Environmental Studies Certificate

(SIMS Code: 112999)

The Environmental Studies Certificate is designed for students already holding a bachelor’s degree (in any field) who desire to increase their understanding of the theoretical and applied approaches to environmental problems and issues. This is not a certificate program in the hard sciences, but rather is intended to provide diverse ways for students to develop knowledge of the causes and consequences of the human impact on the environment and the impact on humans of philosophical, political, economic, spatial, and natural science perspectives. This professional development program offers a multi-disciplinary approach to environmental studies for natural resource managers, teachers, community activists, and others who are concerned about the interaction of people and the environment.

Students must complete the required units with a 2.5 grade point average. A bachelor’s degree from a university is also required.

Students interested in the Environmental Studies Certificate will normally enroll in courses through Open University. Prior to enrollment, contact Dr. Donna L. Ross, School of Teacher Education, to develop an approved program of coursework.

Required Courses

Core courses can be counted in only one category; 500-numbered courses may have substantial prerequisites, but may be counted later for graduate credit toward an M.A. degree.

The certificate requires 15 units to include nine units selected from

ECON 455 - Environmental Economics Units: 3
GEOG 370 - Conservation Science and Policy Units: 3
GEOG 573 - Population and the Environment Units: 3
ISCOR 300 - Global Systems Units: 3
OCEAN 320 - Oceans of Change Units: 3
POL S 334 - Politics of the Environment Units: 3 also listed as
SUSTN 334 - Politics of the Environment Units: 3

Six Units Selected from

BIOL 315 - Ecology and Human Impacts on the Environment Units: 3
BIOL 324 - Life in the Sea Units: 3
BIOL 327 - Conservation of Wildlife Units: 3
ECON 456 - Economics of Natural Resources Units: 3
GEOG 409 - Global Climate Change Units: 3
GEOG 570 - Environmental Conservation Practice Units: 3
GEOG 572 - Land Use Analysis Units: 3
GEOG 574 - Water Resources Units: 3
GEOL 301 - Geology of National Parks and Monuments Units: 3
GEOL 303 - Natural Disasters Units: 3
HIST 441 - Unnatural Disasters: History of Current Environmental Problems Units: 3
ISCOR 301 - Conflict and Conflict Resolution Units: 3
PHIL 332 - Environmental Ethics Units: 3 also listed as
SUSTN 332 - Environmental Ethics Units: 3
P H 304 - Environment and Public Health Units: 3
RTM 487 - Environmental and Cultural Interpretation Units: 3