Environmental Studies
Dr. Jeffrey Myers
Program Coordinator
Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary minor that promotes an understanding of the relationship between humans and their environment. Open to all Manhattan College students, the minor is designed to provide students with a liberal arts experience that focuses on the complex interrelationship among the scientific, economic, political, religious, aesthetic, and ethical ideas that underlie environmental issues. The minor is designed for both science and non-science majors and serves to broaden their environmental education in a way that can help all students prepare for future careers in the fields of environmental policy or education, while giving students who plan careers in science or engineering a crucial background for understanding the social context in which their work takes place. Courses are available in Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Engineering, English, Government, History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies.
Minor
Requirements for a Minor in Environmental Studies: Fifteen approved credits from the list of Environmental Studies courses are required. GOVT 223 Environmental Politics is required of all students. No more than two courses from any one department will be counted toward the minor. Students who are not enrolled in the Schools of Engineering or Science must take at least one science-based course from the approved list beyond the prerequisite. A minimum grade of C is required for credit toward the minor.
Prerequisite
Students not enrolled in the School of Engineering or School of Science must take one or more of the following as a prerequisite for the minor:
| BIOL 111 & BIOL 112 | General Biology I and General Biology II | 4 |
| BIOL 222 | Biology for Engineers | 3 |
| SCI 203 | Topics in Science I | 3 |
| or SCI 204 | Topics: in Science II | |
| SCI 231 | Chemistry in the Modern World | 3 |
| or SCI 232 | Biology in the Modern World | |
Environmental Studies Courses
In addition to GOVT 223 Environmental Politics, students must take four courses from the following:
| BIOL 223 | Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 231 | Evolution | 3 |
| BIOL 326 | Animal Behavior | 3 |
| BIOL 406 | Special Topics in Biology * | 3 |
| BIOL 409 | Marine Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 431 | Freshwater Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 432 | Estuarine and Coastal Ecology | 3 |
| ECON 332 | Environmental Economy | 3 |
| ENGL 279 | Literature and the Environment | 3 |
| ENGL 345 | Environmental Literature and Ecocriticism | 3 |
| ENVL 517 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| EVST 399 | Independent Study in Environmental Studies | 3 |
| EVST 400 | Field Project in Environmental Studies | 3 |
| HIST 321 | Special Topics * | 3 |
| HIST 322 | Special Topics | 3 |
| HIST 377 | Science, Technology, and Society | 3 |
| INTL 315 | Special Topics: Area Studies * | 3 |
| PHIL 399 | Topics in Philosophy * | 3 |
| RELS 372 | Religion and Science | 3 |
| RELS 377 | Religion and Environmentalism | 3 |
| SCI 202 | Introduction Geology | 3 |
| * | When these “topics” courses focus on a subject relevant to environmental studies. A relevant special topics course from any department may count toward the minor with permission from the Environmental Studies coordinator. |
Courses
EVST 399. Independent Study in Environmental Studies. 3 Credits.
An in-depth independent study in any field of Environmental Studies, undertaken with a faculty member in the appropriate field. Open only to students enrolled in the Environmental Studies minor. Permission of the sponsoring faculty member and the Environmental Studies coordinator is required.
EVST 400. Field Project in Environmental Studies. 3 Credits.
An experiential learning opportunity with an environmental organization or government agency - locally, domestically or abroad. Open only to students enrolled in the Environmental Studies minor. Permission of Environmental Studies coordinator is required.