Environmental Studies - Bachelor of Arts (31 Credits)
(31 credits plus 9 credits experiential learning. Students majoring in Environmental Studies must either minor in a related field or complete a second major.)
The interdisciplinary field of environmental studies explores the complex relationship between humans and the physical environment. This timely major allows students to gain a broad and deep understanding of our dependencies on the natural world, and the pressing environmental challenges facing us and future generations. Students complete a broad core of courses (31 credits) exploring the environment through the various lenses of Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Humanities, Policy, Business, Psychology, Health, and Fine Arts. Students are required to pair this major with a related minor or complete a second major, strengthening their ability to apply an environmental perspective to an outside field. Throughout the program, a systems-based perspective and active engagement in environmental issues are emphasized. Students will explore solutions to environmental problems by using scientific inquiry, promoting government action and collective effort, and realizing personal initiative. The combination of this set of perspectives and approaches will lead to a deep understanding of, and appreciation for, the complexity of human-environment interactions.
Learning Goals
- Articulate the interrelationships between the scientific, political, economic, social, and spiritual forces that connect individuals and societies to the Earth
- Conceptualize sustainable solutions for critical environmental issues (e.g. implement best practices for the continued survival of the Earth’s biosphere)
- Identify the social forces that impact the definitions of environmental problems and notions of risk, and use quantitative and qualitative data to create solutions and design policy proposals that address natural, social and intercultural challenges
- Draw connections between ethics, literature, writing, and art in describing the fundamental role of nature in human ecology, behavior and culture
- Demonstrate interdisciplinary competency by analyzing the intersectionality of environmental, ethical, and social justice issues through the lenses of science, business management and politics
Recommended paired majors/minors by career interests (these are suggestions only and not intended to be comprehensive)
- Teachers/Educators
- Early Childhood
- Elementary Education
- Community Activists, Aspiring Politicians and Non-Profit Organizers
- Political Science
- Communications
- Earth and Environmental Science
- Business
- Sociology
- Therapists, Social Workers, Advocates
- Entrepreneurs
- Journalists and Science Writers
- English
- History
- Environmental Science
- Naturalists
- Earth and Environmental Science
- Biology
- Forest Service, EPA and other Government Positions
- Earth and Environmental Science
- Biology
- Artists and Media Professionals
- Fine Arts programs through LA+D
Degree Requirements
NB: Education (Early Childhood, Elementary) majors are waived from 6 of the 9 research internship credits. Middle School Education majors would need to take Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in addition to the courses for the Environmental Studies major.
Students complete a total of 12 credits (4 courses) from sections II-III, two courses per section, and at least one course at the 3000 level or above.
I. Required Core (31 Credits):
Note: Students will be required to take CMATH 1522 Intro to Statistics to fulfill their math general education curriculum as it is a prerequisite for the capstone courses.
Choose FOUR:
Must be from at least 2 different prefixes
Note: Env Science and Ecology can serve as elective choices, depending which course is chosen in core above
Marine Studies Consortium
This consortium is an association of 13 Massachusetts higher education and research institutions. Marine Studies Consortium (MSC) courses offer unique learning opportunities in marine and aquatic sciences, environmental Policy, and environmental management. The courses are potential choices for Earth and Environmental Studies majors, as well as Education majors, The Biology of Fishes course, offered at the New England Aquarium, may be the only ichthyology course in the world where students use the resources of a major aquarium at every class meeting. Other courses, such as the Biology of Whales are offered nowhere else in New England at the undergraduate level. Courses, which include an additional consortium tuition fee, are held during the evenings on the campuses of our member institutions. MSC course descriptions can be found in the course descriptions section of this catalog. Students wishing to take MSC courses should contact David Morimoto, Department Chair, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, at 617.349.8226, or morimoto@lesley.edu. Full information about the MSC can be found at https://marinestudiesconsortium.org/courses.php.
II. Internship (9 Credits):
NOT required of Education Majors, or students who move from an education licensure program into an education minor.
Note: one internship can be substituted with mentored research with Lesley faculty with
permission from advisor.