The Environmental Studies major requires that students understand both natural and human systems. We further require that students develop proficiency in communicating ideas, develop basic quantitative analytical skills, and build specific skills that support their individual goals. Students majoring in Environmental Studies proceed through four key Integrative courses beginning with our introductory course (INTD 22500: Humans and the Environment) and ending with our capstone course (EVST 48000: Senior Seminar); take a series of required courses from an array of disciplines to build a multidisciplinary foundation; and select four to six elective courses (a minimum of 16 elective credit hours) to complete an emphasis in either Natural Systems, Human Social Systems, or Communicating Complexity.

To further strengthen each student's Hiram experience, an internship or independent research project is required and is developed jointly by the student and his or her Environmental Studies adviser. The internship is typically carried out with an off-campus organization, although on-campus opportunities related to campus sustainability or faculty research are sometimes available. Internships and Independent Research are typically accomplished in the summer between the junior and senior year.

The Environmental Studies Major requires a minimum of 46 credit hours of required courses and an additional minimum of 16 credit hours of electives. The flexibility of our major allows many of our students to minor in a complementary field.

Major Requirements (62-73 credit hours)

INTEGRATIVE COURSE SEQUENCE
Required courses (total 13 credit hours):

• Humans and the Environment (INTD 22500) (typically taken in the first or second-year)
• Interdisciplinary Readings in Environmental Studies (EVST 28000) (typically taken in the second year)
• Solving Contemporary Problems (EVST 38000, typically taken in the third year)
• Senior Seminar (EVST 48000) (taken in the last year)

** EVST majors must earn a C or better in all courses required in this integrative sequence.

Additional elective integrative courses are available in the College's selection of Interdisciplinary (INTD) courses.

SUPPORTIVE SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
Required courses (total 3-4 credit hours):

• EVST 49800 Internship Experience (typically conducted in the summer between the junior and senior years)

Additional elective courses in this area may be drawn from any department and may include such diverse subjects as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), photography, and scuba diving.

NATURAL SYSTEMS
Required courses (total 11-12 credit hours):

• Ecology (EVST 24100 or BIOL 34100)
• A two-course sequence of introductory sciences selected from the following three options:

• Environmental Geology (GEOL 20900) & Chemistry in Context (CHEM 10100)
• General Chemistry I & II (CHEM 12000 & CHEM 12100)
• Principles of Physics I & II (PHYS 11300 & PHYS 11400)

Additional elective courses in this area may be drawn from any of the natural and physical sciences.

HUMAN SOCIAL SYSTEMS
Required courses (total 12credit hours):

• Principles of Microeconomics (ECON 20100)
• Environmental Activism and Policy (EVST 38000) or Environmental Policy (EVST/ECON 33800)
• Either Environmental History (HIST 24000 ), Environmental Philosophy (PHIL 27000), Wild and Sacred (RELG 38000), or alternative approved by EVST faculty

Additional elective courses in this area are typically drawn from the social sciences and humanities but can be found in almost every department across campus and diverse selections within the College's INTD offerings.

COMMUNICATING COMPLEXITY

• Required courses (total 10-12 credit hours):
• Two courses in Communication or Writing
• Statistics (MATH 10800) or Methods in Decision Making (MATH 13200)

Additional elective courses in this area are typically drawn from Communication and Writing but may include Art, Computer Science, Math, Music, and Theater.

COMPLETION OF EMPHASIS

A minimum of four  3- or 4-credit elective courses (totaling 12-16 credit hours).  Selected in consultation with EVST advisor to complete an emphasis in one of the following areas:

• Natural Systems
• Human Social Systems
• Communicating Complexity

A NOTE ABOUT GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: It is relatively easy for EVST majors to pick up at least five Core Curriculum Requirements (CA, CM, ES, MM, SM, and UD—see College Catalog for descriptions) as they meet course requirements for the major. And because the EVST major is interdisciplinary (INTD), students in this major meet the college's INTD general education requirements without specifically taking the INTD and Team Taught INTD required of all Hiram students.

Find a printable pdf of major requirements here.