Environmental Studies Major, B.A.
Environment, Ecology, and Energy Program
3202 Murray Hall, CB# 3275
(919) 962-1270
Paul W. Leslie, Chair
Amy E. Cooke, Director of Undergraduate Studies
Violet Anderson, Student Services Manager
This major is designed for students seeking interdisciplinary preparation in the social sciences and humanities needed to understand how society affects the environment, how it organizes itself to respond to environmental problems, and how understanding of the environment is transmitted through culture. The major prepares students for graduate and professional training, especially in environmental policy, journalism, education, and law.
Department Programs
Majors
Minors
Graduate Programs
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the environmental studies program (B.A.), students should be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge in the connections in social and/or natural sciences through an understanding of major concepts, theoretical reasoning, and empirical findings in environmental studies
- Demonstrate knowledge of a marketable skill (e.g. GIS, communication, statistics) to enhance their ability to apply concepts from the program in the real world
- Demonstrate mastery of research and problem-solving skills through individual or team-based projects working for a researcher or client in a social or natural science
Requirements
In addition to the program requirements, students must
- attain a final cumulative GPA of at least 2.0
- complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
- take at least half of their major course requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
- earn a minimum of 18 hours of C or better in the major core requirements (some majors require 21 hours).
For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.
The environmental studies program provides two options:
- Environmental Studies Major, B.A. (with several concentration areas)
- Environmental Studies Major, B.A.–Sustainability Track
Environmental Studies Major, B.A.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Core Requirements | ||
ENEC 201 | Introduction to Environment and Society H | 4 |
ENEC 202 | Introduction to the Environmental Sciences | 4 |
ENEC 698 | Capstone: Analysis and Solution of Environmental Problems | 3 |
One of the following earth system science courses: | 3-4 | |
Ecology and Evolution 1, H | ||
Estuarine and Coastal Marine Science 1 | ||
Ecological Processes in Environmental Systems 1 | ||
Coastal and Estuarine Ecology 1 | ||
Water in Our World: Introduction to Hydrologic Science and Environmental Problems and Water in Our World Laboratory 1 | ||
Water in Our World: Introduction to Hydrologic Science and Environmental Problems and Water in Our World Laboratory | ||
Synoptic Meteorology | ||
Energy Resources | ||
Two courses from one of the following skills categories: | 6 | |
GIS: | ||
Anthropological Application of GIS | ||
Landscape Analysis 1 | ||
Introduction to Geographic Information | ||
Introduction to GIS | ||
GIS in Public Health | ||
Applied Issues in Geographic Information Systems | ||
Geographic Information Science Programming | ||
Remote Sensing: | ||
Introduction to Geographic Information | ||
Introduction to Remote Sensing of the Environment | ||
Advanced Remote Sensing | ||
Geologic and Oceanographic Applications of Geographical Information Systems | ||
Statistics: | ||
Principles of Statistical Inference | ||
Introduction to Statistics and Econometrics H | ||
Statistics for Environmental Scientists | ||
Introduction to Data Models and Inference | ||
Five courses chosen from one of the concentrations list below | 15-20 | |
Additional Requirements | ||
BIOL 101 & 101L | Principles of Biology and Introductory Biology Laboratory H | 4 |
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
General Descriptive Chemistry I and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
General Physics I: For Students of the Life Sciences | ||
Introductory Calculus-based Mechanics and Relativity | ||
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
General Descriptive Chemistry II and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory II H | ||
General Physics II: For Students of the Life Sciences | ||
Introductory Calculus-based Electromagnetism and Quanta | ||
ECON 101 | Introduction to Economics H | 4 |
MATH 231 | Calculus of Functions of One Variable I H | 4 |
Enough General Education and free electives to accumulate at least 120 credit hours. 2 | varies | |
Total Hours | 120 |
H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
1 | This course appears on a core requirement list as well as a concentration requirement list, but can only be counted toward one of the two. |
2 | Recommended courses are ECON 400 and one of the following PH courses: COMM 375/ENEC 375, ENEC 325, or ENEC 368/PHIL 368. |
Agriculture and Health Concentration
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
ANTH 252 | Archaeology of Food | 3 |
ANTH 306 | Water and Inequality: Anthropological Perspectives | 3 |
ANTH 319 | Global Health | 3 |
ANTH/ENEC 238 | Human Ecology of Africa | 3 |
ENEC 325 | Water Resource Management and Human Rights H | 3-4 |
ENEC 370 | Agriculture and the Environment H | 3 |
ENEC 395 | Research in Environmental Sciences and Studies for Undergraduates | 3 |
or ENEC 396 | Directed Readings | |
ENEC 420 | Community Design and Green Architecture | 3 |
ENEC 693H | Honors Research in Environmental Sciences and Studies | 3 |
or ENEC 694H | Honors Project in Environmental Sciences and Studies | |
ENEC/ENVR 522 | Environmental Change and Human Health | 3 |
ENEC/GEOL 324 | Water in Our World: Introduction to Hydrologic Science and Environmental Problems 1 | 3 |
ENEC/GEOL 324L | Water in Our World Laboratory | 1 |
GEOG 334 | Human Ecology of Health and Disease | 3 |
GEOG 457 | Rural Latin America: Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources | 3 |
GEOG 542 | Neighborhoods and Health | 3 |
PLCY 475 | The Political Economy of Food H | 3 |
PLCY 485 | Poverty, Health, and Human Development in Low Income Countries | 3 |
H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
1 | This course appears on a core requirement list as well as a concentration requirement list, but can only be counted toward one of the two. |
Ecology and Society Concentration
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
ANTH 226 | The Peoples of Africa | 3 |
ANTH 318 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
ANTH 320 | Anthropology of Development | 3 |
ANTH 439 | Political Ecology | 3 |
ANTH/ENEC 238 | Human Ecology of Africa | 3 |
ANTH/ENEC 460 | Historical Ecology | 3 |
BIOL 201 | Ecology and Evolution 1, H | 4 |
BIOL/ENEC 272 | Local Flora | 4 |
BIOL 277 | Vertebrate Field Zoology | 3 |
BIOL 402 | Infectious Disease in the Developing World | 3 |
BIOL 427 | Human Diversity and Population Genetics | 3 |
BIOL 461 | Fundamentals of Ecology | 4 |
BIOL 463 | Field Ecology | 4 |
BIOL 464 | Global Change Ecology | 3 |
BIOL 465 | Global Biodiversity and Macroecology | 3 |
BIOL 469 | Behavioral Ecology | 3 |
BIOL 561 | Ecological Plant Geography | 3 |
BIOL 565 | Conservation Biology H | 3 |
BIOL 567 | Evolutionary Ecology | 3 |
BIOL/ENEC 256 | Mountain Biodiversity | 4 |
BIOL/ENEC 461 | Fundamentals of Ecology | 4 |
BIOL/ENEC 562 | Statistics for Environmental Scientists | 4 |
CHIN 356 | Chinese Environmental Literature | 3 |
ENEC 222 | Estuarine and Coastal Marine Science 1 | 4 |
ENEC 304 | Restoration Ecology | 4 |
ENEC 395 | Research in Environmental Sciences and Studies for Undergraduates | 3 |
or ENEC 396 | Directed Readings | |
ENEC 462 | Ecosystem Management | 3 |
ENEC 479 | Landscape Analysis 1 | 3 |
ENEC 489 | Ecological Processes in Environmental Systems 1 | 4 |
ENEC 491 | Effective Environmental Communication | 3 |
ENEC 693H | Honors Research in Environmental Sciences and Studies | 3 |
or ENEC 694H | Honors Project in Environmental Sciences and Studies | |
ENEC/GEOG 264 | Conservation of Biodiversity in Theory and Practice | 3 |
ENEC/GEOL 324 | Water in Our World: Introduction to Hydrologic Science and Environmental Problems | 3 |
ENEC/GEOL/MASC 450 | Biogeochemical Processes | 4 |
ENEC/MASC 352 | Marine Fisheries Ecology | 3 |
ENEC/MASC 441 | Marine Physiological Ecology | 3 |
ENEC/MASC 444 | Marine Phytoplankton | 3 |
ENEC/MASC 448 | Coastal and Estuarine Ecology 1 | 4 |
ENEC/MASC 471 | Human Impacts on Estuarine Ecosystems | 4 |
ENEC/PLAN 641 | Watershed Planning | 3 |
ENEC/PLCY 372 | Global Environment: Policy Analysis and Solutions | 3 |
ENEC/PLCY 520 | Environment and Development | 3 |
ENEC/POLI 254 | International Environmental Politics | 3 |
GEOG 228 | Urban Geography | 3 |
GEOG 232 | Agriculture, Food, and Society | 3 |
GEOG 261 | The South | 3 |
GEOG 334 | Human Ecology of Health and Disease | 3 |
GEOG 423 | Social Geography | 3 |
GEOG 444 | Landscape Biogeography | 3 |
GEOG 470 | Political Ecology: Geographical Perspectives | 3 |
GEOG 597 | Ecological Modeling | 3 |
H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
1 | This course appears on a core requirement list as well as a concentration requirement list, but can only be counted toward one of the two. |
Environmental Behavior and Decision Making Concentration
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
ANTH 422 | Anthropology and Human Rights | 3 |
ANTH 539 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
BIOL/MATH 553 | Mathematical and Computational Models in Biology | 3 |
BUSI 507 | Sustainable Business and Social Enterprise H | 3 |
COMM/ENEC 375 | Environmental Advocacy | 3 |
ENEC 305 | Data Analysis and Visualization of Social and Environmental Interactions | 4 |
ENEC 309 | Environmental Values and Valuation | 3 |
ENEC 312 | Risk-Based International Environmental Decisions | 3 |
ENEC 325 | Water Resource Management and Human Rights H | 3-4 |
ENEC 350 | Environmental Law and Policy | 3 |
ENEC 351 | Coastal Law and Policy | 3 |
ENEC 380 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
ENEC 395 | Research in Environmental Sciences and Studies for Undergraduates | 3 |
or ENEC 396 | Directed Readings | |
ENEC 462 | Ecosystem Management | 3 |
ENEC/BUSI 463 | Business and the Environment H | 3 |
ENEC 474 | Sustainable Coastal Management | 3 |
ENEC 485 | Coastal Resource Economics and Policy | 3-4 |
ENEC 580 | Environmental Markets: Science and Economics | 3 |
ENEC 581 | Water Resource Planning and Policy Analysis | 3 |
ENEC 586 | Water Quality Policies and Planning | 3 |
ENEC 491 | Effective Environmental Communication | 3 |
ENEC 492 | Social Science Research Methods | 3 |
ENEC 675 | Environmental Communication and the Public Sphere | 3 |
ENEC 685 | Environmental and Resource Economics | 3 |
ENEC 693H | Honors Research in Environmental Sciences and Studies | 3 |
or ENEC 694H | Honors Project in Environmental Sciences and Studies | |
ENEC/ENVR 470 | Environmental Risk Assessment | 3 |
ENEC/ENVR/PLAN/PLCY 585 | American Environmental Policy | 3 |
ENEC/GEOL 324 | Water in Our World: Introduction to Hydrologic Science and Environmental Problems | 3 |
ENEC/MEJO 565 | Environmental Storytelling | 3 |
ENEC/PLAN 547 | Energy, Transportation, and Land Use | 3 |
ENEC/PLAN 641 | Watershed Planning | 3 |
ENEC/PLCY 372 | Global Environment: Policy Analysis and Solutions | 3 |
ENEC/PLCY 475 | The Political Economy of Food H | 3 |
ENEC/PLCY 480 | Environmental Decision Making | 3 |
ENEC/POLI 254 | International Environmental Politics | 3 |
GEOG 237 | Natural Resources | 3 |
GEOG 435 | Global Environmental Justice | 3 |
GEOG 470 | Political Ecology: Geographical Perspectives | 3 |
H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Population, Environment, and Development Concentration
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
ANTH 318 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
ANTH 319 | Global Health | 3 |
ANTH 439 | Political Ecology | 3 |
ANTH 459 | Ecological Anthropology | 3 |
ANTH 539 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
ANTH/ENEC 238 | Human Ecology of Africa | 3 |
ENEC 266 | Contemporary Africa: Issues in Health, Population, and the Environment | 3 |
ENEC 325 | Water Resource Management and Human Rights H | 3-4 |
ENEC 350 | Environmental Law and Policy | 3 |
ENEC 351 | Coastal Law and Policy | 3 |
ENEC 370 | Agriculture and the Environment H | 3 |
ENEC 380 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
ENEC 395 | Research in Environmental Sciences and Studies for Undergraduates | 3 |
or ENEC 396 | Directed Readings | |
ENEC 485 | Coastal Resource Economics and Policy | 3-4 |
ENEC 491 | Effective Environmental Communication | 3 |
ENEC 492 | Social Science Research Methods | 3 |
ENEC 580 | Environmental Markets: Science and Economics | 3 |
ENEC 693H | Honors Research in Environmental Sciences and Studies | 3 |
or ENEC 694H | Honors Project in Environmental Sciences and Studies | |
ENEC/GEOL 324 | Water in Our World: Introduction to Hydrologic Science and Environmental Problems | 3 |
ENEC/PLCY 520 | Environment and Development | 3 |
ENVR 600 | Environmental Health | 3 |
GEOG 222 | Health and Medical Geography | 3 |
GEOG 237 | Natural Resources | 3 |
GEOG 269 | Human-Environment Interactions in the Galapagos Islands | 3 |
GEOG/ENEC 451 | Population, Development, and the Environment | 3 |
GEOG 452 | Mobile Geographies: The Political Economy of Migration | 3 |
GEOG 457 | Rural Latin America: Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources | 3 |
GEOG 470 | Political Ecology: Geographical Perspectives | 3 |
PLCY 475 | The Political Economy of Food H | 3 |
H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Environmental Studies Major, B.A.–Sustainability Track
This major is designed for students who wish to pursue business and policy with an interdisciplinary approach to resiliency and sustainability. This track is appropriate for students wishing to pursue graduate or professional studies in business or policy.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Core Requirements | ||
ENEC 201 | Introduction to Environment and Society H | 4 |
ENEC 307 | Energy and Material Flows in the Environment and Society | 3 |
ENEC 330 | Principles of Sustainability | 3 |
ENEC 698 | Capstone: Analysis and Solution of Environmental Problems | 3 |
One course from each of the Pillars of Sustainability, plus one additional course at the 300-level or above in any pillar (4 courses total): | 12-15 | |
Equity | ||
Water and Inequality: Anthropological Perspectives | ||
Political Ecology | ||
Environmental Justice | ||
Water Resource Management and Human Rights H | ||
Environmental Law and Policy | ||
Coastal Law and Policy | ||
Political Ecology: Geographical Perspectives | ||
Liberation Geographies: The Place, Politics, and Practice of Resistance | ||
Living Things, Wilderness, and Ecosystems: An Introduction to Environmental Ethics | ||
Solving Urban Problems | ||
Political Economy of Poverty and Inequality | ||
Public Transportation | ||
Pedestrian and Bike Transportation | ||
Social and Economic Justice | ||
Economics | ||
Sustainable Business and Social Enterprise H | ||
Introduction to Statistics and Econometrics H | ||
Environmental Values and Valuation | ||
Environmental Economics | ||
Business and the Environment H | ||
Coastal Resource Economics and Policy | ||
Environmental Markets: Science and Economics | ||
The Political Economy of Food H | ||
Environment | ||
Introduction to the Environmental Sciences | ||
Mountain Biodiversity | ||
Conservation of Biodiversity in Theory and Practice | ||
Restoration Ecology | ||
Water in Our World: Introduction to Hydrologic Science and Environmental Problems and Water in Our World Laboratory | ||
Agriculture and the Environment H | ||
Mountain Preservation | ||
Community Design and Green Architecture | ||
Sustainable Cities: Exploring Ways of Making Cities More Sustainable | ||
Ecosystem Management | ||
Human Impacts on Estuarine Ecosystems | ||
Energy and the Environment: A Coastal Perspective | ||
Ecological Processes in Environmental Systems | ||
American Environmental Policy | ||
Introduction to Watershed Systems | ||
Population, Development, and the Environment | ||
Energy Resources | ||
North Carolina Estuaries: Environmental Processes and Problems | ||
Marine Physiological Ecology | ||
Marine Phytoplankton | ||
Coastal and Estuarine Ecology | ||
Wetland Hydrology | ||
Energy: Physical Principles and the Quest for Alternatives to Dwindling Oil and Gas | ||
Energy, Transportation, and Land Use | ||
Policy Instruments for Environmental Management | ||
Two courses from one skill area and one additional course from a second skill (3 courses total): | 9-12 | |
Basic Science | ||
General Descriptive Chemistry I and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I and General Descriptive Chemistry II and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory II | ||
General Physics I: For Students of the Life Sciences and General Physics II: For Students of the Life Sciences | ||
Principles of Biology and Introductory Biology Laboratory and Ecology and Evolution H | ||
Communications and Research | ||
Environmental Advocacy | ||
Internship in Sustainability | ||
or ENEC 493 | Environmental Internship | |
or ENEC 593 | Environmental Practicum | |
Research in Environmental Sciences and Studies for Undergraduates | ||
or ENEC 396 | Directed Readings | |
Effective Environmental Communication | ||
Social Science Research Methods | ||
Honors Research in Environmental Sciences and Studies | ||
or ENEC 694H | Honors Project in Environmental Sciences and Studies | |
Environmental Storytelling | ||
Communicating in Public Policy | ||
GIS and Remote Sensing | ||
Anthropological Application of GIS | ||
Landscape Analysis | ||
Temporal GIS and Space/Time Geostatistics for the Environment and Public Health | ||
Introduction to Geographic Information | ||
Introduction to Remote Sensing of the Environment | ||
Introduction to GIS | ||
Geographic Information Science Programming | ||
Geologic and Oceanographic Applications of Geographical Information Systems | ||
Analytics | ||
Introduction to Decision Analytics | ||
Methods of Data Analysis | ||
Advanced Methods of Data Analysis | ||
Introduction to Programming H | ||
or COMP 116 | Introduction to Scientific Programming | |
Foundation of Programming H | ||
Tools for Information Literacy | ||
Foundations of Information Science | ||
Information Systems Analysis and Design | ||
Additional Requirements | ||
ECON 101 | Introduction to Economics (SS) H | 4 |
MATH 152 | Calculus for Business and Social Sciences (QR) | 3 |
or MATH 231 | Calculus of Functions of One Variable I | |
Enough General Education and free electives to accumulate at least 120 credit hours. 1 | varies | |
Total Hours | 120 |
H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
1 | Recommended courses are ENEC 202 (PX), ECON 400 (QI) and one of the following PH courses: ENEC 325, COMM 375/ENEC 375, or PHIL 368/ENEC 368. |
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans can be used as a guide to identify the courses required to complete the major and other requirements needed for degree completion within the expected eight semesters. The actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Students should meet with their academic advisor to create a degree plan that is specific and unique to their interests. The sample plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UNC–Chapel Hill in the fall term. Some courses may not be offered every term.
Suggested Program of Study for B.A. Major
First Year | Hours | |
---|---|---|
BIOL 101 & 101L | Principles of Biology and Introductory Biology Laboratory H | 4 |
ECON 101 | Introduction to Economics H | 4 |
ENEC 201 | Introduction to Environment and Society H | 4 |
ENGL 105 | English Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
Language levels 2 and 3 (FL) | 6 | |
MATH 231 | Calculus of Functions of One Variable I H | 4 |
Lifetime fitness | 1 | |
Approaches and Connections (two courses) | 6 | |
Hours | 32 | |
Sophomore Year | ||
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
General Descriptive Chemistry I and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
General Physics I: For Students of the Life Sciences | ||
Introductory Calculus-based Mechanics and Relativity | ||
ENEC 202 | Introduction to the Environmental Sciences | 4 |
Select one of the following: | 4 | |
General Descriptive Chemistry II and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory II H | ||
General Physics II: For Students of the Life Sciences | ||
Introductory Calculus-based Electromagnetism and Quanta | ||
One earth system science core | 3-4 | |
Two courses from the concentration core | 6 | |
Approaches and Connections (two courses) | 6 | |
Hours | 27-28 | |
Junior Year | ||
Two courses from the environmental skills core | 6 | |
Two courses from the concentration core | 6 | |
ECON 400 | Introduction to Statistics and Econometrics H | 3 |
Approaches and Connections (three courses) | 9 | |
Free elective course | 6 | |
Hours | 30 | |
Senior Year | ||
ENEC 698 | Capstone: Analysis and Solution of Environmental Problems | 3 |
Remaining concentration course | 3 | |
Remaining Approaches and Connections courses | 6 | |
Free electives as needed to complete a minimum of 120 academic hours | 19 | |
Hours | 31 | |
Total Hours | 120-121 |
H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Suggested Program of Study for the Sustainability Track
First Year | Hours | |
---|---|---|
ENEC 201 | Introduction to Environment and Society H | 4 |
MATH 152 or MATH 231 | Calculus for Business and Social Sciences or Calculus of Functions of One Variable I | 3 |
ECON 101 | Introduction to Economics H | 4 |
Language levels 2 and 3 | 6 | |
ENGL 105 | English Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
Lifetime fitness | 1 | |
Approaches and Connections (two courses) | 6 | |
Elective course | 3 | |
Hours | 30 | |
Sophomore Year | ||
ENEC 330 | Principles of Sustainability | 3 |
Two envrionmental skills core courses | 6 | |
Two pillars of sustainability core courses | 6 | |
Approaches and Connections (three courses) | 9 | |
Elective courses | 6 | |
Hours | 30 | |
Junior Year | ||
ENEC 307 | Energy and Material Flows in the Environment and Society | 3 |
One environmental skills core course | 3 | |
Two pillars of sustainability core courses | 6 | |
ECON 400 | Introduction to Statistics and Econometrics H | 3 |
Approaches and Connections (two courses) | 3 | |
Supplemental General Education (one course) | 3 | |
Free elective courses | 9 | |
Hours | 30 | |
Senior Year | ||
ENEC 698 | Capstone: Analysis and Solution of Environmental Problems | 3 |
Supplemental General Education (two courses) | 6 | |
Remaining General Education courses and free electives to reach a minimum of 120 credit hours | 21 | |
Hours | 30 | |
Total Hours | 120 |
H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Dual Bachelor’s–Master’s Degree Program
Three dual bachelor’s–master’s programs are offered:
- Environmental and science communication is a collaboration between the environment, ecology, and energy program and the School of Media and Journalism;
- Environmental informatics is a collaboration between the environment, ecology, and energy program and the School of Information and Library Science;
- Environmental finance and leadership is a collaboration between the environment, ecology, and energy program and the School of Government.
Each program is designed for students to earn their bachelor’s degree and complete a master’s degree in a professional school in as few as five years. The dual degree in environmental and science communication is approached through the bachelor’s of arts degree with a major in environmental studies, and students then complete a master’s degree in journalism. The dual degree in environmental informatics is approached through the bachelor’s of science degree with a major in environmental science, and students then complete a master’s in information sciences. The dual degree in environmental finance and leadership is approached through either the bachelor's of science or the bachelor's of arts in environment and ecology, and students then complete a master's in public administration.
Students may begin taking courses for the graduate degree while in the undergraduate program, and a limited number of credit hours of approved graduate coursework may be transferred into the graduate degree program in mass communication (up to nine hours), information sciences (up to 12 hours) and public administration (up to 13 hours). Courses taken as an undergraduate for graduate credit may not be counted as part of the undergraduate degree if the intent is to transfer them to the graduate program. Early advising is essential to success in navigating these dual-degree programs. Advisors are available in both units to help students prepare and select courses appropriately to get the most from their education.
Applying for one of the dual-degree programs is a two-step process. It is highly recommend that interested first- and second-year students speak to an advisor early in their college program. Students must submit a conditional application to the program no later than their junior year to ensure that they will receive preference in registering for courses. Students must formally apply to the program through The Graduate School in their senior year. The GRE is not required for applications from current UNC–Chapel Hill students for the dual degree in environmental science and communication; for other dual degrees students should check with their advisors about GRE requirements. For complete information on the application process and curriculum requirements, please go to the specific Web site listed above for the dual-degree program of interest.
Special Opportunities in Environmental Science and Studies
Honors in Environmental Science or Studies
Students in either the B.S. or B.A. degree program may participate in honors research leading to graduation with honors or highest honors. This distinction is earned by participation in honors research (ENEC 693H) and culminates in ENEC 694H, thesis writing and defense. Students should follow the guidelines established by Honors Carolina and meet with the faculty honors advisor, Dr. Geoff Bell, to ensure that appropriate requirements are fulfilled. (Requirements can be found on the Honors Program Web site). Honors students can use three credit hours of ENEC 693H (research) or ENEC 694H (thesis), but not both courses, to fulfill a concentration requirement.
Departmental Involvement
The Carolina Environmental Student Alliance (CESA) is an interdisciplinary organization dedicated to uniting the environmental interests of students across campus. Participation is open to all students and community members with an interest in the environment. The Epsilon Eta Environmental Honors Fraternity is an organization dedicated to excellence in environmental education. Interested students are nominated for membership.
Experiential Education
Possibilities for experiential education include APPLES service-learning courses (ENEC 593), Coral Reef Ecology and Management (ENEC 259), Sierra Nevada Program (ENEC 208), internships (ENEC 393, ENEC 493), research (ENEC 395, ENEC 396, ENEC 698), and honors research (ENEC 693H, ENEC 694H). Additionally, a series of experiential education field sites is available in North Carolina and around the world where students may take coursework and conduct research for a semester. Fall semester field sites are offered in North Carolina at Highlands Biological Station (mountain/ecology), the Institute for Marine Sciences (marine ecology/geology), and the Coastal Studies Institute/Outer Banks (coastal policy and economics). Spring semester field sites are offered on the UNC campus (Sustainable Triangle field site) and in Thailand (energy and pollution). The Thailand field site experience incorporates part of the following summer as well. Summer programs are also offered in the Galapagos via UNC's Center for Galapagos Studies. Contact our advisors about other opportunities. Faculty members often arrange Burch Program summer educational trips to such locations as Australia (conservation, restoration, and natural resource management), Siberia, Russia (ecology and anthropology), the Sierra Nevadas (ecology and physical geography), and northern Europe (energy, sustainability, and communication).
Internships
Students are encouraged to apply for paid or unpaid internships in local, state, national, and international environmental organizations. Internship opportunities can be found through the Ecostudio Internship Incubator Web site. These internships provide valuable practical experience, and some may be conducted for academic credit. Students interested in academic credit should contact the director of undergraduate studies, Dr. Amy Cooke, to obtain the required application for credit before the term begins.
Study Abroad
Exchange and other study abroad programs are available through the UNC Study Abroad Office. At some locations students may take courses for UNC credit, such as some field sites listed above. Students may take courses at other universities during study abroad and apply for transfer credit as well. We encourage students to participate in study abroad during their career at Carolina.
Undergraduate Awards
Undergraduates may be considered for the Watts and Betsy Carr Awards, Mary and Watts Hill Jr. Awards, and Robert Alonzo Winston Scholarships.
Undergraduate Research
All students are encouraged (but not required) to complete an independent or team research project. Such projects introduce students to the tools needed for graduate study. They also provide an important opportunity for working directly with the world-class environmental faculty members and graduate students at UNC–Chapel Hill, as well as in the many environmental organizations in the Research Triangle. The Triangle area contains one of the largest collections of environmental organizations and expertise in the world, providing unique opportunities for students to conduct research on an immense range of topics from fundamental scientific research to policy applications. Students interested in obtaining course credit for research should speak with either Dr. Geoff Bell (honors advisor) or Dr. Amy Cooke (director of undergraduate studies) to ensure all the requirements and appropriate paperwork has been approved within the first week of classes.