Environmental Studies Minor

The Environmental Studies Minor prepares students to understand and respond to the critical environmental challenges of the twenty-first century. With only one earth, whose resources are rapidly being exhausted by an ever-increasing population’s consumption, the vocation of the “good man and good citizen” is to come to a critical understanding of the environmental issues involved and to envision strategic responses of sustainability and trusteeship. Consistent with the interdisciplinary character of Hampden-Sydney College’s liberal arts tradition, the minor draws perspectives on the environment from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The minor requires students to complete coursework in each division so that they can appreciate the multi-dimensional character of the environment as viewed through scientific, political and economic, literary, and ethical and religious lenses. The minor is coordinated by a steering committee from disciplines which mirror these diverse perspectives. Students with a particular interest in environmental studies may elect to follow, in addition to the regular academic major, a coherent pattern of courses oriented to the environment. Students are introduced to both the scientific and the humanistic dimensions of environmental issues. They may also take part in optional extracurricular programs and internships. Students interested in the minor should consult the coordinator, Dr. Rachel Goodman.

There are six required courses for the environmental studies minor (many also fill Core requirements): 

1. One of the following courses:
   1.  BIOL 108 Environmental Biology
   2.  CHEM 108 Chemistry of the Environment
   3.  PHYS 107 Energy and the Environment
2. One additional course in the Natural Sciences:
   1.  any of the three courses listed in (A)
   2.  BIOL 109 Water Resources & Environmental Issues
   3.  BIOL 271 Intro Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
   4.  BIOL 349 Wildlife Biology
   5.  CHEM 105 Toxic Chemicals in Society
   6.  PHYS 108 Meteorology
3. One approved course in the Social Sciences:
   1.  ECON 212 Environmental Economics
   2.  GVFA 234 Environmental Politics Policy
   3.  HIST 264 History of Hunting & Fishing in America
   4.  additional approved HIST courses in environment/conservation (for example, HIST 299 History of American Conservation & Game Management)
4. One approved course in the Humanities::
   1.  ENGL 198 Sea Stories
   2.  ENGL 199 American Nature Writing
   3.  RELI 225 Christian Ethics
   4.  approved RHET courses in environment/conservation (for example, RHET 370 Rhetoric of the Environment)
5. One additional course from (C) or (D)
6. For seniors only, spring semester before graduation:
   1. INDS 372 Capstone for Environmental Studies Seniors (research project of student’s choice)