Environmental Studies

Major

The major consists of a minimum of 15 hours of coursework in the Natural Sciences, six courses totaling at least 18 hours in the Social Sciences and Humanities, and a statistics course. In addition, some of the courses have prerequisites that are not listed here. At least 20 of the credit hours counted toward the major must be taken at Oberlin. Courses must be selected to meet the following requirements. (N.B: If the ENVS requirements change after the major is declared, students can choose to comply with either the requirements in place at the time of their declaration of major or the revised requirements.)

While Advanced Placement credit in Environmental Science applies toward overall college degree credit hour requirements, it does not apply to Environmental Studies major credit.

Please consult individual departmental listings for full course descriptions and availability in a given semester and year. Not all of these courses are offered every year.

Social and Behavioral Sciences/Arts and Humanities Requirements

Majors must take six courses totaling at least 18 hours in Social Sciences and Humanities consisting of the following:

1. Environmental Studies 101 (Environment and Society) is required of all majors. It is normally to be taken during the first two years.
2. Students must take either ENVS 208 or ECON 231.

Students must take an additional 12 credit hours in either Social Science or Arts and Humanities. No more than two of four courses may come from a single department. ENVS 208 may count as an elective Environmental Studies course. Majors may take POLT 237 and 260 in addition to ENVS 208. At least one Humanities course is highly recommended. Certain courses previously offered can also be counted towards the Environmental Studies major.

Natural Sciences Requirements

Additional Requirement

Note

Minor

General

In addition to coursework, the following opportunities are available to students interested in environmental problems.

1. Internships with government agencies (e.g., public schools, Forest Service, EPA) or private organizations (e.g., Nature Conservancy, International Audubon Society, National Science Foundation) involved in some aspect of environmental research, regulation, or advocacy may be a valuable learning and career planning experience. Internships may be undertaken during Winter Term, an off-campus semester, or in the summer. Normally these internships do not earn academic credit. Files of volunteer and paid internships are maintained in the Resource Center of the A. J. Lewis Center for Environmental Studies.
2. During Winter Term the Environmental Studies Program often sponsors an on-campus group project which provides an opportunity for students to earn Winter Term credit as either participants, group leaders, or coordinators. In recent years projects dealt with architecture and ecological design, Black River Watershed education, and community gardens.
3. The Honors Program in Environmental Studies involves completion of an independent research project during the student’s senior year and an oral examination on the research. The project involves ongoing consultation with at least two faculty members. Qualified majors will be invited to apply during their junior year, with applications due April 15. Acceptance into the Honors Program is based on the student’s academic achievements, the suitability of the proposed project, and his or her potential to do substantial independent research. Detailed guidelines for the Environmental Studies Honors Program are available in the program office.
4. The program sponsors a series of public lectures by guest speakers and faculty members.
5. Students may schedule a private reading course during their junior or senior years. In the past, students have taken private readings in ecological design, ecological economics and eco-feminism. Work done through Private Reading does not count toward completion of the major.

Joyce Gorn Memorial Prize

Ann Schaening Memorial Fund

Social Science Courses

Humanities Courses

Natural Science Courses

Extra Divisional Courses

• ENVS 490 - Introduction to the Black RiverWatershed Credits: 2 hours
• ENVS 491 - Practicum in Environmental Education Credits: 1 to 2 hours

Individual Projects

Projects for original investigations developed by students in consultation with faculty. Research is typically undertaken after advanced coursework. Honors students enroll in research for both semesters during their senior year. A maximum of three credit hours (four for students who complete Honors) count toward the major. Consent of a faculty sponsor is required.

•    501, 502 - Research in Environmental Studies   Credits: 1 - 5 ARHU hours

Research sponsored by Mr. McMillin and Mr. Newlin.

•     503, 504 - Research in Environmental Studies   Credits:  1 - 5 NSCI/MA hours

Research sponsored by Ms. Garvin, Ms. Hubbard,

Mr. Hubbard, Ms. Janda, Mr. Laushman, Ms. Moore, and Mr. Petersen.

•      505, 506 - Research in Environmental Studies   Credits: 1 - 5 SSCI hours

Research sponsored by Ms. Gaudin, Ms. Janda, Mr. Orr, Mr. Petersen, Mr. Schiff, Ms. Stroud, Mr. Wilson, and Ms. Wolfe-Cragin.

•    995 - Private Reading  Credits:  1 - 3 EX

Consent of instructor required.

Resource Faculty

Art: Ms. Schuster, Ms. Yannuzzi-Macias
Biology:  Ms. Garvin*, Mr. Laushman*  

Center for Service and Learning: Ms. Blissman
Chemistry: Mr. Elrod

Economics: Ms. Gaudin*
English: Mr. Hobbs, Mr. McMillin*
Environmental Studies: Ms. Janda*, Mr. Orr*, Mr. Petersen*, Mr. Wisner, Ms. Wolfe-Cragin*
Geology: Mr. Hubbard*, Ms. Moore*, Ms. Parsons-Hubbard*, Mr. Simonson
History: Ms. Stroud*

Math: Mr. Bosch
Philosophy: Mr. Ganson, Mr. Hall

Physics:  Mr. Scofield
Politics:  Mr. Schiff*,  Mr. Wilson*

Psychology: Ms. Frantz, Mr. Mayer
Rhetoric and Composition: Ms. McMillin
Russian: Mr. Newlin*

*Denotes advisor for the Environmental Studies Program