OWU Online | Environmental Studies

Environmental Studies

Environmental studies is an interdisciplinary major incorporating a broad spectrum of perspectives that allows students to develop their own approach to solving environmental problems. To ensure the strength of their background, students choose a second major in a traditional academic discipline, often a biological science, geography, or sociology. There are no restrictions on the choice of the second major. However, those students desiring a career in an environmentally related field, or who intend on pursuing graduate work in environmental studies, are strongly encouraged to take additional laboratory courses in the natural sciences, especially chemistry. A successful career in the environmental field will require that the student have a thorough background in laboratory science, social science, statistics, computing, and have strong communication skills. An independent study project is required, and field experience through an internship is encouraged.

The Environmental Studies Major & Minor

David H. Hickcox (Department of Geology and Geography) is the Environmental Studies advisor.

The successful completion of both the environmental studies major and a second major requires considerable forethought and planning. Accordingly, students need to declare the environmental studies major no later than March 15th of their sophomore year. Students declaring majors after this date cannot be guaranteed enrollment in all of the required courses. The responsibility of scheduling courses required for the environmental studies major is that of the student, not the Environmental Studies program.

An Environmental Studies Committee, comprised of two faculty members from among the individuals teaching the core courses in the major, must approve the student's precise program and any subsequent modifications. Dr. David H. Hickcox, Department of Geology & Geography, currently chairs the committee. Students interested in majoring in environmental studies are urged to meet with him at their earliest opportunity.

Environmental Studies Major:

Required courses:

BOMI 233: Ecology and the Human Future or ZOOL 353: ???
CHEM 230: Environmental Chemistry (not required if CHEM 260 and 261 are satisfactorily completed)
GEOG 347: Environmental Alteration
GEOG 360: Environmental Geography Seminar, or PG 280: Environmental Politics
PHIL 250: Environmental Ethics
SOAN 367: Human Ecology
ZOOL 115: Animals and Their Environment

One semester of statistics (MATH 105, MATH 260, or PSYC 210) or two semesters of calculus (MATH 110 and MATH 111).

One unit of independent study in an environmental area supervised by a member of the faculty who teaches one of the core courses. The topic must be approved by the Environmental Studies Committee.

Four of the following courses:

BOMI 252: Biodiversity of Flowering Plants
BOMI 300.5: Tropical Biology
BOMI 337: Adaptive Biology of Plants
BOMI 344: Plant Communities and Ecosystems
BOMI 346: Aquatic and Paleoecology
CHEM 260: Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 261: Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 270: Analytical Chemistry
ECON 110: Principles of Economics
ECON 353: Economic Development
ECON 370: Economic Systems
ENG 312: Writing for the Sciences
GEOG 111: Physical Geography
GEOG 235: Energy Resources
GEOG 345: Economic Geography
GEOG 370: The World's Cities
GEOG 375: Weather and Climate
GEOL 110: Physical and Environmental Geology
GEOL 270: Ore Deposits
GEOL 275: Hydrogeology
GEOL 280: Volcanology
SOAN 291: Peoples and Cultures of Africa
SOAN 292: Peoples and Cultures of the Pacific
SOAN 293: Peoples and Cultures of Asia
SOAN 294: Peoples & Cultures of the Middle East
SOAN 352: Urban Society
SOAN 354: Population Problems
SOAN 360: Cultural and Social Change
URB 250: Human Values and the Urban Process
ZOOL 107: Biology and Tropical Nations
ZOOL 300.5: Tropical Biology
ZOOL 341: Ornithology
ZOOL 345: Marine Biology
ZOOL 347: Population & Community Ecology
ZOOL 349: Island Biology
ZOOL 353: ???

Environmental Studies Minor:

Required courses:

BOMI 233: Ecology and the Human Future

CHEM 230: Environmental Chemistry

GEOG 347: Environmental Alteration

SOAN 367: Human Ecology

ZOOL 115: Animals and Their Environment