Goucher College 2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalogue

Jul 08, 2025

Goucher College 2016-2017 Undergraduate Catalogue PLEASE NOTE: This is an archived catalog. Programs are subject to change each academic year.

Environmental Studies Major

Upon declaring the environmental studies major, students choose one of two concentrations: environmental science (ESCI) or environment and society (ESOC). Students complete all required courses within their chosen concentration as well as a set of required courses designed to cultivate breadth. All environmental studies students complete the environmental studies core curriculum consisting of introductory, mid-level, and capstone courses. At the introductory level, all students (majors and minors) take courses spanning the natural and social sciences. Introductory courses in environmental science and environmental studies are designed to introduce students to the biological, physical, and chemical science of environmental change, as well as the human dimensions (social/political/cultural/economic) of such change.

At the 200 level, all environmental studies majors complete the core courses ES 210 and ES 230 Political Ecology, which draws from and integrates a range of disciplines to help students master a set of key concepts and analytical methods fundamental to environmental studies. During their senior year, students actively integrate the approaches and methodologies they have practiced and experimented with at the 100 and 200 levels toward further research on particular problem, issue, or theme of their choosing, based on their research and future career interests. This integration starts in a methodology course in which students select an environmental issue and propose to address it, and the integration culminates in the capstone course in which students implement their research proposal. Completing an internship is encouraged, but not required.

All majors must complete the Environmental Studies core sequence, as follows:

Note:

Writing proficiency in the major is fulfilled in ES 230 Political Ecology.

Majors choose a concentration in either Environment and Society (ESOC) or Environmental Science (ESCI) and complete required courses and breadth requirements. Students must receive at least a C- in all courses taken toward the completion of the major or minor.

ESOC Concentration

Additional courses:

ES 219 - Qualitative Environmental Research (3 Cr.) or an authorized methodology course
Two additional 200-level ES courses
Two 300-level ES courses

Breadth for ESOC:

Choose one:

BIO 104 - Biological Diversity I: Kingdoms of Organisms (4 Cr.)
CHE 105 - The Environment and its Chemistry: Laboratory (1 Cr.) and CHE 106 - The Environment and its Chemistry (3 Cr.)
CHE 111 - Principles of Chemistry I (3 Cr.) and CHE 112 - Principles of Chemistry I: Laboratory (1 Cr.)

Choose one:

Note:

BIO 104 is prerequisite for ES 238 .

ESCI Concentration

Additional courses:

Choose Life Science or Physical Science focus:

Life Science:

Choose two 300-level courses:

Note:

Only one seminar course may be used to meet the 300-level credit requirement in the life sciences concentration. Laboratories for BIO 333 , BIO 343 , BIO 354 are strongly recommended but not required. Refer to Biology program listings for additional prerequisites for laboratories.

Physical Science:

Choose two 300-level courses:

Breadth for ESCI:

Choose one:

Qualifications Required to Graduate with Honors

Honors are decided by a vote of the program faculty just prior to Commencement using the following guidelines:

A student must achieve a grade point average of 3.5 or higher in all 200- and 300-level courses that count toward the major.

A student must demonstrate a superior grasp of environmental studies skills and theories as well as their applications by completing either an academic thesis or a theoretical grounded body of analytical work that includes substantial written documentation.

Concentration in Prelaw Studies

Students interested in pursuing a legal career are encouraged to complete the prelaw concentration in conjunction with the requirements of the major (ESOC or ESCI). The prelaw concentration requires students to take courses outside of their major to expose them to methodologies and critical approaches not inherent to their own discipline but necessary for academic success in law school. A complete description can be found under Prelaw Studies.