Environment, Sustainability, and Policy BA

Integrated Learning Major in Environment, Sustainability, and Policy

Program Director:

Sherburne Abbott

121 Eggers Hall

315-443-0121

sbabbott@syr.edu

Core Faculty:

Shere Abbott, University Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy

Phil Arnold, Associate Professor of Religion

Doug Frank, Professor of Biology

Greg Hoke, Associate Professor of Earth Sciences

Sarah Pralle, Associate Professor of Political Science

Jane Read, Associate Professor of Geography

Peter Saulson, Professor of Physics

Chris Scholz, Professor of Earth Sciences

Pete Wilcoxen, Professor of Public Affairs and International Affairs

Bob Wilson, Associate Professor of Geography

This Integrated Learning Major (ILM) in Environment, Sustainability, and Policy is designed to introduce students to and ground them in the interdisciplinary study of environmental science, sustainability, and policy necessary to understand the nature of our changing planet, contribute solutions to advance sustainability, and become more engaged global citizens.

As a growing human population seeks to meet its needs, competing demands on the environment threaten the planet’s systems for supporting and sustaining life. Rising to the challenge of planetary stewardship requires the integration of multiple scientific disciplines exploring the planet’s vital functions and an understanding of how the complexities of human societies across places and time periods shape views of and approaches to protecting or exploiting the planet’s resources and pursuing sustainability. The ILM’s foundation is built on two pillars integral to finding solutions to environmental problems and sustainability: (1) the science of the planet’s interacting natural systems (environmental sciences) and (2) the examination of human perceptions, institutions, and policies toward the environment from the social sciences and humanities (environmental studies). This major’s integration across traditionally isolated lenses of natural and human sciences provides a unique perspective toward understanding, examining, and addressing the environment and sustainability.

Degree awarded: BA or BS, depending on base major.

Upper-division credits required: 18

Total credits required: 27

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Describe the Earth’s living and non-living systems.

2. Analyze the social, cultural, political, and economic factors that mediate human interactions with the environment.

3. Acquire a wide range of skills for solving global problems of the environment and sustainability.

4. Integrate data, concepts, and methods from multiple disciplines and apply them to studies of and communication about human and environmental systems and sustainability.

5. Identify and interact with key experts, organizations, and communities that need to be a part of sustainable solutions to environmental problems.

6. Link knowledge with actions for sustainable alternatives that integrate scientific, humanist, and social perspectives.

Prerequisites for Admission into the Major

Enrollment in one of the following base majors:

Anthropology
Biology
Biotechnology
Communication and Rhetorical Studies
Chemistry
Earth Sciences
Economics
English and Textual Studies
Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises
Environmental and Interior Design
Food Studies
Geography
History
International Relations
Management
Policy Studies
Political Science
Philosophy
Physics
Public Health
Religion
Sociology
Supply Chain Management
Transmedia

Students can petition additional base majors to be paired with this ILM. Students are encouraged to work closely with their base major advisor and with the ESP advisor to ensure that they are meeting the requirements of both programs.

Environmental Sciences Course (3 credits)

Required course: Environmental sciences, chosen from the list below.

Environmental Studies and Humanities Course (3 credits)

One required course: Environmental Studies and Humanities, chosen from 4 listed below.

Data Analysis Course (3 credits)

Students can satisfy the requirement by taking a statistics course at the 200 level or above or a geographic information systems (GIS) course at the 300 level or above. Examples of courses meeting this requirement include (but are not limited to) the following:

Advanced Coursework and Focused Studies

Students are required to take one 3-credit, 300-level integrative science-policy course and four 3-credit electives. Two electives must be from the environmental sciences, and two must be from environmental studies or humanities. Students completing a capstone for their base major have the option of replacing one elective for this ILM with the capstone from the base major, if the capstone has sufficient environmental or sustainability content. In addition, students can use independent study (research or policy project) or experience credit (fellowship/internship experience with approval), study abroad or international field experience for an elective, with approval by the ESP Faculty Advisory Committee.

Students will consult with their undergraduate advisor and the ESP Director (in consultation with the ESP Faculty Advisory Committee) to develop a curricular track suited for their thematic interests or professional goals. Examples of suggested tracks include climate change, water, land use and ecosystems, environmental design, and environmental studies. Through these electives, students build on their foundation in environmental sciences, environmental studies, and the humanities and in data analysis established through the core courses listed above and gain an interdisciplinary perspective through the lens of a particular environmental theme or problem.

Science-Policy Integration Course (3 credits)

Required course: Science-policy integration (3 credits), chosen from the following:

Senior Capstone Seminar (3 credits)

Required course: Senior capstone seminar (3 credits)

ESP 410 - Environment, Sustainability and Policy Capstone Seminar

Electives (4 courses totaling 12 credit hours)

Electives (4 courses, two of which are environmental sciences courses and two of which are environmental studies or humanities courses, totaling 12 credit hours).