Environmental Policy, B.A.

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Requirements for the Major in Environmental Policy

Includes ENS 100 , four core policy/humanities courses, one quantitative method or spatial analysis course; three required science courses; four upper level policy/humanities courses in an area of concentration; one environmental seminar; one senior seminar; and two thesis credits for a total of 17 courses. Specific requirements are listed below: (Please note that students may not develop an ID major with Environmental Policy).

A. Introductory course

ENS 100 - Introduction to Environmental Studies

B. Four required policy courses

and three from:

C. One quantitative methods and spatial analysis course

One course from

D. Three required science courses

Required Course:
BIO 103 - Diversity of Life: Heredity, Evolution, and Ecology
Choose one from the following:
BIO 320 - Ecology w/lab
BIO 322 - Conservation Biology w/lab
BIO 324 - Plant Ecology w/lab
BIO 350T - Terrestrial Ecology of Australia
BIO 353 - Plant Ecophysiology w/lab
GEO 305 - Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Choose one from the following:
GEO 106 - Introduction to Oceanography
GEO 109 - Global Climate Change
GEO 110 - Introduction to Geosciences
GEO 112 - Environmental Geology
GEO 114 - Extreme Weather and Climate Change
GEO 115 - Intro to the Atmosphere
GEO 117 - Natural Disasters
GEO 120 - The Story of Earth and Life
GEO 160 - Environmental Challenges in the Mohawk Watershed

E. Four upper level policy/humanities courses in an area of concentration

(No double counting from A-D, above). The following are suggested areas of concentration; alterations must be approved in writing by the ESPE Director.

Please Note: Up to two internships may be counted toward any of the tracks below, provided the subject of the internship is selected with that track in mind and approved in writing by both the relevant internship director and the ESPE Director; specific internships include:

ANT 232T / ECO 232T - Fiji Culture and Entrepreneurship
ANT 490T - Anthropology Independent Study Abroad
ECO 390 - Economics Internships
LAS 200T - Women, Environment, Social Change
PSC 277 - Capital Region Political Internships
PSC 279T - Term in Washington D.C. Project
SOC 385 - Internships for Community Outreach

Environmental Law and Management

Environmental Problems and Response

Energy and Sustainability

F. Environmental Services and Policy

(Junior seminar for Environmental Policy majors)

SOC 450 - Environmental Services and Policy

G. ESPE Senior Seminar

ENS 460 - Environmental Science & Policy Senior Seminar

H. Two terms of thesis research

Requirements for Honors in Environmental Science, Policy, and Engineering:

The major requirements as specified above are required, as are the GPA requirements of Union College described elsewhere in this catalog. A senior research thesis is required, consisting of at least two terms of ENS 497 and ENS 498 (independent research with a faculty member) and presentation at Steinmetz Symposium or other conference as approved by the advisor.