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, which includes courses with a focus in outdoor skills, leadership, and recreation.
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.
B. A. Environmental Studies with Environmental Studies Emphasis
This emphasis represents a deeper concentration in Environmental Studies.
| 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 | 9 |
| Environmental Processes and Spatial Analysis | 6 |
| Breadth Requirements | 15 |
| Electives | 40-41 |
| 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 | ||
| Environmental Careers Seminar | ||
| Research in Environmental Science | ||
| Outdoor Studies Expedition II: Major Expedition | ||
| Or advisor approved course | ||
| Interdisciplinary and Field Courses | ||
| Select six to seven credits of the following: | 6-7 | |
| Indigenous Sciences and Ways of Knowing: Selected Topics | ||
| Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Climate Change | ||
| Field Studies in Environmental Science | ||
| Salmon, Sport, and Society | ||
| Mountain Studies: Philosophy, Literature, and Practice | ||
| Ocean Studies: Images of the Environment | ||
| Or other advisor approved courses | ||
| Human Environment | ||
| Select 9 credits of the following: | 9 | |
| Subsistence in Alaska | ||
| Humans and the Environment | ||
| Literature and the Environment | ||
| Sustainable Resource Management | ||
| Alaska: A Contested Geography | ||
| Perspectives on the Natural World | ||
| Environmental Psychology | ||
| Or other advisor approved courses | ||
| Environmental Processes and Spatial Analysis | ||
| Select 6 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 | ||
| Breadth Requirements | ||
| Select 15 credits of the following: | 15 | |
| *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 | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Aquatic Pollution | ||
| Environmental Chemistry | ||
| Natural Resource/ Environmental Economics | ||
| Indigenous Literatures | ||
| Glaciology | ||
| Remote Sensing | ||
| Snow Hydrology | ||
| Advanced Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Biogeochemistry | ||
| Biogeography and Landscape Ecology | ||
| Earth's Climate System | ||
| *Physical Geology | ||
| Geomorphology | ||
| Sport, Leisure, and Culture | ||
| Mathematical Modeling | ||
| Comparative Environmental Politics | ||
| Alaska Government and Politics | ||
| Ecopsychology | ||
| 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 | ||
| Electives 2 | 40-41 | |
- 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
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.
B. A. Environmental Studies with 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.
| Minimum Credit Hours | 120 |
| General Education Requirements | 34 |
| Alaska Native Knowledge Graduation Requirement | 3 |
| Program on the Environment Core | 10-11 |
| Interdisciplinary and Field Courses | 7-8 |
| Human Environment | 6 |
| ODS Emphasis Requirements | 13-14 |
| Breadth Requirements | 9 |
| ODS Skills | 10 |
| Electives | 28-31 |
| 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 |
| Capstone Experience: | ||
| ODS S445 | Outdoor Studies Expedition II: Major Expedition | 3-4 |
| Interdisciplinary and Field Courses | ||
| Select seven to eight credits of the following | 7-8 | |
| Salmon, Sport, and Society | ||
| Mountain Studies: Philosophy, Literature, and Practice | ||
| Ocean Studies: Images of the Environment | ||
Or other advisor approved courses | ||
| Human Environment | ||
| Select 6 credits of the following: | 6 | |
| Literature and the Environment | ||
| Perspectives on the Natural World | ||
| ODS Emphasis Requirements | ||
| ODS S120 | Wilderness First Responder | 4 |
| ODS S243 | Outdoor Studies and Leadership | 3 |
| ODS S245 | Outdoor Studies Expedition I | 3,4 |
| HUM S370 | Sport, Leisure, and Culture | 3 |
| Breadth Requirements | ||
| Select 9 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 | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Conservation Biology | ||
| Aquatic Pollution | ||
| Environmental Chemistry | ||
| Natural Resource/ Environmental Economics | ||
| Indigenous Literatures | ||
| Glaciology | ||
| Remote Sensing | ||
| Snow Hydrology | ||
| Advanced Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Biogeochemistry | ||
| Biogeography and Landscape Ecology | ||
| Earth's Climate System | ||
| *Physical Geology | ||
| Geomorphology | ||
| Mathematical Modeling | ||
| Comparative Environmental Politics | ||
| Alaska Government and Politics | ||
| Ecopsychology | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 2 | ||
| Other approved ODS skills courses | ||
| Electives 3 | 28-31 | |
- 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
May be repeated for up to 3 credits
- 3
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.
Upon completion, students will be able to:
- Describe the fundamental components and interactions of Earth systems, environments, and social systems, including an understanding of their relevance to Southeast Alaska.
- Use research techniques to investigate Earth systems and environmental problems.
- Use diverse written and oral communication skills to effectively communicate environmental issues.