The Major in Environmental Studies ensures that students examine environmental issues ranging from the uneven impacts of climate change in urban areas to the alternatives developed by diverse actors globally to counteract environmental injustices, all from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Interdisciplinarity is essential for understanding the origins of environmental issues and their implications at global, national and local scales, as it enables students to address these challenges through multiple perspectives and areas of expertise while gaining practical tools applicable to everyday life, and future careers.
Major Requirements
The Major in Environmental Studies (ENVS) consists of 36 credits of coursework reflecting the program’s four-field approach (natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and methods/techniques).
- Intro to Environmental Studies (3 cr)
- Natural Sciences (6 cr)
- Environmental Social Sciences (6 cr)
- Environmental Humanities (6 cr)
- ENVS Methods/Techniques (3 cr)
- ENVS Methods/Techniques (3 cr)
- ENVS Capstone (3 cr)
- Electives (9 cr)
At least 18 of these credits must be earned through coursework at the 300 level or higher. No more than one D grade will be accepted for credit towards the major.
Environmental Studies students have a wide array of choices in the courses they will take, and they are encouraged to design individual schedules in consultation with our advising team.
[ADVISING] Copy from https://geography.rutgers.edu/academics/undergraduate-program/advising
[SAMPLE DEGREE PLANS]
Below, we provide the following sample trajectories based on a few categories of interests our students often pursue. The samples below assume a 2-year schedule, but students can begin taking courses for the Environmental Studies Major any time. Many Environmental Studies courses satisfy Core requirements.
Focus: Conservation, Biology, and Food Studies
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Fall 1 381:101: Introduction to Environmental Studies |
Fall 2 450:322 Remote Sensing |
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Spring 1 119:160 Biology, Society, and Ecological Issues |
Spring 2 070:402 Primate Conservation Biology |
Focus: Activism and Social Justice
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Fall 1 381:101: Introduction to Environmental Studies |
Fall 2 512:329 Technology and Nature in American History |
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Spring 1 460:203 Building and Maintaining a Habitable Planet |
Spring 2 988:409 Gender, Environmental Justice, and Health |
Focus: Academic Career in an Environmental Field
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Fall 1 381:101: Introduction to Environmental Studies |
Fall 2 450:321 Introduction to GIS or 450:355: Principles of Cartography |
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Spring 1 790:350 Environmental Politics-United States and International |
Spring 2 070:341 Language, Food, and Society |
Note: The schedules above are dependent on course availability. In developing these samples, we have identified courses that have been offered in recent semesters. Actual course offerings can be accessed using the Schedule of Classes (https://classes.rutgers.edu//soc/#home). The Course Schedule link on the left column of this page also has a partial list of courses being offered that are pre-approved for the major. There are, however, more courses offered each year across more than 20 departments that can count toward this degree! If you find a course that is not listed here, just email one of our advisors to ensure that it will count toward Environmental Studies.