Requirements
Department of Environmental Science and Management and the Department of Geography are collaborating to offer a degree in Environmental Studies. The degree prepares the students for more sophisticated upper division courses at the interface between science and policy by requiring them to take some prerequisite courses in natural sciences (biology, chemistry and physical geography) and some prerequisite courses in the social sciences (geography, economics and environmental policy).
A summary of the requirements are listed below:
- 1 credit departmental orientation
- 29-31 credits in natural sciences in the subjects of ecology, chemistry, environmental systems, and physical geography
- 24 credits in social sciences and humanities in the subjects of resource management, economics, environmental policy and regulations, and others
- 21 credits from a list of "skills" that includes quantitative analysis, visualization of spatial data, field methods, and others
- 16 credits in an identified topical area. Choices include environmental systems, urban issues, resource management, nature/society interactions, or environmental education
There is a minimum of 90 credits required for this major.
Courses taken under the undifferentiated grading option (pass/no pass) will not be accepted toward fulfilling major requirements. Additional courses may be required as prerequisites. All courses used to satisfy the Environmental Studies major requirements, whether taken in the department or in other departments, must be graded C- or above.
Departmental Orientation
| ESM 150 | Orientation to Environmental Sciences and Management | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 1 |
Natural Sciences Core Courses
Biology (8)
8 credits in one of the following sequences:
| Bi 212 | Principles of Biology: Development, Evolution & Ecology | 4 |
| Bi 213 | Principles of Biology: Organisms, Biodiversity & Conservation | 4 |
| | or | |
| Bi 202 | Fundamentals of Biology: Ecology, Conservation, and Health | 3 |
| Bi 205 | Fundamentals of Biology Laboratory: Ecology Conservation and Health | 1 |
| | And | |
| Bi 203 | Fundamentals of Biology: Evolution and Diversity of Life | 3 |
| Bi 206 | Fundamentals of Biology Lab: Evolution and Diversity of Life | 1 |
| | or | |
| Sci 341U | Biology Concepts and Applications I | 4 |
| Sci 342U | Biology Concepts and Applications II | 4 |
Chemistry (8)
(two quarters or one semester)
| ESM 230 | Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry I | 4 |
| ESM 231 | Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry II | 4 |
Environmental Science (8)
| ESM 220 | Introduction to Environmental Systems | 4 |
| ESM 221 | Applied Environmental Studies: Problem Solving | 4 |
Physical Geography (4)
Senior Seminar
| ESM 407 | Environmental Seminar | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 29 |
Social Sciences and Humanities Core Courses
Human Geography/Management (8)
Environmental Economics (4)
| Ec 332U | Economics of Environmental Issues | 4 |
or equivalent
Environmental Policy/Regulations (8)
| ESM 222 | Applied Environmental Studies: Policy Consideration | 4 |
| ESM 335 | Introduction to Environmental Management | 4 |
4 credits from the following list of courses:
| ESM 330 | Environmental and Ecological Literacy | 4 |
| PS 319 | Politics of the Environment | 4 |
| Phl 310U | Environmental Ethics | 4 |
| Hst 339U | The Environment and History | 4 |
| Geog 347U | Environmental Issues and Action | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 24 |
Skills
Students must take a total of 20 credits of skill courses, including the following:
Quantitative Analysis (4)
4 credits from this list:
| ESM 340 | Research Methods in Environmental Science | 4 |
| Geog 496 | Introduction to Spatial Quantitative Analysis | 4 |
| Geog 497 | Advanced Spatial Quantitative Analysis | 4 |
| Sci 314U | Environmental Statistics | 4 |
| Stat 243 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics I | 4 |
Visualizing Spatial Data (8)
Field Methods (4)
4 credits from this list:
Communications (4)
4 credits from this list:
| Wr 327 | Technical Report Writing | 4 |
| Geog 481 | Digital Image Analysis I: Introduction | 4 |
| Geog 485 | Map Design and Production | 4 |
| Geog 495 | Maps, Models, and GIS | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 20 |
Topical Areas (16)
Students must take at least 2 ESM 400-level courses and 2 Geog 400-level courses from an approved list of focus areas that is generated by the two departments (http://www.pdx.edu/esm/environmental-studies).
Any course taken to meet the core content requirement cannot be used to meet the topical area requirement.