Politics-Environmental Studies students critically engage with the complex nature of power in the world that we live especially as it relates to environmental institutions, ideas, and values. Students also explore how power plays a role in the ability of a society to make the essential decisions that affect our lives and the environment in ways both large and small.
Total credit requirements for a Politics-Environmental Studies major: 57 (32 credits in Politics and 25 in required coursework for all Environmental Studies majors)
Common Requirements for all Environmental Studies Majors
- Required Courses
- Introductory Coursework: Environmental Studies 120 and 207
- Foundation Coursework: Fulfill the following requirements for the two areas outside of your area of concentration (arts and humanities, natural and physical sciences, or social sciences).
- Environmental Arts and Humanities: Take two elective courses from the list below.
- Environmental Natural and Physical Sciences: Take 7 credits in elective courses from the list below. Credits must come from at least two departments, and include at least one course with a lab.
- Environmental Social Sciences: Take two elective courses from the list below.
- Interdisciplinary Coursework: Take one interdisciplinary elective from the list below.
- Senior Coursework: Environmental Studies 479
- Additional Requirements
- Fulfill all of the requirements for a major in a specific area of concentration, chosen from:
- Environmental Arts and Humanities: Art-Environmental Studies or Environmental Humanities
- Environmental Natural and Physical Sciences: Biology-Environmental Studies, Chemistry-Environmental Studies, Geology-Environmental Studies, or Physics-Environmental Studies
- Environmental Social Sciences: Anthropology-Environmental Studies, Economics-Environmental Studies, History-Environmental Studies, Politics-Environmental Studies, or Sociology-Environmental Studies
- Fulfill all of the requirements for a major in a specific area of concentration, chosen from:
- Senior Requirements
- Environmental Studies 479
- Further requirements as specified by the chosen major
- Honors
- Specified within each major
- Notes
- Up to 8 transfer credits may be applied to a major in Environmental Studies.
- No courses taken P-D-F can be applied toward the major.
Requirements for Politics-Environmental Studies Majors
- Complete the Common Requirements for all Environmental Studies Majors (25 Credits)
- Required Politics Courses
- Introductory Politics: one course chosen from Politics 119, 124, 228, or 287
- Political Economy: one course chosen from Economics 100 or Politics 363
- Global Politics: one course chosen from Politics 120, 147, 232, 331, or 335
- Other courses may be substituted with the approval of Environmental Politics faculty.
- Twelve additional credits in Politics electives, including at least 8 credits at the 300- or 400-level
- Politics 490, 497, or 498
- Additional Required Courses
- Environmental Studies 488 or 498
- Senior Requirements
- Politics 490, 497, or 498
- Environmental Studies 488 or 498
- C- or above on thesis
- One-hour oral thesis defense
- Honors
- Students do not apply for admission to candidacy for honors.
- Accumulated at least 87 credits
- Completed two semesters of residency at Whitman
- Major GPA of at least 3.500
- Complete a written thesis or research project prepared exclusively for the satisfaction of this program.
- Earn a grade of at least A- on the honors thesis or project and the honors thesis course.
- Pass the senior assessment with distinction.
- The department will notify students attaining honors and submit the “Senior Assessment/Major Study Certificate” to the Registrar’s Office no later than Reading Day.
- An acceptable digital copy of the honors thesis must be submitted to Penrose Library no later than Reading Day.
- Notes
- No more than eight credits earned in off-campus programs, transfer credits, and/or credits from cross-listed courses. These may be applied at the 100- and 200-level.
- No P-D-F courses.
Total Credits
57