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2023-2024 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Environmental Studies
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 Return to: Academic Fields
Professors: Lozada, Martin, Merrill, Paradise (Chair)
Associate Professors: Johnson, K. Smith
Assistant Professors: Garcia Peacock, Nyairo, Swenson-Lengyel, Worl
Visiting Assistant Professor: Chapman, Ulus
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Environmental Studies Interdisciplinary Major (B.A. or B.S. Degree)
The interdisciplinary major in Environmental Studies offers students two degree options.
Bachelor of Arts Degree - Social Science and Humanities Tracks
The 11 course bachelor of arts degree requires that the student successfully complete:
- (3) Interdisciplinary Overview Courses (ENV 201 , ENV 202 , ENV 203 )
- These three courses may be taken in any sequence.
- At least two must be completed by the end of the sophomore year and the third must be completed by the end of the junior year.
- (3) Depth Component Courses chosen from the Environmental Social Science Track or the Environmental Humanities Track.
- (1) Methodology course directly related to the eventual capstone
- (2) Breadth Component Courses - one from each of the other two tracks
- (1) Upper-level Seminar (ENV 401 )
- (1) Capstone Course (ENV 498 )
Bachelor of Science Degree - Natural Science Track
The 11 Course Bachelor of Science degree requires that the student successfully complete:
- (3) Interdisciplinary Overview Courses (ENV 201 , ENV 202 , ENV 203 )
- These three courses may be taken in any sequence.
- At least two must be completed y the end of the sophomore year and the third must e completed by the end of the junior year.
- (3) Depth Component Courses, chosen from the Environmental Natural Science Track
- at least two of these must be chosen from the approved list of Applied Environmental Science courses
- (1) Methodology course directly related to the eventual capstone
- (2) Breadth Component Courses - one from each of the other two tracks
- (1) Upper-Level Seminar (ENV 401 )
- (1) Capstone Course (ENV 498 )
Depth Component (3 courses)
Consists of three content courses only one of which can be at the 100 level; at least two courses in the Depth Component must be from the same discipline. Students may choose from one of three established tracks: Environmental Natural Science (B.S. Degree), Environmental Social Science (B.A. degree), or Environmental Humanities (B.A.). Alternatively, students may self-design a Depth Component, subject to the approval of the Environmental Studies faculty.
Methodology Course (1 course)
The ENV major requires a methodology that is specifically intended to support the capstone project. Therefore, students should complete the methodology course before taking ENV 498 - Environmental Studies Capstone . Students who do not complete a relevant methodology course by then will be at a significant disadvantage in undertaking the capstone project. Before choosing the methodology course, students should discuss their options with their ENV major adviser and other ENV professors. these discussions will allow the students to best match their methodology course to their interests and talents, capstone project, study abroad plans, and summer research plans.
Breadth Component
The Breadth Component is determined in conjunction with the Depth Component. If a student chooses one of the established tracks for the Depth Component, the Breadth Component will consist of one course from each of the other two tracks. Students who self-design the Depth Component will also propose a corresponding Breadth Component, again subject to the approval of the Environmental Studies faculty.
Notes
- Both degree options require students to complete a capstone project that is significant, situated, and original in its application. This project is integrated within ENV 498 - Environmental Studies Capstone , and it is based upon the depth component courses (including methodology) completed prior to enrolling in ENV 498. Capstone project proposals are due in April of the junior year, although some summer research funding proposals are due as early as January.
- Students may not choose both the ENV major and the ENV interdisciplinary minor.
- No more than two courses at the 100-level may count for the major, including no more than one 100-level course in the Depth Component.
- A maximum of two courses may count towards the ENV major and a second major, minor, or interdisciplinary minor.
- No more than two courses taken away from Davidson may count toward the major. After the Registrar has granted transfer credit, students may petition the ENV faculty to approve transfer courses for the major.
- Students may petition the ENV faculty to approve independent studies for the major. A maximum of two independent studies may count toward the major.
- The following courses must be taken at Davidson: ENV 201 , ENV 202 , ENV 203 , and ENV 498 . Exceptions must be approved by the ENV faculty.
- Careful course planning is important for all ENV majors, particularly for students who plan to study abroad and those who plan to do graduate work in an environmental field.
Honors in Environmental Studies
Honors in Environmental Studies is awarded to students who meet all of these criteria:
- have a 3.2 GPA overall by the time of graduation;
- have a 3.5 GPA in the major by the time of graduation;
- have successfully completed a year-long project that: a) includes work done for ENV 498 - Environmental Studies Capstone , and b) a grade of A or A- in ENV 497 - Honors Research ;
- have successfully completed the year-long project as assessed by an interdisciplinary three-person committee including at least two core ENV faculty;
- have successfully defended the year-long project in an oral defense.
The department does not award high honors.
Environmental Studies Interdisciplinary Minor
In recent decades, issues related to the environment have emerged as key concerns at local, national, and international levels. The Environmental Studies interdisciplinary minor is designed to give students a broad exposure to a range of environmental issues and to provide multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the complexity of factors that affect the environment and our understanding of it.
Interdisciplinary Minor Requirements
Completion of six courses, including:
- (3) Interdisciplinary Overview Courses, to be completed by the end of the junior year
- (1) Environmental Natural Science course
- (1) Environmental Social Science course
- (1) Environmental Humanities course
Notes
- No more than one course may count toward the student’s major and the interdisciplinary minor.
- No more than two courses at the 100-level may count toward the interdisciplinary minor.
- A grade of C- or higher is required in all courses applied toward the interdisciplinary minor.
- No courses applied toward the interdisciplinary minor may be taken pass/fail.
- No more than two courses taken away from Davidson may count toward the interdisciplinary minor. These courses must be approved by the Environmental Studies interdisciplinary minor faculty liaison.
- In order for any additional course to be considered for the interdisciplinary minor, at least 50% of its content must pertain to the environment. Methodology courses that do not focus on environmental topics are not eligible for this requirement.
Rationale for Course Numbering
100-level courses are introductory and open to all students. These courses introduce students to topics in a particular track of the major, such as ENV 120: Introduction to Environmental Geology (natural sciences track), ENV 150: Environmental Analysis with Econ Lens (social sciences track), and ENV 160: Environmental Justice (humanities track).
200-level courses are designed for majors but also appropriate for non-majors. There are three 200-level interdisciplinary overview courses required of ENV majors and minors: ENV 201: Environmental Science, ENV 202: Environmental Social Sciences, and ENV 203: Environmental Humanities. Other 200-level courses focus on important topics in Environmental Studies, such as ENV 242: Political Ecology and ENV 284: Latinx and Environment.
300-level courses are designed for ENV majors and minors, and they provide a deeper investigation into more specific environmental subjects. Some of these courses require a prerequisite. Examples include ENV 330: Surface Geology and Landforms and ENV 345: Politics of Waste.
400-level courses are designed for advanced ENV majors and generally require ENV 201, 202, and 203 as prerequisites. Both ENV 498: Capstone and ENV 401: Interdisciplinary Seminar are required of ENV majors and are generally taken in the senior year.
Environmental Studies Courses
Interdisciplinary Overview Courses
These three courses may be taken in any sequence, but two must be completed by the end of the sophomore year and the third must be completed by the end of the junior year. ENV 201, 202, and 203 are prerequisites for more advanced courses that fulfill major requirements, including ENV 498.
Environmental Natural Sciences Courses
Applied Natural Science Courses
These are courses in which the students apply the scientific method, use a method learned in class, and collect and analyze data relating to an environmental question.
Environmental Social Science Courses
Environmental Humanities Courses
Independent Study Courses
Environmental Studies Capstone & Seminar
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