, GEOL 1040, GEOL 1055, GEOL 1400, or NR 2030. Cross-listed with: GEOG 2780.
ENVS 2433. Rural Geography. 3 Credits.
Global, national and local scale study of rural landscapes, cultures, social issues, and environmental concerns. Prerequisite: GEOG 1760 or GEOG 1780. Cross-listed with: GEOG 2760. Catamount Core: S1.
ENVS 2460. US Environmental Politics. 3 Credits.
Environmental and natural resources politics in the American context. Analysis of the environmental movement and political theories, issues, processes, and institutions. Prerequisite: POLS 1300 or POLS 1013. Cross-listed with: POLS 2460. Catamount Core: S1, SU.
ENVS 2462. Int'l Environmental Governance. 3 Credits.
Examination of official and informal processes and institutions that have developed among, across, and beyond nation states for global environmental governance. Prerequisite: POLS 1500 or POLS 1015. Cross-listed with: POLS 2560.
ENVS 2630. Geohealth. 3 Credits.
Exploration of the relationships between human health and geologic processes and materials, highlighting interfaces between the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Examination of links between geologic processes and potential health hazards to which humans are exposed by air, food, water, or soil. Application of foundations of geologic and geochemical knowledge that affect health outcomes to understand impacts of natural and anthropogenic processes on public health and issues related to testing and regulation. Prerequisites: A Catamount Core N1 or N2 course, ENVS 1500, HSCI 1100, or HSOC 1700. Cross-listed with: GEOL 2410. Catamount Core: N1.
ENVS 2650. Landscape Design Fundamentals. 3 Credits.
Introduces students to the history and principles of landscape design. Examines various aspects of built environments with consideration of natural and cultural phenomena, with topics to include: spatial scale, equity, land use, design precedent, soils, plants, water, recreation, transportation, and more. Prerequisite: ALE 1370, ALE 1100, ALE 1210, ENVS 1510, ENVS 1520, NR 1010, NR 1020, or CDAE 1010; minimum Sophomore standing; or Instructor permission. Cross-listed with: CDAE 2370, ALE 2370.
ENVS 2654. Permaculture. 3 Credits.
Design of agriculturally productive environments that have the diversity, stability, and resilience of the natural biosphere to harmoniously integrate landscape and people. Prerequisites: ALE 1100, ALE 1210, BIOL 1450, NR 2030, BCOR 1450, BCOR 2100, another basic ecology course, or Instructor permission. Cross-listed with: ALE 2560. Catamount Core: N1, SU.
ENVS 2656. Soil Fertility & Conservation. 3 Credits.
An ecological approach to soil management including nutrient supply and uptake, rhizosphere-microbial interactions, soil conservation, and nutrient management strategies. Prerequisite: ALE 2610 or Instructor permission. Cross-listed with: ALE 2620.
ENVS 2660. How Plants Can Save the World. 3 Credits.
Explores how plants can be used to design sustainable solutions to problems resulting from existing, unsustainable practices in agriculture, energy, and health. Prerequisites: BIOL 1400 and BIOL 1450, or BCOR 1400 and BCOR 1450, or BCOR 1425, or PBIO 1040. Cross-listed with: PBIO 2330. Catamount Core: SU.
ENVS 2980. Topics In: Field Studies. 1-6 Credits.
Field work or travel study courses examining environmental issues from a local ecological, political, and socioeconomic perspective using experiential learning methods in diverse sites. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: ENVS 1500, ENVS 1510, NR 1010, NR 1020, or ENSC 1010.
ENVS 2982. Restoration Cultures. 4 Credits.
Social and cultural perspectives on human-environment interactions in the field of restoration ecology. Field-based course that engages students in place-based restoration work with community partners in natural areas. Draws on human geography, environmental history, natural history, environmental humanities, and restoration ecology. Prerequisite: NR 2300 or Instructor permission. Cross-listed with: GEOG 2707. Catamount Core: S1.
ENVS 2985. Composting Ecology & Mgmt. 3 Credits.
Examines ecological, physical and chemical principles, the practical management of the composting process, and benefits of using compost in plant and soil ecosystems. Prerequisite: Three credits in basic biological or ecological science or Instructor permission. Cross-listed with: ALE 2540.
ENVS 2990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
Intermediate courses of current areas of interest which vary each semester. Topics have included environmental health, energy, regional planning, international studies, literature, ethics, and natural area management. Prerequisite: One of the following: ENVS 1500, ENVS 1510, NR 1010, NR 1020, ENSC 1010.
ENVS 2991. Internship. 1-18 Credits.
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion. Prerequisite: Permission of course coordinator.
ENVS 2995. Undergraduate Research. 1-18 Credits.
Undergraduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
ENVS 3990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
Advanced courses of current areas of interest which may vary each semester. Topics have included environmental health, energy, regional planning, international studies, literature, ethics, and natural area management. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
ENVS 3991. Internship. 1-18 Credits.
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion. Prerequisite: ENVS 1510; Junior standing.
ENVS 3993. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
ENVS 3995. Undergraduate Research. 1-18 Credits.
Undergraduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
ENVS 4500. Senior Capstone. 1-9 Credits.
Senior capstone thesis, project, creative arts project, or internship under faculty direction. Prerequisites: Environmental Studies major; minimum Junior standing.
ENVS 4990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
Advanced courses of current areas of interest which may vary each semester. Topics have included environmental health, energy, regional planning, international studies, literature, ethics, and natural area management. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
ENVS 4994. Teaching Assistantship. 1-3 Credits.
Undergraduate student service as a teaching assistant, usually in an introductory level course in the discipline, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion. Prerequisite: Instructor permission. Variable credit. May be repeated.
ENVS 4996. Honors. 1-6 Credits.
College honors thesis or other department/program honors, under the supervision of a faculty member. Offered at department discretion.