Environmental Studies Program
The Environmental Studies Program focuses on the interactions of humans and the natural environment. Specifically, the Program studies the structure and functioning of natural systems and the ways that human social, political, and economic activity affects those systems.
Goals of the Environmental Studies Program include:
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developing students’ capacities for interdisciplinary critical thinking, problem solving, and communication;
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applying the diverse research methods of the social sciences and natural sciences to understand and analyze local, national, and international environmental issues;
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fostering an understanding of the literature of the environment and ethical questions in environmental decision making; and
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enhancing career and graduate study opportunities in environmentally related disciplines.
Consider an Environmental Studies Major
Students majoring in Environmental Studies may choose the 39-credit Standard Program, the 64-credit Water Emphasis, or the 57-credit Individualized Contract Emphasis. This interdisciplinary curriculum provides students with breadth of knowledge through supporting courses in sociology, science, natural science and statistics; and integration through environmental studies courses.
Water management and policy is as much about land use, population growth, human and ecosystem health, and security and policy priorities as it is about science, aquifers and rivers. Our new ENVS Water Emphasis major builds upon our location straddling the continental divide between the headwaters of four great river watersheds of North America: the Colorado, Rio Grande, Arkansas, and Platte. The Water Emphasis examines local, regional and global challenges for rivers and other fresh water supplies, finds solutions, and catalyzes actions on critical water policy and environmental sustainability issues at all levels of policy action. The 66-credit Water Emphasis provides ENVS majors with an interdisciplinary, career-oriented program of great relevance locally, nationally, and globally while also providing preparation for graduate studies in environmental policy, law, engineering, business and other water management professions.
The Individualized Contract Emphasis allows students to design a curriculum in consultation with an Environmental Studies advisor and with the approval of the Environmental Studies Council.
Environmental Initiatives at Western
Annual Events
Updated 09/2007