2019-2020 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Studies
- Core Program Requirements (Credits: 9)
- B.A. and B.S. Program Requirements (Credits: 9 to 11)
- B.A. Program Requirements (Credits: 11)
- B.S. Program Requirements (Credits: 9 to 10)
Website: www.gvsu.edu/ens
The major requires 35 to 37 credits, plus nine to 11 credits in B.A. or B.S. program requirements.
Core Program Requirements (Credits: 9)
- ENS 201 - Introduction to Environmental and Sustainability Studies Credits: 3
- ENS 300 - Principles of Sustainability Credits: 3
- LIB 301 - Interdisciplinary Research Methods Credits: 3
Technical Skills (Credits: 3 to 4)
One course from the following:
- ENS 305 - Sustainability Assessment and Reporting Credits: 3
- GPY 307 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Credits: 3
- GPY 370 - Introduction to Remote Sensing Credits: 3
- NRM 250 - Resource Measurement and Maps Credits: 3
- PHO 171 - Photography I Credits: 4
- STA 301 - Questionnaire Design and Execution Credits: 3
- STA 311 - Introduction to Survey Sampling Credits: 3
- STA 341 - Demographic Methods Credits: 3
- WRT 200 - Introduction to Professional Writing Credits: 3
- WRT 253 - Document Production and Design Credits: 3
- WRT 350 - Business Communication Credits: 3
Triple Bottom Line Overview Courses (Credits: 9)
One course from each of the following three groups; no course may count toward both a focus area and the triple bottom line overview.
- Social and Cultural Perspectives
- ANT 340 - Culture and Environment Credits: 3
- ART 423 - Animals in Art Credits: 3
- BIO 338 - Environmental Ethics Credits: 3
- ENG 205 - Literatures in English Credits: 3
- ENG 382 - Literature and the Environment Credits: 3
- ENS 311 - To Bee or Not to Bee; Honey Bees and Social Impact Credits: 3
- HST 323 - Michigan History Credits: 3
- LIB 330 - The Idea of Nature Credits: 3
- PA 360 - Voluntarism and the Nonprofit Sector Credits: 3
- PSY 362 - Environmental Psychology Credits: 3
- Physical and Life Science Perspectives
- BIO 105 - Environmental Science Credits: 3
- ENS 310 - How Biosphere Works Credits: 3
- GPY 100 - Physical and Environmental Geography Credits: 3
- NRM 330 - Environmental Pollution Credits: 3
- Political and Economic Perspectives
- ECO 345 - Environmental and Resource Economics Credits: 3
- ENS 303/ PLS 303 - Introduction to U.S. Environmental Policy Credits: 3
- GPY 361 - People, Environment, and Development in the Amazon Credits: 3
- PA 307 - Local Politics and Administration Credits: 3
- LIB 322 - Wicked Problems of Sustainability Credits: 3
- NRM 150 - Introduction to Natural Resources Credits: 3
- NRM 451 - Natural Resource Policy Credits: 3
- OSH 414 - Environmental Safety and Health Regulations Credits: 3
- PLS 314 - International Law Credits: 3
Synthesis and Application (Credits: 5 minimum)
- ENS 401 - Environmental Problem Solving Credits: 3 (Capstone)
- ENS 490 - Internship Credits: 1 to 6 OR ENS 491 - Practicum (1 to 6 credits)
Focus Area (Credits: 9 to 10 minimum)
Students must complete coursework in at least one of the following focus areas:
- Sustainable Food Systems
- Energy
- Water Resources
- Culture and the Built Environment
A focus area includes one course relevant to the focus area topic from each of the three triple bottom line perspectives:
- Social and cultural perspectives
- Physical and life sciences perspectives
- Political and economic perspectives
The focus area in sustainable food systems also requires completion of a course on food safety (either HTM 201 or HTM 250).
Students are encouraged to complete additional coursework within a focus area, or to complete more than one focus area, as their interests and resources permit.
Focus Area: Culture and the Built Environment
Complete one course from each perspectives list; no course may count both as a focus area course and as a triple bottom line overview course.
Social and Cultural Perspectives
- ANT 340 - Culture and Environment Credits: 3
- ENG 382 - Literature and the Environment Credits: 3
- GPY 410 - Landscape Analysis and Green Infrastructure Credits: 3
- HST 320 - American Indians Credits: 3
- HST 327 - History of United States Urban Society Credits: 3
- SW 150 - Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare Credits: 3
- WGS 335 - Women, Health and Environment Credits: 3
Physical and Life Science Perspectives
- EGR 306 - Urban Sustainability Credits: 3
- GPY 312 - Urban and Regional Environmental Planning Credits: 3
- NRM 330 - Environmental Pollution Credits: 3
Political and Economic Perspectives
- CJ 370 - Environmental Crime and Justice Credits: 3
- GPY 324/ PA 324 - Urbanization Credits: 3
- GPY 335 - Globalization and Development Credits: 3
- GPY 361 - People, Environment, and Development in the Amazon Credits: 3
- HTM 368 - Geotourism Credits: 3
- SOC 351 - Urban Sociology Credits: 3
Focus Area: Energy
Complete one course from each perspectives list; no course may count both as a focus area course and as a triple bottom line overview course.
Social and Cultural Perspectives
- GPY 363 - World Forests and Their Use Credits: 3
- HST 323 - Michigan History Credits: 3
- IDS 350 - Civil Discourse Credits: 3
- LIB 330 - The Idea of Nature Credits: 3
Physical and Life Science Perspectives
- BIO 105 - Environmental Science Credits: 3
- BIO 215 - Ecology Credits: 4
- EGR 360 - Thermodynamics Credits: 4
- GPY 412 - Global Climate and Environmental Change Credits: 3
Political and Economic Perspectives
- ECO 345 - Environmental and Resource Economics Credits: 3
- EGR 406 - Renewable Energy Systems: Structure, Policy, and Analysis Credits: 3
- NRM 451 - Natural Resource Policy Credits: 3
Focus Area: Sustainable Food Systems
Complete a food safety course and one course from each perspectives list; no course may count both as a focus area course and as a triple bottom line overview course.
Requirement: Food Safety
- HTM 201 - Good Food Gone Bad: Food Safety for Everyone Credits: 1 OR HTM 250 - Food Production and Kitchen Management (4 credits)
Social and Cultural Perspectives
- ART 423 - Animals in Art Credits: 3
- ENS 311 - To Bee or Not to Bee; Honey Bees and Social Impact Credits: 3
- GPY 362 - Farmers, Crops, and Our Challenging Agricultural World Credits: 3
- GPY 363 - World Forests and Their Use Credits: 3
- LIB 342 - Food Matters Credits: 3
- SOC 288 - Sociology of Food Credits: 3
Physical and Life Science Perspectives
- BIO 319 - Global Agricultural Sustainability Credits: 3
- ENS 392 - Sustainable Agriculture: Ideas and Techniques Credits: 3
- NRM 281 - Principles of Soil Science Credits: 4
Political and Economic Perspectives
- GPY 345 - The Geography and Land Use Management of Michigan and the Great Lakes Area Credits: 3
- GPY 361 - People, Environment, and Development in the Amazon Credits: 3
Focus Area: Water Resources
Complete one course from each perspectives list; no course may count both as a focus area course and as a triple bottom line overview course.
Social and Cultural Perspectives
- BIO 338 - Environmental Ethics Credits: 3
- HST 323 - Michigan History Credits: 3
- LIB 330 - The Idea of Nature Credits: 3
Physical and Life Science Perspectives
- BIO 107 - Great Lakes and Other Water Resources Credits: 4
- BIO 215 - Ecology Credits: 4
- GEO 105 - Living with the Great Lakes Credits: 3
Political and Economic Perspectives
- GPY 345 - The Geography and Land Use Management of Michigan and the Great Lakes Area Credits: 3
- NRM 451 - Natural Resource Policy Credits: 3
- OSH 414 - Environmental Safety and Health Regulations Credits: 3
B.A. and B.S. Program Requirements (Credits: 9 to 11)
The Bachelor of Arts degree is distinguished by its concentration in liberal arts; typically focused on culture, arts, philosophy, and language.
The Bachelor of Science degree is grounded in the liberal arts and distinguished by its focus on mathematics, statistics, quantitative reasoning, and scientific analysis.
B.A. Program Requirements (Credits: 11)
Third-semester proficiency in a foreign language, either a classical or a modern language, of the student's choice (equivalent of course numbered 201 in a GVSU language program).
B.S. Program Requirements (Credits: 9 to 10)
All Bachelor of Science degree programs must include at least three courses that focus on mathematics, statistics, quantitative reasoning, or scientific analysis. At least two courses must be outside of the general education Foundations category. At least one course must build upon the expertise developed in the general education - Mathematical Sciences category by requiring a general education - Mathematical Sciences course as a prerequisite.
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics Credits: 3
AND one of the following:
- AHS 301 - Introduction to Health Care Research Credits: 3
- GPY 307 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Credits: 3
- HST 290 - Research Methods in History Credits: 3
- PLS 300 - Political Analysis Credits: 3
AND one of the following:
- GPY 370 - Introduction to Remote Sensing Credits: 3
- GPY 407 - Advanced GIS Credits: 4
- STA 216 - Intermediate Applied Statistics Credits: 3
- STA 301 - Questionnaire Design and Execution Credits: 3
- STA 314 - Statistical Quality Methods Credits: 3
- STA 318 - Statistical Computing Credits: 3
- STA 340 - Statistics in the Media Credits: 3
Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program Description Click here for the program description.