UAS Academic CatalogEnvironmental Studies, B.A.
Juneau
The degree in Environmental Studies offers a broad interdisciplinary approach to considering the environment, preparing students for careers in management, policy, teaching, field-based research, regional planning, and the private sector. The B.A. develops a strong foundation for advanced studies in a wide range of academic disciplines. Students may concentrate in Environmental Studies, or choose to complete the emphasis in Outdoor Studies.
Admission Requirements
Students are admitted to the program after admission to UAS and declaring an Environmental Studies major. Students will be assigned an advisor in the Humanities, Social Science, or Natural Science department depending on their interests. Students should consult with their advisor for course selection and sequencing.
Candidates must complete all UAS General Education Requirements (GERs), the Alaska Native Knowledge Graduation Requirement, and the specific program requirements listed below for a minimum of 120 credit hours. Major requirements can be used to satisfy the Lab Science, Non-Lab Science, and Math GERs. 42 of the 120 credit hours must be at the upper-division level (300 or above), of which 24 must be completed at UAS.
Students should consult with an advisor and select courses that satisfy prerequisites required in this degree program.
| Minimum Credit Hours | 120 |
| General Education Requirements | 34 |
| Alaska Native Knowledge Graduation Requirement | 3 |
| Program on the Environment Core | 9 |
| Interdisciplinary and Field Courses | 6-7 |
| Human Environment | 6 |
| Breadth Requirements | 9 |
| Emphasis Requirement | 15-24 |
| Electives | 31-41 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Complete all General Education Requirements. | 34 | |
| Must include 3-4 credits of Alaska Native or other language (not English) 1 | ||
| Program on the Environment Core | ||
| ENVI S120 | *Cultures and Environments | 3 |
| ENVS S102 | *Earth and Environment | 4 |
| Select at least two credits of capstone experience: | 2 | |
| Environmental Science Internship | ||
| Research in Environmental Science | ||
| Research in Geography | ||
| Outdoor Studies Expedition II: Major Expedition 2 | ||
| Or advisor approved course | ||
| Interdisciplinary and Field Courses | ||
| Select six to seven credits of the following: | 6-7 | |
| AK Native Ecological Knowledge | ||
| Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Climate Change | ||
| Field Studies in Environmental Science | ||
| Salmon, Sport, and Society 3 | ||
| Mountain Studies: Philosophy, Literature, and Practice 3 | ||
| Ocean Studies: Images of the Environment 3 | ||
| Or other advisor approved courses | ||
| Human Environment | ||
| Select six credits of the following: | 6 | |
| Culture and Ecology | ||
| Literature and the Environment 4 | ||
| Sustainable Resource Management | ||
| Alaska: A Contested Geography | ||
| Perspectives on the Natural World 4 | ||
| Comparative Environmental Politics | ||
| Or other advisor approved courses | ||
| Breadth Requirements | ||
| Select nine credits of the following: | 9 | |
| *Beginning Tlingit I | ||
| *Beginning Tlingit II | ||
| *Beginning Haida I | ||
| *Beginning Haida II | ||
| *Beginning Tsimshian I | ||
| *Beginning Tsimshian II | ||
| *Introduction to Alaska Native Studies | ||
| Indigenous Oral Literature | ||
| Alaska Native Organizations and Economies | ||
| Introduction to Federal Indian Law | ||
| Indigenous Social Movements | ||
| ANCSA and Tribal Governance | ||
| Archaeology of Southeast Alaska | ||
| Arctic Anthropology | ||
| Anthropology of Globalization | ||
| Ethnohistory | ||
| Tlingit Culture and History | ||
| Alaska Native Economic and Political Development | ||
| Alaska Native Social Change | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Aquatic Pollution | ||
| Environmental Chemistry | ||
| Natural Resource/ Environmental Economics | ||
| Literature of Alaska: Native and Non-Native Perspectives | ||
| Native American Literature | ||
| Glaciology | ||
| Remote Sensing | ||
| Snow Hydrology | ||
| Advanced Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Biogeochemistry | ||
| Biogeography and Landscape Ecology | ||
| Earth's Climate System | ||
| *Local Places, Global Regions: Introduction to Geography | ||
| *Physical Geology | ||
| *Geological History of Life | ||
| Geomorphology | ||
| Sport, Leisure, and Culture 5 | ||
| Mathematical Modeling | ||
PS S313 | ||
| Sociology of Food | ||
| *Elementary Statistics | ||
Any course found under the Interdisciplinary and Field Courses, Human Environment, or Environmental Processes and Spatial Analysis headings in this degree | ||
Or other advisor approved courses | ||
| Emphasis Requirement | 15-24 | |
| Electives 6 | 31-41 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
Three to four credits in a single Alaska Native or other language. With departmental approval, students who study abroad in a language other than English, or who have a documented proficiency in a language (other than English), will be considered to have met their language requirement. Students will need to substitute additional credits to fulfill degree requirements.
- 2
Outdoor Studies Emphasis students should take ODS S445 as their capstone experience.
- 3
Outdoor Studies Emphasis students should meet the Interdisciplinary and Field Courses requirement by choosing between these courses.
- 4
Outdoor Studies Emphasis students should meet the Human Environment requirement by choosing between these courses.
- 5
This is a required course in the Outdoor Studies Emphasis and will not also count as a breadth requirement for students in this emphasis program.
- 6
To include upper division classes as needed (42 credit minimum). Classes should be selected in consultation with an advisor and students are encouraged to include a minor. No more than 6 credits from the major can be used toward a minor.
Environmental Studies Emphasis
This emphasis represents a deeper concentration in Environmental Studies.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Processes and Spatial Analysis | ||
| Select six credits of the following: | 6 | |
| Temperate Rainforest Ecosystems | ||
| Mobile GIS Technology and Applications | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | ||
| Natural Disasters | ||
| Hydrology | ||
| Mineral, Energy, and Renewable Resources | ||
| Or other advisor approved courses | ||
| Human Environment | ||
| Select three additional credits from the Human Environment section above | 3 | |
| Breadth Requirements | ||
| Select six additional credits from the Breadth Requirements section above | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Outdoor Studies Emphasis
In order to enroll in ODS designated courses, students must provide ODS application materials and be accepted into the Outdoor Studies Emphasis Program. Note the Outdoor Studies Emphasis majors have specific courses they should take in their major requirements, and should consult with their advisor for assistance.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ODS Emphasis Requirements | ||
| ODS S120 | Wilderness First Responder | 4 |
| ODS S243 | Outdoor Studies and Leadership | 4 |
| ODS S245 | Outdoor Studies Expedition I | 3,4 |
| HUM S370 | Sport, Leisure, and Culture | 3 |
| Outdoor Skills | ||
| Select ten credits of the following: | 10 | |
| Backpacking in Southeast Alaska | ||
| Winter Backpacking in Southeast Alaska | ||
| Introduction to Rock Climbing | ||
| Introduction to Ice Climbing | ||
| Avalanche Evaluation and Theory I | ||
| Introduction to Fly Fishing, Tying, and Casting | ||
| Introduction to Sea Kayaking | ||
| Introduction to Swiftwater Travel | ||
| Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding | ||
| Backcountry Navigation | ||
| Avalanche Evaluation and Theory Level II | ||
| Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue Fundamentals | ||
| Mountaineering I | ||
| Advanced Sea Kayaking 1 | ||
| Other approved ODS skills courses | ||
| Total Credits | 24-25 | |
- 1
May be repeated for up to 3 credits
1. Use qualitative and quantitative research techniques to gather and analyze data on social, cultural, and ecological problems.
2. Use clear written and oral communication skills to communicate the results of research.
3. Demonstrate connections between everyday life at the local scale and the larger economic, social and/or environmental forces that network them into a global community.
4. Evaluate cultural, social and environmental processes with a particular focus on space and place, critical theory, practical application, analysis and/or social justice.
5. Be able to integrate their understanding of outdoor leisure and recreation with their understanding of geography and environmental studies. As well, they will develop the ability to plan and execute significant multi-week expeditions.