MEMORANDUM
TO:
CAS CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
FROM:
JACK C. HALL, CHAIR OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
RE:
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION OPTION FOR EVS BS
DEGREE
DATE:
9.8.09
DESCRIPTION:
The Department Environmental Studies propose a new BS degree option in
environmental conservation. The proposed option is a revised resubmission of a joint
conservation degree program from 2006-07. We have been working with Biology on
their and our resubmissions and they have approved our option and are aware of the extra
class enrollments in their courses. That proposal was approved by the CAS Curriculum
Committee but was not approved by the UCC. This proposed option is decoupled from
the degree option in conservation biology submitted by Biology. The total hours have
been decreased to be in line with our current BA and BS options. The Environmental
Conservation Option does not have any new courses so current faculty/facilities are
adequate to support the program. This option is intended to compliment our current BA
in Environmental Studies and BS-Biology option in Environmental Science along with
the newly proposed option in Environmental Biology. The EVS conservation option
combines both the “scientific” and “human dimensions” aspects of environmental studies
with an emphasis in terrestrial and freshwater conservation. This differs from the current
BS-Biology option in that it is more focused in conservation biology and includes more
human dimensions courses (law, economics, management, etc). It also differs from the
BA in that it requires considerably more science coursework again focused in terrestrial
and freshwater conservation. This degree option is designed for students who are
interested in management and both the scientific and human dimension aspects of
conservation, emphasizing broad aspects of economic, political, and management
concerns along with sufficient scientific background to be a competent manager. The
Environmental Conservation Option differs from the proposed Conservation Biology
Option in that the Conservation Biology Option is designed for students primarily
interested in the biological aspects of conservation science (e.g. general ecology and
assessment of threatened or endangered species and habitats).
JUSTIFICATION:
The proposal for a new Environmental Conservation Option is in response to several
factors. First, the desire of Environmental Studies and Biology and Marine Biology to
work together to provide an integrated curriculum in environmental science and biology.
Second, to address student demand for the program which has existed for over five years.
And third, to provide training for our students in a traditionally strong area of jobs in
environmental science. We constantly monitor the job market and are in constant contact
with our internship agencies (which employ a number of graduates) and both entities
indicate a strong job market for students with an emphasis in conservation.
Environmental Conservation Option: 47 hours in addition to the general core
hours. This degree provides training in both the scientific and human dimensions
aspects of environmental conservation. A student completing this program would
be prepared for positions in governmental agencies dealing with land/resource
management and in non-profit conservation organizations. Primary emphasis will
be placed on interdisciplinary planning and stewardship of protected areas derived
from understanding pertinent physical, biological and social processes. The
emphasis for this degree program is on terrestrial and freshwater conservation.
Option Core: 32 hours
BIO 202, 366; BIOL 366; BIO 466; ECN 221; EVS 281, 325 (ECN 325) or 330
(ECN 330), 360, 362 (BLA 362), 364, 495
Option Electives: 15 hours, of which 12 hours must be at the 300 level or higher,
from at least 2 areas.
BIO 311, 314, 356, 368, 430, 452, 456, 460, BIOL 460, 475, 478, 480, 482, 487;
CHM 365, 377, CHML 377, CHM 475, 478; EVS 325 or 330, 361, 430, 431, 462,
470, 472, 476, 477; GGY 220, 235, 270, 328 , 422, 424, 426, 435, 437, 473; GLY
220, 458; REC 366, STT 350.