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Environmental Studies

Students studying rock formations in the field

College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment
Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences

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Discover our world!

By majoring in environmental studies, you will be able to gain the skills and the broad perspective that will help you balance the needs of people with the conservation of precious resources. You will first develop a strong background in both the scientific and social aspects of our relationship with the environment. Then you will deepen your knowledge in one of three concentrations, listed below as Areas of Study. Among other options, the environmental advocacy concentration can prepare you to go on to law school, and the environmental planning and design concentration can lead to work in many practical fields. Your training in both science and policy will prepare you for companies, governments and nonprofit organizations developing strategies, policies and approaches to solve environmental issues and reduce environmental impact.

AREAS OF STUDY

Environmental Advocacy
Environmental Planning and Design
Environment and Society

CAREER OPTIONS

Environmental Lobbyist
Nonprofit Advocacy Leader
Environmental Educator
Legislative Analyst
Environmental Manager
Policy Analyst
Urban Planner

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Environmental Law
Urban Affairs and Public Policy
Economics
Environmental Studies
Natural Resources Management
Energy and Environmental Policy
Water Science and Policy

What’s special about this program?

The environmental studies program draws on the broad expertise of faculty from throughout UD, incorporating classes in political science and economics as well as geology and sustainability. In addition to your classroom learning, you will also complete a field experience; this allows you to conduct independent research, complete an internship or study abroad in order to gain real-world experience.

Get Involved

There are many opportunities on campus for students interested in the environment, such as serving as an EnvironMentor, going on extracurricular environmental field trips, and joining registered student organizations like Students for the Environment.

Sample curriculum

Courses are recommendations, but subject to change year-to year. Please refer to the UD Undergraduate Catalog for a more accurate four year plan. Students should also reach out to their academic advisor for recommendations.

FIRST YEAR

FALL	SPRING
APEC 100 - Sustainable Development	CHEM 100 - Chemistry and Human Environment
ENGL 110 - First-Year Writing	GEOG 236 - Humans and Environmental Sustainability or POSC 240 - Introduction to Global Politics
ENVR 101 - Introduction to the Environment (FYS)	Mathematics Requirement*
GEOG 235 - Conservation of Natural Resources	Foreign Language Requirement (2/2)
Foreign Language Requirement (1/2)	Breadth Requirement (1/9)
Credits: 16	Credits: 17

*See program page for approved courses

SECOND YEAR

FALL	SPRING
APEC 150 - Economics of Agriculture and Natural Resources or ECON 101 - Introduction to Microeconomics	APEC 480 - Geographic Information Systems in Natural Resource Management or GEOG 372 - Introduction to GIS
GEOL 105 - Geological Hazards and Their Human Impact	APEC 343 - Environmental Economics
GEOL 115 - Geological Hazards Laboratory	STAT 200 – Basic Statistical Practice
MAST 200 - The Oceans	Breadth Requirement (should satisfy Multicultural Requirement) (4/9)
Breadth Requirement (2/9)	Breadth Requirement (5/9)
Breadth Requirement (3/9)
Credits: 16	Credits: 15

THIRD YEAR

FALL	SPRING
BISC 104 - Principles of Biology with Laboratory	ENVR 300 - Earth Systems: Science and Policy
Concentration Requirement (1/5)*	PHIL 448 - Environmental Ethics
Breadth Requirement (6/9)	POSC 350 - Politics and the Environment
Breadth Requirement (7/9)	Concentration Requirement (2/5)*
Free Elective (1/5)	Field Experience Requirement (DLE)*
Credits: 16	Credits: 15

*See program page for approved courses

FOURTH YEAR

FALL	SPRING
Concentration Requirement (3/5)*	ENSC 450 - Proseminar in the Environment (Capstone and Second Writing Requirement)
Concentration Requirement (4/5)*	Concentration Requirement (5/5)*
Breadth Requirement (8/9)	Free Elective (3/5)
Breadth Requirement (9/9)	Free Elective (4/5)
Free Elective (2/5)	Free Elective (5/5)
Credits: 15	Credits: 15
Total Credits: 125