Environmental Studies Requirements

The Environmental Studies Department offers interdisciplinary majors in environmental policy, environmental science, and environmental computation as well as a minor that can be elected by majors in any discipline

The Environmental Studies Department at Colby was founded in 1971 and has received national recognition for its innovative, research-based curriculum that engages students with complex environmental issues at Colby, in Maine, and around the world. The program encourages and supports student environmental initiatives and activism. Examples of student-led environmental initiatives include establishing an organic gardening club, organizing activities to reduce carbon emissions on campus, developing a climate change action plan in the local community, organizing climate strikes, and raising awareness about the dangers of using hazardous chemicals at the state and federal levels. Resources are available to support student internships, research experiences, and initiatives. A majority of students study abroad.

We are committed to a curriculum that engages students in learning about environmental justice and environmental racism, as well as listening, responding to, and amplifying perspectives from vulnerable and marginalized communities. We greatly value diversity among our community, and we are committed to strengthening diversity in environmental studies.

A strategic partnership between Colby and the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences has expanded educational and research opportunities in marine sciences for students. The partnership includes a semester of study in residence at Bigelow, on-campus courses taught by Bigelow research scientists, student research opportunities, and curricular innovations that combine scientific research with economic and social policy analysis.

The Environmental Studies Department curriculum emphasizes inquiry-based learning and original research. Each major provides a broad-based course of study that combines interdisciplinary breadth and focus-area depth to prepare graduates to understand and to address complex environmental challenges. Each major is flexible and enables students to pursue their individual academic goals and interests. The interdisciplinary nature of our curriculum is enhanced by close ties to many departments and programs in the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and other interdisciplinary programs. Our curriculum benefits from our Maine location, including access to diverse natural areas and unique access to government, research, nonprofit, and business institutions. Our graduates are prepared to take leadership positions in businesses, nonprofits, consulting firms, educational institutions, and government agencies. Many of our graduates complete postgraduate or professional study in environmental sciences/studies/management, ecology, limnology, international development, law, marine science and oceanography, medicine, natural resource conservation and management, planning, public health, public policy, and other related areas.

A student may elect only one of the majors offered by the Environmental Studies Department. A student cannot elect both the chemistry: environmental science concentration and an environmental science major with an environmental chemistry focus.

Chair, Associate Professor Justin Becknell

Program Faculty and Staff: Professors Whitney King (Chemistry) and Philip Nyhus, Associate Professors Justin Becknell, Denise Bruesewitz, and Karena McKinney (Chemistry); Assistant Professors Alison Bates, Gail Carlson, Caitlin Cleaver, and Aleja Ortiz; Visiting Assistant Professors Amanda Gallinat; Laboratory Instructor II Abby Pearson; Program Coordinator Lindsey Cotter; Research Scientist Manuel Gimond

Affiliated Faculty and Staff: Professors Catherine Bevier (Biology), Michael Donihue (Economics), Mary Ellis Gibson (English), Mary Beth Mills (Anthropology), Tanya Sheehan (Art), and Hong Zhang (East Asian Studies); Associate Professors Bess Koffman (Geology), Keith Peterson (Philosophy) and Matthew Schneider-Mayerson (English); Assistant Professors Allison Barner (Biology), Greg Drozd (Chemistry), Benjamin D. Lisle (American Studies), Jennifer Meredith (Economics), Chris Moore (Biology), and Chris Walker (English); Senior Lab Instructor in Biology Sarah Gibbs Staffiere (Biology); Bigelow Senior Scientists Pete Countway, David Emerson, Nichole Price, Doug Rasher, and Benjamin Twining

The Environmental Studies Department adopted new requirements for the environmental policy and environmental science majors in spring 2023. Students who declared the major prior to this may continue with the previous major structure, as outlined on the Environmental Studies website, or adopt the new structure. 

The interdisciplinary environmental policy major provides a broad exploration of the many facets of environmental challenges, with an extensive introduction to the study of U.S. and international environmental policy. Students combine a foundation course in environmental studies with core courses in environmental economics, U.S. environmental policy and law, international environmental policy and politics, statistics, and ecology. Diverse electives allow students to explore topics such as conservation, climate change adaptation, energy, environmental justice, marine and freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems, public health, and the environmental humanities. The senior capstone course provides a hands-on approach to environmental policy research.

No requirement for the major may be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory. AP credit can fulfill core course requirements based on exam performance and coverage. Courses not listed below, such as those offered by some off-campus study programs, may count toward the major pending prior approval by the department chair. Up to two courses may be counted toward the major from approved semester-long off-campus study programs (one environmental science course and one elective, or two electives).

The interdisciplinary environmental science major includes foundation courses and core courses in environmental studies, biology and ecology, chemistry, and mathematics. Students gain interdisciplinary understanding in two courses that cover the human dimensions of environmental challenges, including environmental policy, economics, and environmental humanities. Environmental science majors may work with their advisor to develop a thematic framework for their upper-level elective courses (e.g. forest ecosystems, marine ecosystems, freshwater ecosystems, biodiversity, conservation, climate change). See the Environmental Studies Department website for details on suggested courses for themes. Students are welcome to develop thematic pathways unique to their interests. The senior capstone course provides a hands-on approach to environmental science research in local freshwater, marine, or terrestrial ecosystems.

No requirement for the major may be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory. AP credit can fulfill core course requirements based on exam performance and coverage. Courses not listed below, such as those offered by some off-campus study programs, may count toward the major pending prior approval by the department chair. Up to two courses may be counted toward the major from approved semester-long off-campus study programs (one Human Dimensions course and one elective, or two electives).

Foundation Courses:

• ES118 Environment and Society or ES126 Environmental Activism
• BI163 Cellular Basis of Life
• BI164 Evolution and Diversity
• BI271 Ecology
• CH121 Earth Systems Chemistry I or CH141 General Chemistry I (or CH147 Comprehensive General Chemistry)
• CH122 Earth Systems Chemistry II or CH142 General Chemistry II
• MA120 or higher Calculus

Analytical Tools and Methods

• SC212 Introduction to Statistics and Data Science
• One additional course that focus on quantitative methods or an analytical tool such as GIS 

• • ES212 Introduction to GIS & Remote Sensing; ES214 Introduction to GIS & Spatial Analysis; ES218 Exploratory Data Analysis in R; ES235 EnviroComputation; CS151 Computational Thinking: Visual Media or CS152 Computational Thinking: Science; BI382 Population Modeling; SC306 Topics in Epidemiology; SC321 Statistical Modeling; SC326 Statistical Graphics and Principles of Visualization

Human Dimensions

• Select two courses with a focus on environmental policy, environmental economics, or environmental humanities, 200 level or higher 

• • ES233 Environmental Policy; ES234 International Environmental Policy; ES238 Renewable Energy Systems;ES242 Marine Conservation and Policy; ES265 Global Public Health; ES325 Environmental Justice; ES344 Marine Fisheries Management; ES345 Offshore Energy; ES364 Climate Change, Justice & Health; ES366 Pollution and Human Health; ES368 Global Climate Policy; EC231 Environmental & Natural Resource Economics; EN283 Stories of Crisis and Resilience; EN357 Literature and Environment; other 200-level or higher Environmental Humanities courses*; approved off-campus study course

    *The environmental humanities course list is maintained by the Environmental Humanities Initiative

Electives

• Four environmental science courses that are 200 level or higher

• At least one must be 300 level
• At least one must have a laboratory component
• Two must be ES courses. Others may be environmental science courses from other departments (i.e. Biology, Chemistry, Geology), off-campus study, or Bigelow Semester program courses

Culminating Experiences

• Research Capstone ES494 Environmental Science Research Experience or Bigelow Semester Independent Research
• ES401/402 Colloquium (one credit across the year; engagement with ES seminar series)

The interdisciplinary major in environmental computation provides an introduction to environmental studies as a discipline as well as training in computational techniques used in environmental policy and science. Students become familiar with quantitative tools used to investigate environmental problems. The major is designed to provide students with proficiency in computational thinking, the analysis and understanding of environmental systems, challenges, and solutions, and in the design and implementation of algorithms for modeling and analysis. Students gain experience applying computational thinking and statistical methods to a diverse spectrum of topics in environmental studies and are introduced to the complexity of coupled human and natural systems and diverse computational methods. Diverse electives allow students to explore environmental topics in depth, including agriculture and food, conservation science, energy and climate, environmental humanities, marine and freshwater conservation, and public health.

Students interested in this major are encouraged to take Environmental Studies 118 (spring) in their first year, Computer Science 151 or 152 or 153, and 231 (fall or spring), and 251 or 252 (spring) in their first year, and one or more Environmental Studies electives in their second year. No requirement for the major may be taken satisfactory/unsatisfactory. Advanced Placement credits can fulfill core course requirements based on exam performance and coverage. Exemption from Environmental Studies 118 is granted with an AP test score of 4 or 5, allowing advanced placement into other courses. Courses not listed below, such as those offered by some off-campus study programs, may count toward the major pending approval of the department chair. Up to two courses may be counted toward the major from approved off-campus study programs. Courses counted in one section cannot also be counted in another section (e.g., a 200-level Environmental Studies courses used as a Foundational Course cannot also be counted as an Application Course).

Students should consult with the Environmental Studies Department director or their Computer Science advisor when planning their course of study, including capstone experience.

I. Required Foundational Courses (four courses)

Computer Science

• 151 Computational Thinking: Visual Media or
• 152 Computational Thinking: Science (recommended) or
• 153 Computational Thinking: Smart Systems and
• 231 Data Structures and Algorithms

• 118 Environment and Society and
• One 200-level course (e.g., 233, 234, 242, 244, 265, 271, 276, 283)

• 321 Software Engineering
• 251 Data Analysis and Visualization or 252 Mathematical Data Analysis and Visualization and one from the following: 
• 330 Database Design, Development, and Deployment
• 341 Systems Biology or
• 343 Neural Networks or
• 346 Modeling and Simulation or
• 365 Computer Vision
• or other course approved by advisor

• 212 Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing or
• 214 Introduction to GIS and Spatial Analysis

• Statistics 212 Introduction to Statistical Methods or
• Mathematics, any four-credit calculus class numbered MA 160 or above

• Statistics
  • 321 Statistical Modeling
• Mathematics
  • 253 Linear Algebra
  • 262 Vector Calculus
  • 311 Ordinary Differential Equations
  • 332 Numerical Analysis

• 401, 402 Environmental Studies Colloquium (one credit for the year)

• Computer Science 4xx or
• Environmental Studies 493 Environmental Policy Practicum or
• Environmental Studies 494 Research Experience in Environmental Science

Environmental Studies majors with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.7 at the end of the January Term of the junior year or with special program approval are eligible to apply for the Environmental Studies Honors Research Program. Interested students should contact a faculty sponsor during the spring semester of the junior year to discuss a project. Students who are studying abroad in the spring should try to make initial contact with a potential sponsor in the spring via email but may complete their proposal in the fall at the beginning of the academic year. If the faculty sponsor and the department chair approve a proposed project, students will register for ES483 (Honors Project) in the fall semester and Jan Plan. During the fall, students must write a thesis proposal, have it approved by the Environmental Studies faculty, and make progress on their research. Students approved by the Environmental Studies Department will continue their research during the spring semester in Environmental Studies 484 (Honors Project). A maximum of eight credits for honors research is allowed for the entire year. Additional details are provided on the Environmental Studies Department website.

Students enrolled in Environmental Studies 493 or 494 may petition the program to expand their independent study for these courses into an honors project to be conducted in January and the spring semester.

Successful completion of the honors program will include an approved thesis, an oral presentation at the Colby Liberal Arts Symposium, a successful thesis defense, and the completion of the required coursework for the major. Students fulfilling these requirements will graduate with “Honors in Environmental Studies.” In cases where requirements for honors have not been fulfilled at the end of the spring semester, Environmental Studies 483 and 484 (Honors Research) will revert to a graded Environmental Studies 491/291/492 (Independent Study).

• ES118
• Four ES courses at the 200-300 level. At least one must be a 300-level course, and students may include one environmentally focused course from another department, program, or from an approved study-abroad program by petition to the ES minor advisor.