Program Overview

Environmental Studies, BA

Overview

The Environmental Studies major, leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree, is designed to provide students with the analytical and communication skills and the broad background necessary to understand and address complex environmental issues. The major also offers the opportunity for students to carry out focused study within a specific area of interest. Environmental issues are not resolved in the scientific, technological, social, or political arenas alone. The curriculum is, therefore, interdisciplinary and integrates principles and methodologies from the social sciences, engineering, the natural sciences, and humanities. The goal is to address the complex scientific, legal, political, socioeconomic and ethical issues that define and surround environmental issues.

Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies major is designed to provide students with the analytical and communication skills and the broad background necessary to understand and address complex environmental issues. Environmental issues are not resolved in the scientific, technological, social, or political arenas alone. The curriculum is, therefore, interdisciplinary and integrates principles and methodologies from the social sciences, the natural sciences, and humanities. The goal is to address the complex scientific, legal, political, socioeconomic and ethical issues that define and surround environmental issues. The Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies prepares the student for further education and for entry-level employment in areas such as public interest science and advocacy, environmental conservation, law, journalism, management, television documentary production, ecotourism, population studies, and public service including public health. To demonstrate depth of learning, an area of concentration is required of all students in the major. Additionally, a research course, an internship, or field study is an essential part of the curriculum to provide real-world experience in an appropriate subject area.

Foundation Courses (36 credits)

• AMS 102 - Elements of Statistics (3 credits)
• ANT 120 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology (3 credits)
• BIO 201 - Fundamentals of Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems (3 credits)
• BIO 204 - Fundamentals of Scientific Inquiry in the Biological Sciences I (2 credits)
• CHE 131 - General Chemistry IB (4 credits)
• CHE 133 - General Chemistry Laboratory I (1 credit)
• ECO 108 - Introduction to Economics (4 credits)
• ENS 101 - Prospects for Planet Earth (3 credits)
• ENS 119 - Physics for Environmental Studies (4 credits)
• MAT 125 - Calculus A (3 credits)
• PHI 104 - Moral Reasoning (II) (3 credits)
• POL 102 - Introduction to American Government (3 credits)

Core Courses (14 credits)

• ATM 305 - Global Atmospheric Change (3 credits)
• ENS 311 - Ecosystem Ecology and the Global Environment (3 credits)
• MAR 340 - Environmental Problems and Solutions (3 credits)
• ENS 301 - Contemporary Environmental Issues and Policies (3 credits)
• One of the following courses:
  • SUS 351 - Design and Implement a Research Project in Ecotoxicology (3 credits)
  • SUS 352 - Conduct and Communicate a Research Project in Ecotoxicology (3 credits)
  • ENS 487 - Independent Research in Environmental Studies (0-6 credits)
  • ENS 488 - Internship in Environmental Studies (0-6 credits)

Concentration (12 credits)

Choose 4 courses with a 12 credit minimum from one of the following concentrations:

Conservation Biology/Biological Anthropology

• ANT 309 - Comparing Ecosystems in Madagascar (3 credits)
• ANT 321 - Primate Evolution (3 credits)
• ANT 352 - Methods in Studying Primates (3 credits)
• ANT 361 - Primate Conservation (3 credits)
• BIO 336 - Conservation Biology (3 credits)
• BIO 351 - Ecology (3 credits)
• BIO 353 - Marine Ecology (3 credits)
• BIO 356 - Population and Community Ecology Computer Laboratory (2 credits)
• MAR 315 - Marine Conservation (3 credits)
• SUS 326 - Conservation Genetics (3 credits)

Marine Science, Marine or Terrestrial Ecology

• BIO 319 - Landscape Ecology Laboratory (3 credits)
• BIO 351 - Ecology (3 credits)
• BIO 352 - Ecology Laboratory (3 credits)
• BIO 353 - Marine Ecology (3 credits)
• BIO 354 - Evolution (3 credits)
• BIO 371 - Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems (4 credits)
• BIO 385 - Plant Ecology (3 credits)
• EBH 359 - Behavioral Ecology (3 credits)
• ENV 316 - Coastal Zone Management (3 credits)
• MAR 301 - Environmental Microbiology (4 credits)
• MAR 302 - Marine Microbiology and Microbial Ecology (3 credits)
• MAR 303 - Long Island Marine Habitats (4 credits)
• MAR 304 - Waves, Tides, and Beaches (3 credits)
• MAR 305 - Experimental Marine Biology (3 credits)
• MAR 315 - Marine Conservation (3 credits)
• MAR 320 - Limnology (4 credits)
• MAR 333 - Coastal Oceanography (3 credits)
• MAR 334 - Remote Sensing of the Environment (3 credits)
• MAR 336 - Marine Pollution (3 credits)
• MAR 346 - Marine Sedimentology (3 credits)
• MAR 349 - Introduction to Biological Oceanography (4 credits)
• MAR 351 - Introduction to Ocean Chemistry (3 credits)
• MAR 352 - Introduction to Physical Oceanography (3 credits)
• MAR 354 - Introduction to Geological Oceanography (3 credits)
• MAR 370 - Marine Mammals (3 credits)
• MAR 373 - Marine Apex Predators: Ecology and Conservation (3 credits)
• MAR 375 - Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rehabilitation (3 credits)
• MAR 376 - Biology and Conservation of Sea Turtles (3 credits)
• MAR 377 - Biology and Conservation of Seabirds (3 credits)
• MAR 380 - Ichthyology (3 credits)
• MAR 385 - Principles of Fishery Biology and Management (3 credits)
• MAR 386 - Ecosystem Science for Fisheries Management (3 credits)
• MAR 388 - Tropical Marine Ecology (4 credits)

Environmental Law, Waste Management, and Public Policy

• AAS 352 - Environmental History of China (3 credits)
• ENS 333 - Environmental Law (3 credits)
• ENV 316 - Coastal Zone Management (3 credits)
• GEO 313 - Understanding Water Resources for the 21st Century (3 credits)
• HIS 302 - Environmental History in Global Perspective (3 credits)
• MAR 336 - Marine Pollution (3 credits)
• MAR 392 - Waste Management Issues (3 credits)
• MAR 393 - Waste Treatment Technologies (3 credits)
• MAR 394 - Environmental Toxicology and Public Health (3 credits)
• PHI 364 - Philosophy of Technology (III) (3 credits)
• PHI 375 - Philosophy of Law (III) (3 credits)
• POL 320 - Constitutional Law and Politics: United States (3 credits)
• POL 351 - Social Surveys in Contemporary Society (3 credits)
• POL 359 - Public Policy Analysis (3 credits)
• SOC 344 - Environmental Sociology (3 credits)
• SUS 305 - Collective Action and Advocacy (3 credits)
• SUS 317 - American Environmental History (3 credits)
• SUS 318 - American Environmental Politics (3 credits)
• SUS 321 - Ecology and Evolution in American Literature (3 credits)
• SUS 323 - Environmental Justice (3 credits)
• SUS 325 - Environmental Writing and the Media (3 credits)
• SUS 329 - Environmental Film, Media, Arts (3 credits)
• SUS 344 - Sustainable Natural Resources (3 credits)
• SUS 366 - Philosophy of the Environment (III) (3 credits)
• SUS 405 - Environmental Sustainability in Tanzania (3 credits)

Upper-Division Writing Requirement

The advanced writing component of the major in ENS requires registration in, and satisfactory completion of, the 0-credit MAR 459 or SUS 459 (S/U grading) along with enrollment in an approved advanced course that entails writing of either a term paper or a laboratory report. Completion of MAR 459 or SUS 459 with a grade of S will also result in fulfillment of the WRTD requirement. A list of preapproved courses can be obtained through the department.

Notes

1. PHY 121 or PHY 125/PHY 126/PHY 133 or PHY 131/PHY 133 or PHY 141/PHY 133 may be substituted for PHY 119/ENS 119.
2. Two credits of any course numbered 487 or equivalent with one of the following designators: ANP, ANT, ATM, BCP, BIO, CHE, ECO, ENS, ENV, EST, GEO, MAR, PHY, POL, SUS. In addition to other prerequisites, credit toward the major requires approval of the research topic by the SoMAS Director of Undergraduate Studies.
3. Two credits of any course numbered 488 or equivalent with one of the following designators: ANP, ANT, ATM, BCP, BIO, CHE, ECO, ENS, ENV, EST, GEO, MAR, PHY, POL, SUS. In addition to other prerequisites, credit toward the major requires approval of the internship by the SoMAS Director of Undergraduate Studies.
4. CHE 129/CHE 130 may be substituted for CHE 131.
5. AMS 110, AMS 310, BIO 211, ECO 320, POL 201, PSY 201, or SOC 202 may be substituted for AMS 102.

Double Majors

Excluding SUS 305 - Collective Action and Advocacy, no more than 6 credits of 300-400 level course credits can be applied between the Environmental Studies major and another major.

Environmental Studies Honors Program

Graduation with departmental honors in Environmental Studies requires the following:

1. Students are eligible to participate in the Honors Program if they have a 3.50 GPA in all courses for the major by the end of the junior year. Students should apply to the SoMAS undergraduate director for permission to participate.
2. Students must prepare an honors thesis based on a research project written in the form of a paper for a scientific journal. A student interested in becoming a candidate for honors should submit an outline of the proposed thesis research project to the SoMAS undergraduate director as early as possible, but no later than the second week of classes in the last semester. The student will be given an oral examination in May on his or her research by his or her research supervisor and the undergraduate research committee. The awarding of honors requires the recommendation of this committee and recognizes superior performance in research and scholarly endeavors. The written thesis must be submitted before the end of the semester in which the student is graduating.
3. If the student maintains a GPA of 3.5 in all courses in their major through senior year and receives a recommendation by the undergraduate research committee, he or she will receive departmental honors.

Study Abroad

Stony Brook University offers study abroad experiences that can focus on issues of sustainability in Cuba, Ireland, Jamaica, Madagascar, Tanzania, and the Turkana Basin (Kenya). While issues of climate change, water and energy security, sustainable agriculture, environmental justice, sustainable economic development, conservation of unique and threatened ecosystems, population growth, and human health are important everywhere, viewing these issues through the lens of a different place and a different culture provides a valuable perspective. Students are encouraged to participate in study abroad experiences and to talk with their major director to determine how study abroad coursework can be used to fulfill some requirements for their major.

SBC Courses

This table illustrates major courses that can also be used to fulfill SBC requirements.

Sample Course Sequence

Sample Course Sequence for the Major in Environmental Studies, B.A.

• Freshman Year:
  • Fall: AMS 102, ANT 120, BIO 201, CHE 131, ECO 108, ENS 101, MAT 125
  • Spring: BIO 204, CHE 133, ENS 119, PHI 104, POL 102
• Sophomore Year:
  • Fall: ATM 305, ENS 311, MAR 340, SUS 351
  • Spring: ENS 301, MAR 315, SUS 352
• Junior Year:
  • Fall: Concentration courses
  • Spring: Concentration courses
• Senior Year:
  • Fall: Concentration courses, MAR 459 or SUS 459
  • Spring: Concentration courses, MAR 459 or SUS 459