University of Cincinnati
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Environmental problems are complex, requiring expertise rooted in the traditional areas of natural and social sciences. Creative and sustainable approaches to real-world issues of climate change, environmental justice, essential resource depletion, population growth, public health, and hunger, depend on our ability to understand the interactive components of natural, built, and social environments. The goal of our environmental studies curriculum is to produce professionals who can do just that. EVST graduates will have a strong foundation in key areas, but will also "speak the language" of the multiple disciplines involved in environmental problem solving.

In the Environmental Studies BS degree program, students are broadly prepared across disciplines, but are also required to focus and specialize through the selection of a minor. The curriculum incorporates experiential and service learning, collaborative problem solving, and meaningful interactions with environmental professionals. Academic credit is given for research, internships, and international travel experiences.

One of the popular misconceptions about Environmental Studies is that it is, essentially, a “science” program. While there are certainly many opportunities for students interested in the natural sciences to focus in that area, the substantial breadth of the program also allows majors to align with the humanities and social sciences.

"UC’s environmental engineering program is a bachelor’s degree program designed to be completed in five years. The environmental engineering program provides undergraduate students with the background necessary to bridge the gap between understanding challenging societal problems in the air, water, land, and subsurface environments, and preventing and solving them in a sustainable manner. The discipline of environmental engineering is in constant flux due to the manner in which human society and the economy have interacted with the natural environment since the industrial revolution. Students in our program are introduced to the tools of green engineering design as they are being developed on the cutting edge of sustainability research.

Upper-level coursework in environmental engineering includes analysis and design of water and waste water treatment systems, water resources, air pollution control technologies, solid waste and hazardous substance management and regulations, and sustainability."

Geography majors are encouraged to develop individualized programs within one of the three geography BA tracks in consultation with the geography undergraduate adviser. The Department of Geography offers the following tracks/specializations:

BA - Environmental and Physical Geography (15BA GEOG-E)
BA - Urban and Economic Geography (15BA GEOG-U)
BA - Human Geography (15BA GEOG-H)

Geography focuses on the spatial dimensions of human activities and their interactions with physical landscapes. The interrelationships between humans and their environments uniquely allow geographers to link the social and physical sciences. Geographers analyze information represented on maps-- maps representing data produced in the traditional form (computer generated or drawn by hand) or images generated by satellites (remote sensing).

Students in the environmental BS track will learn to critically analyze and communicate environmental information underlying reports and policy documents, as well as to design and implement scientific experiments addressing environmental questions.

Architecture and Interior Design: https://daap.uc.edu/academics/said/programs , Horticulture : https://daap.uc.edu/academics/sop/overview/bs-horticulture , Urban Planning: https://daap.uc.edu/academics/sop/overview/master-of-community-planning, Anthropology: https://www.artsci.uc.edu/departments/anthropology.html

Students admitted to the University of Cincinnati can declare Environmental Studies as their minor. There are two separate options for minoring in the EVST program. The environmental studies minor (EVST) is similar to the major, while the environmental policy and planning minor (EVAP) has a more select set of requirements.

In the first year, all minors need to take EVST 1011 [Fall] and EVST 1012 [Spring]. Completion of this introductory sequence is a prerequisite for other required and elective courses. EVST minors are then required to take EVST 2084C. EVAP minors, instead, take EVST 5101. Both minors have to take five EVST elective courses and one of the Advanced Topic Courses, EVST 4011, 4012, 4013, 4014, 4015, 4016, 4017, or 4050.

Requirements for the EVST Minor
Introductory Sequence [all required]
EVST 1011: Introduction to Environmental Studies I (NS/SE)

EVST 1012: Introduction to Environmental Studies II (NS)

EVST/BIOL 2084C: Ecology and Evolution

Five EVST electives [at least 3 from 3000-level & above]
Interdisciplinary Topics [pick 1, junior-senior year]
EVST 4011: Advanced Topic: Water

EVST 4012: Advanced Topic: Biodiversity

EVST 4013: Advanced Topic: Atmosphere and Climate

In the first year, all minors need to take EVST 1011 [Fall] and EVST 1012 [Spring]. Completion of this introductory sequence is a prerequisite for other required and elective courses. EVST minors are then required to take EVST 2084C. EVAP minors, instead, take EVST 5101. Both minors have to take five EVST elective courses and one of the Advanced Topic Courses, EVST 4011, 4012, 4013, 4014, 4015, 4016, 4017, or 4050.

Requirements for the EVST Minor
Introductory Sequence [all required]
EVST 1011: Introduction to Environmental Studies I (NS/SE)

EVST 1012: Introduction to Environmental Studies II (NS)

EVST/BIOL 2084C: Ecology and Evolution

Five EVST electives [at least 3 from 3000-level & above]
Interdisciplinary Topics [pick 1, junior-senior year]
EVST 4011: Advanced Topic: Water

EVST 4012: Advanced Topic: Biodiversity

EVST 4013: Advanced Topic: Atmosphere and Climate

EVST 4014: Advanced Topic: Urbanization

EVST 4015: Advanced Topic: Energy