Requirements for the Major
A total of 12 courses are required for the Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies degree. These include:
- ENVS 2a (Fundamentals of Environmental Challenges).
- A semester of Geographic Information Systems training.
- An Applied Learning Experience.
- Four social sciences and humanities electives.
- Four natural sciences electives.
- Two additional electives from either the social sciences and humanities, or the natural sciences.
Students are encouraged to take ENVS 2a early in their career as it is a prerequisite for the Applied Learning Experience. Please consult the following guidelines in choosing your courses:
Required Courses
Core Courses
All students must complete the following course:
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ENVS 2a | Fundamentals of Environmental Challenges |
In addition, students must complete one of the following two options:
Option 1
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| ANTH 137a | Geographical Information Systems: Mapping Culture From Land, Air and Space |
Option 2 (must complete both):
[1] HS 263f (applied) and HS 297f (introductory) are separate half-semester modules, equivalent to one course. It is best to take these modules later in your studies; we recommend as a junior or senior. You must take both modules to complete the ENVS major requirements. To register, email Ravi Lakshmikanthan for the consent code and add the module(s) to your schedule during pre-registration and registration.
Applied Learning Experience (choose one)
[2] In order for an environmental internship to count as an applied learning experience, a student must request and receive approval from the environmental studies program after completing ENVS 2a (Fundamentals of Environmental Challenges) plus five additional courses that count toward the environmental studies major.
[3] In order for a study abroad experience to qualify as an applied learning experience, it should be field-based, well-integrated and include a major project that the student undertakes. Please consult the list of preapproved study abroad programs to determine which programs qualify.
[4] Students must identify an adviser for their work if they choose to pursue ENVS 97a, ENVS 99a or ENVS 99b. Please also note that ENVS 99a is a prerequisite to ENVS 99b, should you decide to pursue a senior thesis.
Electives
Group 1: Social Sciences and Humanities (choose four)
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| AMST 30b | American Environmental History |
| AMST/ENG 47a | Frontier Visions: The West in American Literature and Culture |
| AMST 105a | The Eastern Forest: Paleoecology to Policy |
| AMST 106b | Food and Farming in America |
| ANTH 55a | Anthropology of Development |
| ANTH 121b | Archaeology and Environment |
| ANTH 151b | Nature, Culture, Power: Anthropology of the Environment |
| COML/ENG70b1 | Environmental Film, Environmental Justice |
| ECON 57a | Environmental Economics |
| ECON 175a | Introduction to the Economics of Development |
| ENG 28a | Contemporary Environmental Writing |
| ENVS 18b | Global Sustainability and Biodiversity Conservation |
| ENVS49a1 | Conservation Politics |
| ENVS 39b | Climate Change: Causes, Impacts, Responses and Solutions |
| ENVS 107b | Atmospheric Civics and Diplomacy |
| FA 169a | Ecology and Art |
| GECS 188b | Human/Nature: European Perspectives on Climate Change |
| HSSP152b1 | Introduction to Demography: Social Determinants of Healing and Wellbeing |
| PHIL 21a | Environmental Ethics |
| SOC 175b | Environmental Movements: Organizations, Networks and Partnerships |
Group II: Natural Sciences (choose four)
Courses With No Prerequisites
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| AMST 105a | Eastern Forest: Paleoecology to Policy |
| BIOL 16a | Evolution and Biodiversity |
| BIOL 17b | Conservation Biology |
| BIOL l32a | Field Biology |
| CHSC 3b | Solving Environmental Challenges: The Role of Chemistry |
| CHSC 4b | Understanding the Chemistry of Sustainability |
| EBIO 33b | Citizen Science: Bridging Science, Education and Advocacy |
| ENVS19a | Evolution of the Earth |
Geographic Information Systems
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| HS263f1 | Applied Geographic Information Systems |
| HS297f1 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems |
Courses With One or More Prerequisites
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| BIOL 23a | Ecology |
| BIOL 26a | Plant Biology |
| BIOL 39b | Biology of Global Climate Change |
| BIOL 50b | Animal Behavior |
| BIOL 134b | Topics in Ecology |
| BIOL 159a | Project Lab in Microbiology |
| CHEM 33a | Environmental Chemistry |
Additional Courses (choose two)
Complete two additional courses from either group of electives above.
Special Notes
- Students may double-count no more than four courses used to fulfill the environmental studies major with another major or minor.
- No course (whether required or elective) for which a student receives a grade below C-minus may be counted toward the major or minor.
- No course taken to satisfy the major or minor may be taken on a pass-fail basis.
-
Students must complete the Brandeis Core Foundational Literacies through their environmental studies courses. Please see the University Bulletin for a list of electives that fulfill the writing intensive, oral communication, digital literacy and quantitative reasoning requirements.