Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies
Why study environmental studies?
The Environmental Studies Program at the University of Kansas, established in 1971, is one of the oldest environmental studies programs in the country. The KU Environmental Studies Program provides a rigorous interdisciplinary degree that balances learning in the physical and social sciences along with the arts and humanities. Learning Pathways, thematic areas of study that match student interest to the environmental expertise of our faculty, are a key aspect of our unique program.
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of the University Registrar website.
Requirements for the B.S. Degree
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core 34 General Education | 34 | |
| The KU Core 34 is comprised of 34-35 credit hours typically completed during the first two years of study. The Core 34 consists of the following requirements: English (6), Communications (3), Math & Statistics (3), Natural & Physical Sciences with lab (4-5), Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 in two different disciplines), Arts & Humanities (6 in two different disciplines), US Culture (3), and Global Culture (3) | ||
MATH 101 College Algebra is the designated "math pathway"course. This course will fulfill your Core 34 Math and Statistics requirement. | ||
| Prerequisite Knowledge | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| Calculus. Satisfied by one of the following. NOTE: some courses may require additional prerequisites. | 4-6 | |
| Calculus I and Calculus II | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| Statistics. Satisfied by one of the following. NOTE: some courses may require additional prerequisites. | 3-4 | |
| Elementary Statistics | ||
or MATH 107 | Introductory Statistics: _____ | |
| Methods of Analyzing Geographical Data | ||
| Introduction to Biostatistics | ||
| Supporting Laboratory Science | 5 | |
| Majors must complete one of the following: | ||
| Introduction to Physical Geography and Introductory Laboratory in Physical Geography | ||
| The Way The Earth Works and Geology Fundamentals Laboratory | ||
| Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| Biology and Ecology | ||
| BIOL 150 | Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 151 | Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Honors | |
| BIOL 152 | Principles of Organismal Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 153 | Principles of Organismal Biology, Honors | |
| BIOL 154 | Introductory Biology Lab for STEM Majors | 2 |
| BIOL 414 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| Chemistry | ||
| CHEM 130 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| or CHEM 190 & CHEM 191 | Foundations of Chemistry I, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry I Laboratory, Honors | |
| CHEM 135 | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| or CHEM 195 & CHEM 196 | Foundations of Chemistry II, Honors and Foundations of Chemistry II Laboratory, Honors | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| EVRN 140 | Global Environment I: The Discovery of Environmental Change | 3 |
| or EVRN 144 | Global Environment I: Discovery of Environmental Change, Honors | |
| EVRN 142 | Global Environment II: The Ecology of Human Civilization | 3 |
| or EVRN 145 | Global Environment II: The Ecology of Human Civilization, Honors | |
| EVRN 160 | Environmental Solutions | 1 |
| Environmental Social Science and Policy. Satisfied by one of the following. NOTE: some courses may require additional prerequisites. | 3 | |
| Environmental Policy Analysis | ||
| Environmental Geopolitics | ||
| Environment, Power, and Justice | ||
| Environmental Social Problems | ||
| Sociology of Global Food | ||
| Environmental Justice and Public Policy | ||
| Water Resource Sustainability | ||
| Ethnobotany | ||
| Natural Hazards and Environmental Risks | ||
| Environmental Humanities and Arts Satisfied by one of the following. NOTE: some courses may require additional prerequisites. | 3 | |
| Global Environmental Literature | ||
| Sculpture Intercepting the Waste Stream | ||
| Environmental Law | ||
| Environmental History of North America | ||
| Art and Ecology: Inhabiting the Ecosphere | ||
| Radical Environmentalism in the United States | ||
| Resilient and Resistant Futures: Global Perspectives in Climate Change Literature | ||
| U.S. Environmental Thought in the 20th Century | ||
| Sculpture Intercepting the Waste Stream | ||
| Art and Ecology: Inhabiting the Ecosphere | ||
| Field Ecology. Satisfied by: | ||
| EVRN 460 | Field Ecology | 3 |
| or EVRN 660 | Summer Field Ecology | |
| Environmental Studies Required Electives | 12 | |
| Satisfied by 12 hours of approved Environmental Studies Jr/Sr level coursework (300-level or above). Students are encouraged to explore one of the 10 learning pathways when selecting electives, or work closely with an Academic Advisor to create a self-designed elective pathway. Students completing the departmental honors capstone sequence (EVRN 624 & EVRN 625) may count 3 hours of that sequence toward the elective requirement. | ||
| General Electives | 22-19 | |
| Students will need to complete additional general elective credits to reach the required 120 hours. | ||
| Capstone | 3 | |
| Capstone Internship | ||
| Capstone Project | ||
| Independent Study and Honors Research in Environmental Studies (Completion of EVRN 624 AND EVRN 625 required for Capstone experience.) | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 12 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing the BS in Environmental Studies. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill Core34, please visit the KU Core 34 page.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 | Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 |
| EVRN 140 | 3 | EVRN 142 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| Core 34: Communications (SGE)020 | 3 | MATH 115 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| MATH 101 (Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE))030* | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours4 | 3 |
| EVRN 160 (Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE), Major Requirement)040* | 1 | Second area of Study /Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours | 3 |
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MATH 116 (Major Requirement) | 3 | CHEM 135 | 5 |
| CHEM 130 | 5 | Environmental Humanities and Arts (Major Requirement)1 | 3 |
| Environmental Social Science and Policy (Major Requirement)1 | 3 | BIOL 152 | 3 |
| Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 | EVRN Supporting Laboratory Science LEC (Major Requirement)1 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours4 | 3 | EVRN Supporting Laboratory Science LAB (Major Requirement)1 | 2 |
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 | Core 34: Social and Behavioral Science (SGE)050 | 3 |
| EVRN Elective 300+ (Major Requirement)2 | 3 | Core 34: US Culture (SGE)070 | 3 |
| BIOL 150 | 3 | EVRN Elective 300+ (Major Requirement)2 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours4 | 3 | BIOL 154 (BS Requirement) | 2 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours4 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours4 | 3 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Core 34: Global Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | EVRN 615, 491, or 624 and 625 (Capstone) | 3 |
| EVRN 460 or 660 (Major Requirement)3 | 3 | Core 34: Social and Behavior Science (SGE)050 | 3 |
| MATH 365, 107, GEOG 316, or BIOL 370 (BS Requirement) | 3-4 | EVRN Elective 300+ (Major Requirement)2 | 3 |
| BIOL 414 (Major Requirement) | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours4 | 3 |
| EVRN Elective 300+ (Major Requirement)2 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours4 | 3 |
| 15-16 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120-121 | |||
- 1
Refer to the Degree Requirements tab for a list of courses that can fulfill this major requirement.
- 2
A total of 12 hours of EVRN 300+ electives are required for the major. Students are encouraged to choose courses based on an emphasis area in consultation with an advisor.
- 3
EVRN 460 is a Fall only course. EVRN 142 is a Spring only courses. EVRN 660 is a Summer only course.
- 4
Hour requirements (incl. 45 jr/sr hrs) are typically met through Core 34, degree, major, second area of study and/or elective hours. Students completing the BGS with a major must choose a secondary area of study. Individual degree mapping is done in partnership with your advisor.
Please note:
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to complete 120 total hours of which 45 hours must be at the Jr/Sr (300+) level.
*Courses with a * designate courses that are degree requirements but can also be taken to fulfill the KU Core 34 requirement. If another course if used to fulfill the Core 34 requirement, the course listed is still required as a degree requirement.
Notes:
* - This course is a Required major course and is also part of Core 34: Systemwide General Education. If this course is not taken to fulfill the Core 34:SGE requirement, it must be taken in place of elective hours.
** - This course is a Recommended Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This specific course is not required but is recommended by the program’s faculty.
*** - This course is a Required Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This program is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents to require this specific Core 34:Systemwide General Education course. If a student did not take this course it must be taken in addition to other degree requirements.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Analyze environmental systems using interdisciplinary approaches and methods.
- Demonstrate disciplinary and/or thematic depth of training.
- Use environmental knowledge in being an active, engaged citizen/professional.
- Communicate effectively orally and in writing for diverse audiences, including scientists, policy makers, and fellow citizens.
Departmental Honors
To graduate with honors in environmental studies, an undergraduate must maintain a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 in the major. The student must also complete an individual honors research project in cooperation with a faculty mentor. This project normally represents 2 semesters of original work, the completion of 3 credit hours of EVRN 624 Independent Study, and 3 credit hours of EVRN 625 Honors Research in Environmental Studies. All 6 hours may be applied to the 12 hours of environmental studies electives required for the major. Upon completion of the research project, honors candidates are required to present the results of their work at the department’s Undergraduate Research Colloquium.