Environmental Biology Major

Advisers Cardelús, Frauendorf, Frey, Ingram, McCay, McHugh, Watkins

This major is affiliated with the Environmental Studies Program (ENST) and is designed for students interested in biology and the environment.

Environmental biology provides the student with a focus on biological systems and how organisms interact with the abiotic and biotic components of the environment. It also provides a breadth of exposure to environmental studies beyond the field of biology. The courses below are required for the major.

For students graduating in the Class of 2025 and earlier, please refer to prior University Catalog requirements.

Major Requirements

Environmental Studies Courses (Six)

Required Courses

• ENST 202/PHIL 202 - Environmental Ethics  
• ENST 450 - Community-based Study of Environmental Issues and ENST 450L

Both of the following methods courses:

• BIOL 320 - Biostatistics and BIOL 320L 
• GEOG 245 - Geographic Information Systems

One of the following courses on environmental justice:

• ENST 232 - Environmental Justice
• ENST 321 - Global Environmental Justice

One of the following courses on environmental economics or policy:

• ECON 228 - Environmental Economics
• ENST 250 - Environmental Policy Analysis
• ENST/POSC 335 - U.S. Environmental Politics  

Biology Courses (Six)

Required Courses

• BIOL 181 - Evolution, Ecology, and Diversity and BIOL 181L
• BIOL 330 - Conservation Biology

Additional Biology Courses

Three additional biology courses, numbered below BIOL 470, with at least one from each of the areas noted below. Only one of these courses may be BIOL 101 or BIOL 102.

Research Course

One of the following courses in research:

• Biology course numbered BIOL 470 or higher
• ENST 491 - Independent Study (with permission of the program director)

Other Required Courses (one or two)

Students should choose one of the following three options:

• CHEM 101 - General Chemistry I and CHEM 101L 
• CHEM 102 - General Chemistry II and CHEM 102L 
or
• CHEM 101 - General Chemistry I  and CHEM 101L 
• GEOL 253 - Environmental Geochemistry and Analysis and GEOL 253L 
  or
• CHEM 111 - Chemical Principles and CHEM 111L 

Honors and High Honors

Environmental Biology students interested in pursuing honors follow the same process outlined for honors in Biology; see the catalog listing for the Biology major and consult your academic advisor for more details.

Graduate Study or a Career in the General Area of Environmental Biology

Students who wish to pursue graduate study or a career in the general area of environmental biology should consider taking CHEM 263/CHEM 263L, CHEM 264/CHEM 264L and PHYS 111/PHYS 111L, PHYS 112/PHYS 112L.

Environmental Studies Program

For more information about the department, including Faculty, transfer credit, awards, etc., please visit the Environmental Studies program catalog page.