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Undergraduate Bulletin College of Arts and Sciences
Integrated Program in the Environment

Concentration in Environmental Ethics and Justice (Bachelor of Arts in Environmental and Sustainability Studies)

Students on Summer 2020, Fall 2020, or Spring 2021 requirements ENVETJSCON

The Environmental Ethics and Justice concentration emphasizes the role of the environmental humanities and social sciences in understanding and analyzing the relationships between humans and the environments of which we are a part. Environmental ethics focuses on ethical arguments governing human interaction with the nonhuman environment and the moral status of nonhuman entities such as animals, plants, species, and ecosystems. Environmental justice studies examines the political, legal, and symbolic actions involved in equal access to a healthy environment and environmental protection, as well as the ways environmental justice advocates challenge injustices. Students in this concentration will gain familiarity with, and critically evaluate, the strengths and weaknesses of contemporary approaches to environmental ethics and environmental justice. These may include, but are not limited to: animal rights and liberation, holistic environmental approaches, religion and ecology, feminist environmental ethics, environmental justice struggles of communities, and public advocacy of climate justice. Students also will learn to apply traditional ethical theories to environmental issues, as well as environmental justice concepts about culture, identity, discourse, agency, and legal rights.

Requirements

The concentration requires at least 12 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
  1. Core Courses. Two (2) courses:
    • ANTH-E 318 Nature/Culture: Global Perspectives in Environmental Anthropology
    • ANTH-E 444 People and Protected Areas: Theories of Conservation
    • GEOG-G 341 Ecological Restoration: Science, Politics, and Ethics
    • GEOG-G 449 Political Ecology
    • INTL-I 428 Social Justice and the Environment (approved topic: "Environmental Justice")
    • SPEA-V 424 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, JUSTICE, AND POLITICS
    • SPH-O 313 WILDERNESS AND PROTECTED LANDS
    • SPH-O 360 HUMAN HEALTH AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS
  2. Elective Courses. Two (2) additional courses:
    • ANTH-E 318 Nature/Culture: Global Perspectives in Environmental Anthropology
    • ANTH-E 444 People and Protected Areas: Theories of Conservation
    • ENG-L 389 Feminist Literary and Cultural Criticism (program approval required; see academic advisor)
    • ENG-R 348 Environmental Communication
    • GEOG-G 315 Environmental Conservation
    • GEOG-G 341 Ecological Restoration: Science, Politics, and Ethics
    • GEOG-G 448 Capitalism and Nature
    • GEOG-G 449 Political Ecology
    • GEOG-G 461 Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change
    • HPSC-X 340 Scientific Methods: How Science Really Works
    • HPSC-X 342 The Secret Life of Trees: Scientific, Historical, and Psychological Perspectives on Forests
    • INTL-I 202 Global Health and Environment
    • INTL-I 428 Social Justice and the Environment (approved topic: "Environmental Justice")
    • SPEA-V 424 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW, JUSTICE, AND POLITICS
    • SPH-O 313 WILDERNESS AND PROTECTED LANDS
    • SPH-O 360 HUMAN HEALTH AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS
    • Independent study, readings, research, or practicum in environmental ethics and justice from any department (3 cr.) with pre-approval of the Program
  3. Concentration GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
    1. Concentration GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the concentration—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
    2. Concentration Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the concentration.
    3. Concentration Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 9 credit hours in the concentration must be completed at the 300–499 level.

Concentration Area Courses

Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:

  • Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
  • Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception

Exceptions to and substitutions for concentration requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.