Environmental Studies (B.A.) Academic Course Map
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies (ENVS) at CU Boulder trains students in the cause, scale, and remediation strategies of the major environmental problems in the United States and the world. Students will acquire an awareness of the complexity of factors relating to human interaction with the environment. They will become acutely aware of the fact that environmental problems have both human and biophysical components, and gain knowledge of the general principles of human- environmental interaction, global habitability, environmental change, and sustainable human societies.
The ENVS major provides a broad, but rigorous education in environmental issues and real-world problem solving, as opposed to a traditional, discipline-based training. The courses integrate the academic divisions of natural science, social science, and humanities, providing skill and knowledge applicable to the pursuit of solutions to environmental challenges faced globally, nationally, regionally, and locally.
An internship program offers ENVS majors the opportunity to apply skills and knowledge they possess and to gain new skills through practical experience working for an organization, government agency, research lab, planning group, advocacy organization, or other groups that solve problems and develop policies.
Admission Requirements
Students who begin at a babyÖ±²¥app Community College can transfer directly to CU Boulder to finish their degree in any of the programs offered by the College of Arts and Sciences. Please see the CU Boulder College of Arts & Sciences’ babyÖ±²¥app Community College webpage for more information detailed information admissions requirements for students transfering from a babyÖ±²¥app Community College.
Transfer Recommendations
To graduate in a 4-year time frame, it is important that students follow the recommended schedule. Students who wish to continue their education at the community college beyond the number of credits specified below should explore with both community college and CU Boulder staff how their graduation timeline, COF stipend, and financial aid will be affected.
Suggested Four-Year Course Plan for the Environmental Studies (ENVS) major
This is a suggested guide of coursework only and is subject to change. Always consult your academic advisor for graduation planning purposes. Depending on a student’s situation, a different plan might be more applicable.
Community College (first two years)
Fall Semester 1
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 121/1021* | English Composition I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
ENV 101/1111 | Environmental Science w/Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
MAT 135/1260 | Intro to Statistics (GT-MA1) | 3 |
Guaranteed Transfer Social & Behavioral Sciences Course (GT-SS1, GT-SS2, GT-SS3) | 3 | |
| Guaranteed Transfer Arts & Humanities Course (GT- AH1, GT-AH2, GT-AH4) NOT GT-AH3 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 16 |
Spring Semester 1
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 122/1022 | English Composition II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
ECO 202/2002 | Principles of MicrobabyÖ±²¥apps (GT-SS1) | 3 |
PHI 218/2018 | Environmental Ethics (GT-AH3) | 3 |
Guaranteed Transfer History Course (GT-HI1) | 3 | |
| Transfer Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 15 |
Fall Semester 2
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
General College Biology I w/Lab (GT-SC1) OR | 4-5 | |
ECO 245/2045 | Environmental Economics (GT-SS1) or a Transfer Elective if ECO 245/2045 is not available | 3 |
COM 125/1250 OR | Interpersonal Communication (GT-SS3) OR | 3 |
Guaranteed Transfer Social & Behavioral Sciences Course (GT-SS1, GT-SS2, GT-SS3) | 3 | |
| Transfer Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 16-17 |
Spring Semester 2
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
BIO 112/1112 OR | General College Biology II w/Lab (GT-SC1) OR | 4-5 |
CHE 111/1111 OR | General College Chemistry 1I with Lab (GT-SC1) OR | 5 |
| 3-5 | |
| Total Credits | 12-13 |
Total credits at community college: 60
Completion of the four semesters of coursework listed above fulfills the requirements for an Associate of Arts Degree at a babyÖ±²¥app community college and fulfills the General Education requirements at CU Boulder.
CU Boulder (last two years)
Fall Semester 3
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
ENVS 1001 | Introduction to Human Dimensions of Environmental Studies | 3 |
PSCI 2016 OR | Intro to Public Policy Analysis OR | 4 |
ENVS 3020 | Advanced Writing in ENVS | 3 |
| 3 | ||
| Lower- or Upper-division Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 16 |
Spring Semester 3
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
ENVS 3520 OR | Energy and Climate Change: An Interdisciplinary Approach OR | 3 |
| ENVS Intermediate Social Science Major course | 3 |
| ENVS Intermediate Natural Science Major course | 4 |
Non-major Elective (upper-division if needed) | 3 | |
| Non-major Elective (upper-division if needed) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 16 |
Fall Semester 4
| Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| ENVS Application Major course | 3 |
| ENVS Specialization Major course | 3 |
ENVS Specialization Major course | 3 |
Upper Division Non-Major Elective | 3 |
| Upper Division Non-Major Elective | 3 |
| Total Credits | 15 |
Spring Semester 4
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
ENVS 3800 OR | The Art of Research: The Essential Elements of Research in ENVS OR | 3 |
| ENVS Specialization Major course | 3 |
| ENVS Specialization Major course | 3 |
| Upper-Division Non-Major Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 13 |
Total credits at CU Boulder: 60
Completion of all eight semester of coursework listed above fulfills the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Environmental Studies at CU Boulder.
*For community college courses, the first course number is previous to summer 2022, and the second course number is the new number starting in summer 2022.
**Students have to take these courses as a two-course sequence: 1) BIO 111/1111 & BIO 112/1112 OR 2) GEO 111/1011 & GEO 112/1012 OR 3) GEY 111/1111 & GEY 112/1112.
***If student completes the BIO 111/1111 & BIO 112/1112 sequence, they will need 3 credits of transfer electives to reach 60 credits. If they complete the GEO or GEY sequence, they will need 5 credits of transfer electives.
****Students who were unable to take ECO 245/2045 at their community college would need to replace this elective with ECON 3545 Environmental Economics.
