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Environmental Sciences and Policy A.B. Degree

The A.B. degree is designed for students interested in the interdisciplinary study of environmental issues. The major permits students to combine studies in natural sciences and engineering with courses in social sciences and humanities around particular focus areas or themes relevant to the student's individual interests.

The co-requisites for the A.B. degree stress a firm foundation in basic natural and social sciences. The central core course, ENVIRON 101, relies on case studies to demonstrate the inherent interdisciplinary nature of environmental problems. Other requirements include a course in probability and statistics; a course in environmental policy; and an independent study, field experience, or internship. The remaining required courses in the upper-level curriculum are selected in consultation with the student's advisor to address a specific theme, area of interest, or career objective. At least two courses must be selected from each of the approved lists in natural sciences/engineering and social sciences/humanities.

Co-requisites for the A.B. Degree

The following courses or their equivalents (Advanced Placement or transfer credit) are required for an A.B. degree. Approval of substitute courses taken at other universities must be obtained from the director of undergraduate studies in the department offering the course. Please note that some of these courses are prerequisite to some upper-level courses in this major.

Major Requirements for the A.B. Degree

1. Central Core Course: ENVIRON 101: Integration of Environmental Sciences and Policy. Application of basic principles of natural science, environmental economics and policy, quantitative methods, and ethics to local, regional and global environmental issues. Lectures and discussion. [Not open to first-year students.] Taught during the fall semester. Recommended for sophomores. Prerequisite: ENVIRON 25.

2. Environmental Policy: One course from the following list of approved environmental policy courses:

• POLSCI/PUBPOL 107, Environmental Politics and Policies in the Industrial World ·
• POLSCI 147/PUBPOL, Environmental Policy of the Developing World
• POLSCI 148/PUBPOL 143, Environmental Politics Beyond Borders
• ENVIRON/PUBPOL 149, US Environmental Policy
• ENVIRON 273, Marine Fisheries Policy
• ENVIRON 276/PUBPOL 197, Marine Policy

3. Probability and statistics: One course from the following approved list of courses dealing with statistical inference and probability theory: ·

• ECON 139, Introduction to Econometrics ·
• ENVIRON 255, Applied Regression Analysis
• POLSCI 138, Quantitative Political Analysis
• PSY 117, Statistical Methods
• SOCIOL 133, Statistical Methods
• STA 101, Data Analysis and Statistical Inference
• STA 102, Introductory Biostatistics
• STA 103, Probability and Statistical Inference
• STA 113, Probability and Statistics in Engineering

4. Focused Study: Six upper-level courses proposed by the student in consultation with his or her advisor to fit a particular theme or career objective. The courses generally are selected from the approved lists available from the EN Program Office. At least two of these courses must be selected from the Social Sciences/Humanities list, and at least two must be selected from the Natural Sciences/Engineering list. One course must be an upper-level seminar, a 200-level course, or a senior capstone course. Students may use up to two approved courses from study abroad toward the focused study. If the student wants to include a course that is not on the approved list, and the advisor thinks it is a reasonable request, the student petitions the EN Program DUS via e-mail. In almost all cases, the DUS defers to the judgment of advisors on these issues.

The Focused Study essay should explain how the six upper-level courses weave together to create a unified theme. The essay itself does not have to be long -- typically 1-3 pages single-spaced type. Minimally it should contain: 1) a discussion of the general theme of the Focused Study; 2) the courses composing the Focused Study (including number, course name, areas of knowledge code, competency code, and focused inquiry code); and how those courses relate to the theme and to one another; and 3) a discussion of how the Focused Study relates to career and/or graduate school interests. For more information, view the Focused Study essay packet. The first draft of this essay is due to your advisor by fall registration of the junior year. A final Focused Study essay must be approved by your advisor and filed in the EN Program Office by spring registration of the junior year.

5. Independent study, internship, or field experience: Students in the major must satisfactorily complete an independent study, internship, or field experience, which may or may not include course credit toward upper-level requirements. Many EN majors fulfill this requirement by spending a semester or summer term at the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, NC. The Career Development Center maintains a database on environmental internships. The EN Program also distributes information on internships and career placements via e-mail and web sites

In order to keep track and plan out your major course, you may wish to use the EN A.B. degree worksheet (Adobe .pdf format).

Interested students may want to view the Graduation with Distinction requirements.

Contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Environmental Sciences and Policy (A.B.) degree with any questions.