Environmental Studies Option
This option is designed for students interested in developing a broad understanding of environmental issues from scientific and public policy perspectives. In addition to required foundations courses (BIOB 170IN, ERTH 101IN, GPHY 121D, STAT 216Q, and PHL 322 or HSTA 470), students select 21 credits each from approved list of science and public policy courses. Twelve credits of science and of public policy must be upper division courses (300 or 400 level). BIOB 170IN, ERTH 101IN, STAT 216Q, and LS 499R may overlap with Core. Proposed substitutions must be submitted in writing to the program advisor or director.
| Freshman Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | |
| LS 101US - Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing | 3 | |
| WRIT 101W - College Writing I | 3 | |
| BIOB 170IN - Principles of Biological Diversity | 4 | |
| University Core | 3 | |
| Electives | 2 | |
| ERTH 101IN - Earth System Sciences | 4 | |
| GPHY 121D - Human Geography | 3 | |
| Public Policy Electives (see below) | 6 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 13 |
| Sophomore Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| LS 301 - Integrative Seminar | 1 | |
| Liberal Studies Requirements | 6 | |
| Public Policy Electives (see below) | 3 | |
| University Core | 3 | |
| Electives | 3 | |
| STAT 216Q - Introduction to Statistics | 3 | |
| Liberal Studies Requirements | 6 | |
| Natural Science Electives (see below) | 3 | |
| University Core | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 16 | 15 |
| Junior Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| LS 301 - Integrative Seminar | 1 | |
| PHL 322 - Philosophy & Envirnmntl Ethics | 3 | |
| Natural Science Electives (see below) | 3 | |
| Public Policy Electives (see below) | 3 | |
| University Core | 3 | |
| Electives | 2 | |
| Natural Science Electives (see below) | 6 | |
| Public Policy Electives (see below) | 6 | |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Senior Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| LS 301 - Integrative Seminar | 1 | |
| Natural Science Electives (see below) | 6 | |
| Public Policy Electives (see below) | 6 | |
| Electives | 3 | |
| LS 499R - Senior Capstone | 4 | |
| Natural Science Electives (see below) | 3 | |
| Public Policy Electives (see below) | 3 | |
| Electives | 5 | |
| Year Total: | 16 | 15 |
| Total Program Credits: | 120 | |
Per MSU requirements for the degree, a minimum of 42 credits must be in courses numbered 300 and above.
Natural Sciences Electives to be chosen from
| ANSC 491 | Special Topics | 1-4 |
| BIOB 420 | Evolution | 3 |
| BIOE 103CS | Environmental Science and Society | 3 |
| BIOE 370 | General Ecology | 3 |
| BIOE 405 | Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology | 3 |
| BIOE 416 | Alpine Ecology | 3 |
| BIOE 421 | Yellowstone Wildlife Ecology | 3 |
| BIOE 427RN | Research in Freshwater Ecology | 3 |
| BIOE 428 | Freshwater Ecology | 3 |
| BIOE 440R | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| BIOO 162CS | Insects and Human Society | 3 |
| BIOO 220 | General Botany | 3 |
| CHMY 143 | College Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHMY 153 | Honors College Chemistry II | 4 |
| ENSC 110 | Land Resources and Environmental Sciences | 3 |
| ENSC 245IN | Soils | 3 |
| ENSC 272CS | Water Resources | 3 |
| ENSC 444 | Watershed Hydrology | 3 |
| ENSC 454 | Landscape Pedology | 3 |
| ENSC 460 | Soil Remediation | 3 |
| ENSC 461 | Restoration Ecology | 3 |
| ERTH 212RN | Yellowstone: Scientific Lab | 4 |
| ERTH 303 | Weather and Climate | 3 |
| ERTH 307 | Principles of Geomorphology | 4 |
| ERTH 432R | Surface Water Resources | 3 |
| GEO 103CS | Intro to Envrmntl Geology | 4 |
| GEO 105IN | Oceanography | 3 |
| GEO 420 | Hydrogeology | 3 |
| GPHY 411 | Biogeography | 3 |
| GPHY 426 | Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GPHY 441R | Mountain Geography | 4 |
| HORT 105 | Introduction to Horticulture | 3 |
| HORT 345 | Market Gardening | 3 |
| NRSM 101 | Natural Resource Conservation | 3 |
| NRSM 102 | Montana Range Plants | 1 |
| NRSM 240 | Natural Resource Ecology | 3 |
| NRSM 330 | Fire Ecology and Mgmt | 3 |
| NRSM 353 | Grazing Ecology and Management | 3 |
| NRSM 455 | Riparian Ecology & Management | 3 |
| WILD 201 | Intro to Fish and Wildlife | 1 |
| WILD 438 | Wildlife Habitat Ecology | 3 |
| Up to 12 credits required in a minor or in a second degree program may be applied toward the Natural Science and Public Policy electives. | ||
Public Policy electives to be chosen from
| AGBE 210IS | Economics of Ag Business | 3 |
| AGBE 337 | Agricultural Law | 3 |
| AGSC 465R | Health, Agriculture, Poverty | 4 |
| BMGT 406 | Negotiation/Dispute Resolution | 3 |
| ECHM 205CS | Energy and Sustainability | 3 |
| ECNS 101IS | Economic Way of Thinking | 3 |
| ECNS 132 | Econ & the Environment | 3 |
| ECNS 317 | Economic Development | 3 |
| ECNS 332 | Econ of Natural Resources | 3 |
| GPHY 141D | Geography of World Regions | 3 |
| GPHY 284 | Intro to GIS Science & Cartog | 3 |
| GPHY 321 | Urban Geography | 3 |
| GPHY 322 | Economic Geography | 3 |
| GPHY 326 | Geography of Energy Resources | 3 |
| GPHY 329 | Environment and Society | 3 |
| GPHY 365 | Geographical Planning | 3 |
| GPHY 384 | Adv GIS and Spatial Analysis | 3 |
| GPHY 402 | Water and Society | 3 |
| HSTA 468 | History of Yellowstone | 3 |
| HSTA 470 | American Environmental History | 3 |
| HSTR 484 | World Environmental History | 3 |
| LS 103 | Gateway to Sustainability Studies | 3 |
| LS 301 | Integrative Seminar | 1-3 |
| LS 450 | Evolution and Public Opinion | 3 |
| NRSM 421 | Holistic Thought/Mgmt | 4 |
| NRSM 430 | Natural Resource Law | 3 |
| PSCI 210IS | Introduction to American Government | 3 |
| PSCI 347 | The U.S. Congress and the Legislative Process | 3 |
| PSCI 362 | Natural Resource Policy | 3 |
| PSCI 436 | Politics of Food & Hunger | 3 |
| RLST 223IH | Sacrifice, Rite & Ritual | 3 |
| SFBS 146 | Introduction to Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems | 3 |
| SFBS 445R | Culinary Marketing: Farm/Table | 3 |
| SOCI 355 | Population and Society | 3 |
| SOCI 470 | Environmental Sociology | 3 |
| Up to 12 credits required in a minor or in a second degree program may be applied toward the Natural Science and Public Policy electives. | ||