By following the outlined course requirements, students fulfill 3 PEAKS. Students pursuing a major in Environmental Studies (ES) must complete the ES Core (56 credits) which is 15-17 credits in each of three PEAKs (47 credits), as well as 3 additional required courses (an interdisciplinary foundation course, an interdisciplinary capstone course, and a mathematics course, totaling 9 credits). Within each PEAK category of the ES major, students must complete a minimum of 6 credits of upper division courses (300 level or above). In addition, students pursuing a major in ES fulfill either a Focus or a complementary major offered through the Peak curriculum. For example, a student may choose either a Conservation Biology Focus within ES or a second major in Biology; similarly, a student may choose either the Literature Focus or a second major in a Literature in English. Students must complete the Professional PEAK, as well (either through choosing a major in that PEAK or by completing one of its PEAK Minors).
Credit requirements for the Environmental Studies major and each selected focus area:
Environmental Studies Core Courses
Providing a "bookend" experience to students of Environmental Studies, the first two of these required courses immerse students in the interdisciplinary thinking that both informs and structures the field. Students learn and practice what it means to think across - and through - traditional disciplines, and, in ENV-402, they work collaboratively toward an interdisciplinary project. The third course ensures that all major have preparation in dealing with data - an essential method toward understanding many challenges in the field.
Core Courses (9 credits)
Take the following courses:
| ENV-200 | Nature and Culture: Introduction to Environmental Studies | 3 credits |
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| or | |
| IND-305.1 | Winter Wilderness Experience | 2 credits |
| IND-305.2 | Winter Wilderness Experience | 4 credits |
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| | |
| ENV-402 | Senior Capstone | 3 credits |
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| | |
| MAT-125 | Data Analysis and Statistics | 3 credits |
-
| or | |
| MAT-212 | Multiple Regression Analysis | 3 credits |
HFA PEAK
Introducing students to the crucial role that literary history and philosophy have played in environmental studies, the tow required courses endure that students encounter the U.S. environmental-literary tradition and major movements in environmental philosophy. The other course options enable students to explore further the ways in which additional forms of cultural expression (including literature, philosophy, religion, and science) reflect, challenge, and participate in the formation and perpetuation of environmental values.
HFA PEAK (15 credits)
Take the following 2 required courses (6 credits):
| ENG-239 Visions of Environment 3 credits |
| PHI-340 Environmental Philosophy 3 credits |
Take three of the following with at least two them at the 300 level (9 credits):
| PHI-210 Human Nature & the Scientific Worldview 3 credits |
| REL-348 Religion and Science 3 credits |
| REL-349 Religion and Nature 3 credits |
| ENG-220 Regionalism and the British Isles 3 credits |
ENG-228 Closely Reading Poems 3 credits
|
| ENG-230 Literature and the American West 3 credits |
| ENG-231 Native American Fiction 3 credits |
| ENG-331 Gardens in American Literature 3 credits |
| ENG-335 The American Renaissance 3 credits |
| ENG-337 American Poetry and Poetics 3 credits |
| ENV-389/390* Reading the Mountains 5 credits |
| IND-305.1/305.2*Winter Wilderness Experience 6 credits |
| IND-307.1/307.2*London 5 credits |
*These courses are listed in multiple PEAK areas but can only be counted in one.
NSM PEAK
The two required courses introduce students to the basis for understanding the environment both on physical-science basis, from water chemistry to atmospheric flows, and on a biological-science basis, with a focus in ecology. Other course options help students explore natural historical, physical, and biological phenomena that inform debates about the resilience of the natural world, the global understanding of the effects of human activity on the environment, and climate destabilization.
NSM PEAK (at least 17 credits)
Take the following courses (4 credits):
| ENV-160/160L Physical Environmental Systems w/lab 4 credits |
Take one of the following 2 courses (4 credits):
ENV-260/260L Biological Environmental Interactions w/lab 4 credits
|
| or |
BIO-203/203L Ecology, Evolution, and Diversity w/lab 4 credits
|
Take three of the following courses of which 6 credits must be 300 level ( at least 9 credits):
| BIO-140/140L Idaho Natural History w/lab 4 credits |
| BIO-306 Conservation Biology 3 credits |
| BIO-319/319L Ichthyology w/lab 4 credits |
| BIO-322/322L Field Biology w/lab 4 credits |
| BIO-331/331L Evolution w/lab 4 credits |
| BIO-317/317L Stream Ecology 4 credits |
| BIO-326/326L Coastal Marine Ecology--Florida w/lab 4 credits |
| BIO-345/345L Ecology 4 credits |
| BIO-346/346.1 Field Biology and Field Biology Prep 6 credits |
| GEO-101/101L Physical Geology w/lab 4 credits |
| GEO-150 Physical Geography 3 credits |
| GEO-310 Earth's Dynamic Climate System 3 credits |
| GEO-320 Watershed Hydrology 3 credits |
| ENV-350/350L Intro to Geographic Information Systems w/lab 4 credits |
| ENV-389/390* Reading the Mountains 5 credits |
*This course is listed in multiple PEAK areas but can only be counted in one PEAK area.
SSH PEAK
Introducing students to the way that different groups and societies have organized their activity and interrelations, the two required courses ensure that students study the variety of human culture and societal practices in different places as well as exposing them to dominant analyses of human economy. Other course options offer the opportunity to appreciate the complexity of the way human societies have interacted with the physical world and represented it to themselves as part of their history.
SSH PEAK (15 credits)
Take the following course choices (6 credits):
| POE-263 Introduction to Political Economy 3 credits |
| or |
| POE-339 Environmental Policy Analysis 3 credits |
| |
| ENV-151 Human Geography 3 credits |
Take three of the following courses (9 credits)
One of the three can be the POE course not taken above; at least 2 courses must be 300 level
| ENV-357 Applied Cartography 3 credits |
| HIS-351 History of Science 3 credits |
| ENV-330 Working Landscapes 3 credits |
| HIS-399.T Environmental History of Asia 3 credits |
| ENV-355 Urban Geography 3 credits |
| POE-263 Introduction to Political Economy 3 credits |
| POE-339 Environmental Policy Analysis 3 credits |
| IND-305.1/305.2* Winter Wilderness Experience 6 credits |
| IND-307.1/307.2* London 5 credits |
* These courses are listed in multiple PEAK areas but can only be counted in one PEAK area.
CHEMISTRY FOCUS
All human activity depends upon energy, chemical system, and the earth's elemental cycles, and our dependence upon these systems has had profound effects on our environment. The water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles, foe example, reflect the impact of human activity. Addressing environmental problems from a chemical perspective necessitates generating data about the properties of chemical systems, interpreting those data, and understanding the study of matter. In the Chemistry Focus, students study techniques for chemical analysis, the complexities of matter, the earth's elemental cycles, and electrochemistry, and gain experience conducting chemical analyses and interpreting scientific data. The Chemistry Focus provides students with a solid base of coursework that enables exploration of crucial concerns affecting the physical environment. Courses taken in the ES core may not be applied to the focus area or second major.
CHEMISTRY FOCUS (24 credits)
Take all of the following courses:
| CHE-141 | General Chemistry I | 4 credits |
| CHE-142 | General Chemistry II | 4 credits |
| CHE-252 | Analytical Chemistry I | 3 credits |
| CHE-252L | Analytical Chemistry I Lab | 1 credit |
| CHE-301 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 credits |
| CHE-301L | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 credit |
| CHE-302 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 credits |
| CHE-302L | Organic Chemistry II Lab | 1 credit |
| CHE-352 | Analytical Chemistry II | 3 credits |
| CHE-352L | Analytical Chemistry Lab II | 1 credit |
CONVERSATION BIOLOGY FOCUS
Understanding the biology of organisms, populations, and ecosystems is essential to addressing environmental issues. The ability to collect and interpret biological data reliably and to gather and interpret relevant scientific literature allows for the critical evaluation of ecological issues and contributes to sound environmental decision making. In the Conservation Biology Focus, students gain both a conceptual framework and the laboratory and field experience needed to understand the biological aspects of environmental issues. Courses taken in the ES core may not be applied to the focus area or second major.
CONVERSATION BIOLOGY FOCUS (22-24 credits)
| BIO-201 | Biology I: Molecules to Cells | 3 credits |
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| | |
| BIO-201L | Molecules to Cells Lab | 1 credit |
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| or | |
| BIO-210L | Molecules to Cells Research-Based Lab | 1 credit |
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| | |
| BIO-202 | Organismal Biology | 3 credits |
| BIO-202L | Organismal Biology | 1 credit |
| BIO-306 | Conservation Biology | 3 credits |
| ENV-350 | Introduction to Geographic Information System (GIS) | 2 credits |
| ENV-350L | Introduction to Geographic InformationSystem Lab | 1 credit |
Systematics
Take 4 credits (lecture and lab) from the following:
Ecology
Take 4 credits (lecture and lab) from the following:
If choosing the Field Biology option BIO-346.1 and BIO-346.must be taken together.
GEOSCIENCE FOCUS
Understanding the complex interactions among chemical, physical, biological and geological processes across Earth's systems (e.g., lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere) is essential to addressing environmental issues. The public and policy makers increasingly recognize the contribution of geosciences to resolving societally important issues such as natural hazards, water, energy, climate, sustainability, and natural resources. In the Geoscience Focus, students will develop an understanding of rapidly changing environmental systems, through laboratory and field experiences as well as experience working wit large data sets and evolving technologies. Courses taken in the ES core may not be applied to the focus area or second major.
GEOSCIENCE FOCUS (24 credits)
Complete the following courses (12 credits):
| CHE-141 General Chemistry I 4 credits |
| GEO-101/101L Physical Geology w/lab 4 credits |
| |
| PHY-231/231L General Physics I w/lab 4 credits |
| or |
| PHY-271/271L Analytical Physics w/lab 4 credits |
Take 3 courses from the following upper level Geoscience courses (at least 9 credits):
| GEO-310 Earth's Dynamic Climate System 3 credits |
| GEO-320 Watershed Hydrology 3 credits |
| GEO-410/410L Geomorphology w/lab 4 credits |
| ENV-350/350L Introduction to GIS w/lab 3 credits |
Earth Systems Connections (3 credits)
| Take at least 3 credits of upper-division coursework (300-level and above) in CHE, CSC, BIO, MAT, PHY, ENV, or GEO courses in consultation with an ES advisor. |
LITERATURE FOCUS
Our values, beliefs, and language relate deeply to environmental issues and attitudes. Similarly, the human imagination and the stories that we tell ourselves reflect and affect the physical environment. Studying the literary tradition allows us to reflect on historical assumptions and understanding about how humans relate to their world. In the Literature Focus, student examine the British, American, and World literary traditions, and study theories concerning how literature makes meaning for readers. Courses taken in ES core may not be applied to the focus area or second major.
LITERATURE FOCUS (21 credits)
Take the following 2 courses (6 credits):
| ENG-280 |
Theory and Methods in the Study of Literature |
3 credits |
| ENG-498 |
Senior Thesis Seminar in Literature |
3 credits |
Take 1 course from the following (3 credits):
| ENG-245 |
Poetry Writing Workshop |
3 credits |
| ENG-246 |
Fiction Writing Workshop |
3 credits |
| ENG-247 |
Creative Nonfiction Writing Workshop |
3 credits |
Complete 12 credits of upper division (300-400 level) seminars from the following:
American Literature
Complete at least 1 course from the following:
| ENG-329 |
Inventing America |
3 credits |
| ENG-330 |
African American Literature |
3 credits |
| ENG-331 |
Gardens of American Literature |
3 credits |
| ENG-332 |
Adrienne Rich |
3 credits |
| ENG-333 |
Hemingway and Faulkner |
3 credits |
| ENG-335 |
American Renaissance |
3 credits |
| ENG-337 |
American Poetry and Poetics |
3 credits |
English Literature before 1789
Complete at least 1 course from the following:
| ENG-306 |
The 17th Century Lyric |
3 credits |
| ENG-307 |
Origins and Traditions of English Literature |
3 credits |
| ENG-308 |
Rival Playwrights: Marlowe, Shakespeare, Johnson |
3 credits |
| ENG-309 |
The Epic Tradition |
3 credits |
| ENG-310 |
English Renaissance Literature |
3 credits |
| ENG-311 |
Drama of Early Modern Europe |
3 credits |
English Literature after 1789
Complete at least 1 course from the following:
| ENG-315 |
Ghosties and Ghoulies and Long-Leggedy Beasties |
3 credits |
| ENG-316 |
The Brontes |
3 credits |
| ENG-317 |
19th Century British Fiction |
3 credits |
| ENG-318 |
Prize Books |
3 credits |
| ENG-319 |
19th Century Literature of the British Isles |
3 credits |
| ENG-320 |
20th Century Literature of the British Isles |
3 credits |
Postcolonial Literature
Complete at least 1 course from the following:
| ENG-322 |
V.S. Naipaul and Salman Rushdie |
3 credits |
| ENG-323 |
Postcolonial Studies |
3 credits |
| ENG-324 |
Narratives Against Oppression |
3 credits |
| ENG-325 |
Constructing World Literatures |
3 credits |
PHILOSOPHY FOCUS
With increasing power of modern science and technology to affect nature, reflections upon the place of humanity in the universe have taken on special urgency. These reflections include questions about the limits of scientific knowledge, the ethical obligations of human to non-human life and the environment, and technology's impact on humanity's self-understanding. The philosophy emphasis enables a student to examine these and other issues thoughtfully by introducing the most important ideas in Western philosophy and developing students ' abilities in critical analysis, argumentation, and presentation. Courses taken in the ES core may not be applied to the focus area or second major.
PHILOSOPHY FOCUS (16 credits)
| PHI/REL |
One course in Upper-Division non-Western Philosophy or Religion |
3 credits |
SELF-DESIGNED FOCUS
Self-designed (at least 30 credits):
| Students may design a Focus in consultation with and ES advisor. All self-designed Foci must include in-depth study within a single field or discipline and at least 10 upper-division units, and must be approved by the ES Program Committee by the end of the junior year. If you are interested in designing a Focus, see your ES advisor or the Chair of the ES Program. |