The BA degree in Environmental Studies provides students with a holistic education on environmental topics that includes the natural and social sciences as well as the humanities. The degree allows students to connect with present and emerging environmental problems in a uniquely interdisciplinary manner, and will prepare them for positions in environmental management and in environmentally themed non-profit organizations, to bring an environmental perspective to any career, as well as preparing them for further studies. The degree is focused on the comprehensive study of human interaction with the natural environment.
The BA degree offers students a choice of two concentrations: A standard concentration and a sustainability concentration. Within the sustainability concentration, students can further choose an urban sustainability focus. Students selecting the sustainability concentration will recognize the concept of “sustainability” as a dynamic condition characterized by the interdependency among physical, biological, economic, and social systems.
Students choosing the urban sustainability focus will be able to identify the concepts and methods of environmental economics, environmental politics, ethics, design, and human geography relevant to the sustainability of environmental resources and social institutions in urban settings; as well as recognize and understand the functions of sustainable institutions created for water, land, air, and urban management at multiple spatial and temporal scales.
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| Liberal Studies Requirements | 80 |
| Major Requirements | 38 |
| Major Concentration Requirements | 36 |
| Open Electives | 38 |
| Total hours required | 192 |
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Discuss how the four spheres of the natural world (biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and lithosphere) are interconnected for a given environmental issue.
- Demonstrate how humans impact the natural world and how the natural world impacts humans, including in the context of social and environmental justice.
- Identify and communicate the causes of and solutions to environmental issues from the social science, natural science, and humanities perspectives.
- Design, conduct, and evaluate environmental research using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods.
College Core Requirements
Modern Language Requirements
Students who intend to graduate with the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree will be required to demonstrate competence in a modern language equivalent to the proficiency attained from one year of college-level language study. Such competence may be demonstrated in one of several ways:
- completing the last course in the fourth-year high school sequence of any language
- completing the last course in the first-year college sequence of any language
- completing a college course beyond the first-year level in any language
- achieving a satisfactory score on any of the Modern Language placement examinations administered at DePaul
- achieving a satisfactory rating in a proficiency examination accepted by DePaul
- achieving a score of 3 or higher on the Advance Placement (AP) test for any language
- achieving a score of 5 or higher in the Language B assessment from a Standard or Higher Level International Baccalaureate (IB) program
- achieving a satisfactory score on the CLEP examination
Please note: Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Requirement.
For further information regarding satisfactory scores and possible credit from the DePaul placement, AP, CLEP, or IB examinations, please contact Student Records.
Students who complete an Inter-College Transfer (ICT) to the College of Science and Health will abide by the College of Science and Health Modern Language Requirement in place on the effective date of the ICT.
BA students who meet College requirements and wish to pursue further work in the language may elect the “Modern Language Option” of the Liberal Studies Program. While Bachelor of Science (BS) students are not required to demonstrate competency in a modern language, the “Modern Language Option” is available to them for language study at any level. Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Option.
Major Declaration Requirements
All students in the College are required to declare a major field prior to beginning their junior year. After researching College programs, the student should declare a major field by visiting Campus Connection and using the Declarations and Inter-College Transfer tool. The student will then be assigned a faculty advisor or staff advisor in the department or program and should make an appointment to see that advisor at his or her earliest convenience.
To change major fields, or to declare a minor or concentration, the student must use the Declarations and Inter-College Transfer tool described above. However, for the purpose of exploring the possibility of changing a major field, the student should consult an academic advisor in the College or an academic advisor in the Office for Academic Advising Support.
Liberal Studies Requirements
Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.
| First Year Program | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Quarter | ||
| LSP 110 or LSP 111 | DISCOVER CHICAGO or EXPLORE CHICAGO | 4 |
| Focal Point | ||
| LSP 112 | FOCAL POINT SEMINAR | 4 |
| Writing | ||
| WRD 103 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 | 4 |
| WRD 104 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 | 4 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| MAT 120 | QUANTITATIVE REASONING 2 | 4 |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Race, Power, and Resistance | ||
| LSP 200 | SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE | 4 |
| Junior Year | ||
| Experiential Learning | ||
| Required | 4 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Capstone | ||
| ENV 350 | ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND STUDIES CAPSTONE 1,3 | 4 |
- 1
Students must earn a C- or better in this course.
- 2
Depending on a student's program of study, they may need to take MAT 120 QUANTITATIVE REASONING. Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam, or by credit earned for advanced math coursework at DePaul (MAT 135, MAT 136, MAT 147, MAT 148, MAT 149, MAT 150, MAT 151, MAT 152, MAT 155, MAT 156, MAT 160, MAT 161, MAT 162, MAT 170, MAT 171, MAT 172, or equivalent) or any transfer, CLEP, IB, or AP Calculus credit. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfil any of the three QR/MCD requirements.
- 3
Students with a primary major in Environmental Studies are required to complete the Capstone offered by the Environmental Studies department. Students double majoring or pursuing dual degrees with the primary major or primary degree in Environmental Studies are required to complete the Capstone offered by the Environmental Studies department. Environmental Studies students in the University Honors Program shall take the University Honors Capstone. They are not expected to take both the Honors Capstone and the primary major or primary degree Capstone.
Learning Domains
Arts and Literature (AL)
- 3 Courses Required
Historical Inquiry (HI)
- 2 Courses Required
Math and Computing (MC)
- Not Required
Philosophical Inquiry (PI)
- 2 Courses Required
Religious Dimensions (RD)
- 2 Courses Required
Scientific Inquiry (SI)
- Not Required
Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)
- 3 Courses Required
Notes
Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major. Students who choose to take an experiential learning course offered by the major may count it either as a general elective or the Experiential Learning requirement.
In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.
Major Requirements
Course Requirements
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENV 150 | FOUNDATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES | 4 |
| ENV 152 | ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL ECONOMICS | 4 |
| ENV 205 | BIOLOGY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES | 4 |
| or BIO 193 | GENERAL BIOLOGY III FOR SCIENCE MAJORS | |
| ENV 216 | EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE (WITH LAB) | 4 |
| ENV 217 | HUMAN IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT | 4 |
| ENV 250 | APPLIED ECOLOGY (WITH LAB) | 4 |
| ENV 261 | MIXED METHODS IN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (WITH LAB) | 4 |
| ENV 294 | SECOND YEAR SEMINAR | 2 |
| ENV 203 | CHEMISTRY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (WITH LAB ) 1 | 4 |
| or CHE 103 | ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY | |
| GEO 241 | GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS I: DIGITAL MAPPING | 4 |
| ENV 350 | ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND STUDIES CAPSTONE (Liberal Studies Program Capstone) 2 | 4 |
- 1
Students can also complete CHE 134 with CHE 135 in place of ENV 203.
- 2
Students in the University Honor Program and students with a double major may be required to take a different Capstone. If this is the case, they may choose to substitute ENV 350 as one of their required 300-level ENV courses or as an open elective.
Concentration Requirements
Students must also complete the requirements from one of the following concentrations: Standard or Sustainability. Students are limited to only declaring one concentration.
Environmental Studies (BA) students are not eligible to earn a double major in Environmental Science (BS)
Students are advised to talk with their advisor before double majoring, because some major combinations are prohibited. No more than 50% of the credits that apply to one major may be drawn from another major.