Environmental Studies Major
Director: Thomas Rzeznik, Ph.D.
Website: https://www.shu.edu/academics/ba-environmental-studies.html
The Environmental Studies Program is dedicated to the rigorous interdisciplinary education of its students, to the integration of the principles of sustainability into the curriculum and campus life, to experiential learning, and to ongoing ethical considerations of pressing environmental issues. As a major Catholic university, Seton Hall seeks to make significant contributions to sustainability efforts in New Jersey and the region. Questions are framed in the context of social justice and a broad understanding of the Catholic intellectual tradition. Students are challenged by outstanding faculty and work in evolving and technologically-advanced settings. The program prepares students to be leaders in their professional lives and responsible citizens of a global society that is facing immense challenges of limited resources and global climate change.
Environmental studies prepares students to lead the transition to a more environmentally, economically and socially sustainable society, one that balances the needs of the present with those of future generations. Environmental studies provides a multidisciplinary opportunity for the study of the complex relationships between human society and the natural environment, and the environmental consequences that human policies and actions have on our communities and individual lives. The course of study challenges students to understand environmental issues from various disciplinary perspectives, stressing the use of critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving and effective communication. Students benefit from on-campus and extracurricular events with environmental experts regarding specific environmental issues.
The environment protects and sustains life, yet the unrestrained use of the earth’s resources causes problems that affect all humankind. The broad-based acceptance of this statement is producing profound economic and political changes in society at large. This is a topic that transcends several disciplines. Courses in environmental studies are taught by faculty drawn from disciplines across the university, including natural sciences, economics, social sciences, philosophy, history and literature. These courses are rigorous within their traditional disciplines, from natural sciences to political science, philosophy, economics, management and sociology.
The Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies includes a general Environmental Studies curriculum or a choice among three concentrations: Environmental Policy and Sustainability, Environmental Education, and Supply Chain Management. The general Environmental Studies track serves students interested in gaining broad-based, interdisciplinary environmental knowledge and literacy. The Environmental Policy and Sustainability track is designed for students interested in careers in public policy or resource management. The education track offers a double major in environmental studies and elementary education with an option for Middle School science certification. The supply chain management track includes a certificate from the Stillman School of Business in Supply Chain Management.
Minors in environmental studies and environmental science are also offered. The Minor in Environmental Studies complements any major, and the Minor in Environmental Sciences is designed for students majoring in the natural sciences.
Link to College Core requirement.
Required Courses for all Tracks
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| ENVL 1011 | Introduction to Environmental Studies * | 3 |
| Foundational Science | ||
| Select two of the following: * | 6 | |
| Introduction to Biology ** | ||
| Chemistry and the World Around Us - An Integrative Approach *** | ||
| Introduction to Geology | ||
| Intro to Physical Science | ||
| Required | ||
| ENVL/PHIL 2115 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| ENVL/BIOL 2122 | Introduction to Ecology | 4 |
| Capstone | ||
| ENVL 5050 | Senior Capstone | 3 |
| Tracks | ||
| Select one of the following: | 18-21 | |
| Total Hours | 37-40 | |
- *
Satisfies the A&S Core Curriculum requirements.
- **
BIOL 1211 General Biology- Organisms/ BIOL 1212 General Biology-Organisms Lab may be substituted for BIOL 1101 Introduction to Biology
- ***
CHEM 1123 General Chemistry I & CHEM 1124 General Chemistry II or CHEM 1107 Principles of Chemistry I & CHEM 1108 Principles of Chemistry II may be substituted for CHEM 1001 Chemistry and the World Around Us - An Integrative Approach
Tracks:
Environmental Studies Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 6 courses: * | 18 | |
| Sustainable Development | ||
| Literature and Nature | ||
| Scientific and Technical Writing | ||
| Population, Ecology, and the Environment | ||
| Environmental History of the United States | ||
| Research Methods for Social Sciences | ||
| Ecology and Politics | ||
| Sustainable Food Systems | ||
| Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Climate Change & Society | ||
| Cultures of Sustainability | ||
| Environment & Pop Culture | ||
| Human and the Natural World: Ideas that Matter | ||
| Reading and Writing Tutorial in Environmental Studies | ||
| Reading and Writing Tutorial in Environmental Studies | ||
| Reading and Writing Tutorial in Environmental Studies | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |
- *
Select any 6 courses at the 2000+ level from the approved ENVL electives.
Environmental Policy and Sustainability Track
For students interested in developing skills for work in the public sector: local, regional, national and international levels.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one: | 3 | |
| Principles of Economics I | ||
| Introduction to Economics | ||
| Select two: | 6 | |
| Ecology and Politics | ||
| Cultures of Sustainability | ||
| Sustainable Development | ||
| Select three ENVL electives from the list below | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Environmental Education Track
For students interested in enhancing public awareness of environmental issues through schools, non-profit organizations and community-based organizations
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Science * | 3 | |
| Select two additional introductory science courses from those listed in the ENVL core | 6 | |
| Introduction to Biology | ||
| Chemistry and the World Around Us - An Integrative Approach | ||
| Introduction to Geology | ||
| Intro to Physical Science | ||
| Stats Models for Soc Science | ||
| Select three ENVL Electives | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
- *
Select from the list of required courses.
Supply Chain Management Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 1203 | Stats Models for Soc Science * | 3 |
| BITM 2701 | Management Information Systems | 3 |
| BQUA 2812 | Quantitative Decision Making | 3 |
| BITM 3741 | Supply Chain Management | 3 |
| BITM 3732 | Enterprise Resource Planning Systems | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Enterprise-Wide Accounting Information Systems II | ||
| Sales and Personal Selling | ||
| Negotiation | ||
| Procurement Management | ||
| One additional ENVL Elective Course | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
ENVL Elective Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DIPL 3201 | Sustainable Development | 3 |
| ENGL 3426 | Literature and Nature | 3 |
| ENGL 3514 | Scientific and Technical Writing | 3 |
| ENVL/ANTH 2311 | Population, Ecology, and the Environment | 3 |
| ENVL/HIST 2321 | Environmental History of the United States | 3 |
| ENVL 2910 | Research Methods for Social Sciences | 3 |
| ENVL/POLS 3014 | Ecology and Politics | 3 |
| ENVL 3050 | Sustainable Food Systems | 3 |
| ENVL 3150 | Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| ENVL 3230 | Climate Change & Society | 3 |
| ENVL 3240 | Cultures of Sustainability | 3 |
| ENVL 3245 | Environment & Pop Culture | 3 |
| ENVL/CORE/PHIL 3592 | Human and the Natural World: Ideas that Matter | 3 |
| ENVL 4111 | Reading and Writing Tutorial in Environmental Studies | 1 |
| ENVL 4112 | Reading and Writing Tutorial in Environmental Studies | 2 |
| ENVL 4113 | Reading and Writing Tutorial in Environmental Studies | 3 |
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