The environmental biology major provides a broad background in biology with a focus on how organisms interact with environments.

1. Seven departmental units:
   1. One organismal biology course chosen from Biology 110, 111, 121, 152, 172, or 208.
   2. One experimental design and statistical analysis course: Biology 247.
   3. One molecular-to-cellular level course: Biology 289.
   4. One population-to-ecosystem level biology course chosen from 210, 217, 275 (in consultation with advisor, when topic is appropriate), 365, 372, or 375 (in consultation with advisor, when topic is appropriate).
   5. Two additional units of biology courses numbered 200 or above.
   6. Capstone: one additional unit of biology with the CP designation.
2. Four supporting units:
   1. One unit chosen from Chemistry 117, 150, 220, or 230.
   2. One additional unit chosen from courses in chemistry, computer science, geology, mathematics, or physics.
   3. Two additional units with the Environmental Studies prefix (ENVS), Journalism 225 (when topic is environmental writing), or Political Science 255.
3. Students majoring in environmental biology may choose to receive the Bachelor of Science degree rather than the Bachelor of Arts degree by completing a minimum of 4 units in chemistry, computer science, geology, mathematics, and/or physics.

1. Six units from this list, with at least 1 unit from each of four of the five branches of chemistry. Chemistry 117 may be used as 1 of these 6 units.
   1. Analytical Chemistry: 220, 225
   2. Organic Chemistry: 230, 235
   3. Physical Chemistry: 240, 245
   4. Inorganic Chemistry: 150, 250
   5. Biochemistry: 260, 300
2. Seven supporting units:
   1. Mathematics 110, 113, or 115
   2. Physics 101 or 102
   3. Biology 110, 111, 121, 152, 172, or 208
   4. Geology 100 or 110
   5. Three additional units from economics, environmental studies, interdisciplinary studies, or political science, approved by petition to the department chair.
3. In preparation for graduate study or employment in environmental science, additional science, mathematics, and social science courses and at least one summer or semester of experience in an environmental internship or program are strongly recommended.
4. Students majoring in environmental chemistry may choose to receive the Bachelor of Science degree rather than the Bachelor of Arts degree by completing a minimum of 4 units in biology, computer science, geology, mathematics, and/or physics.

1. Environmental communication and arts (2)
   1. One unit from “history and theory”: Art History 245; English 190; History 150; Anthropology/Museum Studies 247.
   2. One unit from “practice”: Art 103, 115, 117, 125, 150, 325; Environmental Studies 287/Spanish 282; Journalism /Media Studies 125; Museum Studies 145; Performing and Applied Arts 106, 112, 114; Theatre and Dance 106, 112, 114; Writing 100.
2. Environmental justice and citizenship (2): Two units chosen from Anthropology 100; Economics 199; Political Science 110, 130, 160, 180.
3. Environmental sciences (2): Two units chosen from Biology 111, 121, 152, 172, 208, 217; Chemistry 117, 150, 220; Geology 100, 110, 235, 240.
4. Four units from environmental core courses, chosen in consultation with the advisor: Anthropology 219; Economics/Environmental Studies 205; Environmental Studies 258, 280-284, 286; History/Environmental Studies 237; Journalism 225 (when topic is environmental writing); Media Studies 105; Media Studies 350/Environmental Studies 260; Philosophy/Environmental Studies 224; Political Science/Environmental Studies 210, 246, 255, 257. An appropriate internship or a course taken as part of domestic off-campus or study abroad may fulfill up to 1 unit of the “core” study.
5. Two concentration courses (2): An appropriate internship or a course taken as part of domestic off-campus or study abroad may fulfill up to 1 unit of the “concentration” study, in consultation with the student’s advisor.
   1. One unit from Studio Art 200, 205, 210, 215, 280, 325; English 205; Interdisciplinary Studies 222; Performing and Applied Arts 280, 351; Theatre and Dance 242, 342, 351.
   2. One 200-level or higher communications and arts course. May include Environmental Studies 290-294; environmental studies in a foreign language, including French 215, Japanese 280, and Environmental Studies 287/Spanish 282; or a course chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.
6. Environmental Studies 380 (.5).
7. Writing/communication requirement: Writing in environmental studies incorporates the multiple traditions that inform the examination of human/environment interactions. Students are exposed to a variety of writing styles in the natural science, social science, humanities, and interdisciplinary courses required for the major. The capstone course, Environmental Studies 380, provides opportunities for students to explore writing and speaking in ways that communicate to diverse audiences about environmental issues.

The interdisciplinary environmental geology major provides an understanding of how soil, water, and mineral resources form and involves the practical application of geologic principles to environmental problem solving.

1. Five and one-half departmental units:
   1. Geology 100 or 110, 200, 215, and 385 (.5).
   2. Two from Geology 230, 235, 240.
2. Supporting courses (7 units):
   1. Two from Biology 121, 152; Geology 105, 205, 220, 230, 235, 240, 245 and 251 (as appropriate).
   2. One from Chemistry 117, 220, 230, 240, 245, 250 or Physics 101, 102.
   3. One from Biology 247, Mathematics 110 or 115.
   4. Three from appropriate courses in environmental studies, economics, and political science; such courses must be chosen in consultation with the major advisor.
3. Thesis.
4. Strongly recommended:
   1. Proficiency in a spoken foreign language.
   2. Summer internship or field-intensive program incorporating aspects of environmental geology.
5. In preparation for graduate study and professional work in environmental geology, and in consultation with the major advisor, students should elect additional courses in geology and mathematics. In addition, and depending on interests, students should elect additional courses in biology, chemistry, computer science, physics, and public policy.
6. Writing/communication requirement: The department of geology strives to develop the communication skills of our students. We recognize that complete understanding of any discipline requires the ability to express that understanding in both oral and written form. Geology is a highly visual science; consequently, we also train students to design effective illustrations and figures to convey complex information.
   1. Our majors learn the skills necessary to compose oral presentations, which are typically accompanied by high-quality slides or computer-generated illustrations; in addition, they learn to write papers using conventions appropriate to geologic inquiry. Many students employ these skills to communicate research findings at professional conferences in the form of oral or poster presentations.
   2. All 200- and 300-level courses include assignments fashioned to help students communicate professionally through oral presentations and written reports. Such skills are cultivated to a significant degree in our W courses:
      • 230: Sedimentology
      • 235: Geomorphology
      • 325: Tectonics
   3. Our thesis requirement is designed to develop disciplinary expertise in communication. The following course supports the thesis requirement and is designated W: Geology 385-Thesis Research.

7. Students majoring in environmental geology may choose to receive the Bachelor of Science degree rather than the Bachelor of Arts degree by completing a minimum of 4 units in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and/or physics.

1. Environmental communication and arts (2)
   
   1. One unit from “history and theory”: Art History 245; English 190; History 150; Anthropology/Museum Studies 247.
   2. One unit from “practice”: Art 103, 115, 117, 125, 150, 325; Journalism/Media Studies125; Museum Studies 145; Performing and Applied Arts 106, 112, 114; Spanish 282/Environmental Studies 287; Theatre and Dance 106, 112, 114; Writing 100.
2. Environmental justice and citizenship (2): Two units chosen from Anthropology 100; Economics 199; Political Science 110, 130, 160, 180.
3. Environmental sciences (2): Two units chosen from Biology 111, 121, 152, 172, 208, 217; Chemistry 117, 150, 220; Geology 100, 110, 235, 240.
4. Four units from environmental core courses, chosen in consultation with the advisor: Anthropology 219; Economics/Environmental Studies 205; Environmental Studies 258, 280-284, 286; History/Environmental Studies 237; Journalism 225 (when topic is environmental writing); Philosophy/Environmental Studies 224; Political Science/Environmental Studies 210, 246, 255, 257. An appropriate internship or a course taken as part of domestic off-campus or study abroad may fulfill up to 1 unit of the “core” study.
5. Two concentration courses: An appropriate internship or a course taken as part of domestic off-campus or study abroad may fulfill up to 1 unit of the “concentration” study, in consultation with the student’s advisor.
   
   1. One unit from statistics: Anthropology 240; Biology 247; Economics 251; Health and Society/Political Science 201; Mathematics 106; Sociology 205.
   2. One 200-level or higher justice and citizenship course. May include Environmental Studies 290-294; environmental studies in a foreign language, including French 215, Japanese 280, and Environmental Studies 287/Spanish 282; or a course chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.
6. Environmental Studies 380 (.5).
7. Writing/communication requirement: Writing in environmental studies incorporates the multiple traditions that inform the examination of human/environment interactions. Students are exposed to a variety of writing styles in the natural science, social science, humanities, and interdisciplinary courses required for the major. The capstone course, Environmental Studies 380, provides opportunities for students to explore writing and speaking in ways that communicate to diverse audiences about environmental issues.

1. One unit of introductory economics or political science from Economics 199; Political Science 110, 130, 160, 180.
2. One unit of introductory natural science from Biology 111, 121, 152, 172, 208; Chemistry 117, 150; Geology 100, 110.
3. Four units of environmentally related courses from Anthropology 219; Economics/Environmental Studies 205; Environmental Studies 258, 280, 380; History/Environmental Studies 237; Journalism 225 (when topic is environmental writing); Philosophy/Environmental Studies 224; Political Science 255/Environmental Studies 256; Political Science/Environmental Studies 257; or up to 1 unit of internship or research experience chosen in consultation with an environmental studies advisor.

Environmental Sciences is the study of how natural systems function and how human activities influence these systems, using insights from a range of scientific disciplines such as biology, geology, and chemistry. By examining global issues like pollution, climate change, and resource depletion, the field prepares individuals to solve complex environmental problems. This discipline is ideal for those passionate about protecting the planet or promoting sustainability through a rigorous scientific approach.

Beloit College offers three relevant majors as part of its Environmental Studies offerings:

• Environmental Biology
• Environmental Chemistry
• Environmental Geology

The two interdisciplinary environmental studies majors include introductory courses in the arts and humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences. Core environmental courses, selected for their appropriateness to the student’s interests and proclivities in humanistic or social­ scientific environmental study, introduce the interdisciplinary study of environmental issues. Concentration courses allow students to further deepen their knowledge and acquire skills necessary for the practice of “environmental communication and arts” or “environmental justice and citizenship.” Environmental Studies 380 (Senior Colloquium in Environmental Studies) provides an opportunity for students from both tracks to reflect together upon the diverse perspectives on environmental issues they have studied.

Experience Requirement: Students interested in environmental studies are strongly encouraged to fulfill their Experience requirement through an environmental studies-related internship, or with pre-approval, through supplemental environmental studies programs, such as Coe College’s Wilderness Field Station. The Experience requirement may also be fulfilled during an approved study abroad experience with pre-approval.

Study Abroad: With advance consultation with their major advisor, students majoring in environmental studies may fulfill major requirements while studying abroad. In addition to gaining international experiences, students are strongly encouraged to develop fluency in a second language.

Multiple Majors and Minors:

1. In the case of double-majors in environmental studies, ordinarily no more than 2 courses will be double-counted.
2. No course may be used to satisfy two separate requirements for the environmental studies major. Environmental studies majors may not also minor in environmental studies or major in any of the environmental sciences.