Environmental Studies, BS

Program Director: Beth Bee (205-A Brewster Building; 252-328-5197; beeb@ecu.edu)

The Environmental Studies, BS offers courses that integrate social and scientific understandings of environmental issues, practical responses to environmental problems, and the narratives and values that shape interactions with nature and the natural world. The curriculum includes courses from a range of disciplines in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities that are focused on environmental topics.

Majors develop research, technical, and critical thinking skills and apply their knowledge and skills to faculty-mentored research experience opportunities and thesis projects or internships.

Students should meet with the program director to develop a program of study to ensure that they complete prerequisite requirements for upper-level courses. Additional courses beyond those listed may be approved by the program director if they contribute significantly to the student’s knowledge and skills regarding environmental studies. Study abroad coursework, for example, may be used to satisfy requirements for the major but must be approved by the program director.

For more information about the degree or to discuss how to earn a double major, please contact the program director or visit the program website.

The degree requires 120 s.h. as follows:

I. General education requirements - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

II. Core - 24 s.h.

Click on the course to view the prerequisite(s) and to see if the course can be used to satisfy general education or other requirements. If you have questions, please ask the program coordinator or an advisor.

A. Environmental sciences courses (11 s.h.)

Choose three courses and two associated labs from the following:

B. Social sciences and humanities courses (6 s.h.)

Choose two courses from the following:

C. Methods or techniques course (3 s.h.)

Choose one course from the following:

D. Internship or research experience (3 s.h.)

All internship and research courses require a faculty mentor and advisor approval. Choose one of the following courses:

E. Capstone (1 s.h.)

GEOL 4601 - Directed Studies in Geology

III. Electives - 21 s.h.

Pick at least 6 s.h. with at least two different prefixes from one category and no more than 15 s.h. with at least two prefixes from the other category.

A minimum of 15 s.h. from Section 3 must be above 2999.

A. Earth and environmental sciences

B. Environment and society

IV. Minor and general electives to complete degree requirements for graduation

Choose a minor in consultation with the program coordinator.

ECU Minor Requirements Policy

The university’s policy regarding double counting credits between major and minor can be found in the Academic Advisement, Progression and Support Services section of this catalog. See “Minor Requirements”.

No more than 9 credit hours required for satisfying a major can count towards the credits required for satisfying a minor, excluding specified cognates (required courses but outside of the major discipline).
Individual programs may have additional restrictions.
A student may not major and minor in the same discipline as defined by the program’s 6-digit CIP code.

If you have questions, please reach out to your program coordinator or director.