Environmental Studies Minor

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Admission Criteria

Current UB students seeking admission to the Environmental Studies minor should complete the College of Arts and Sciences Major/Minor Change Request Form.

Course Requirements

Introductory Course (3 credits)

EVS 118LEC - Introduction to Environmental and Sustainability Studies Credits: 3

Social Sciences/ Humanities Core: two courses (6 credits)

EVS 201LEC - Climate Change & Sustainability Credits: 3
EVS 220LEC - Nature Through Time Credits: 3
EVS 238LEC - Science, Religion, and Nature Credits: 3
EVS 250LR - Environmental Justice Credits: 3
EVS 341LEC - Environment & Society Credits: 3

Natural Sciences Core: three classes (7 credits)

Students must complete one set of three GEO or GLY; all must be from the same department.

GEO 101LEC - Earth Systems Science Credits: 3
GEO 105LAB - Earth, Environment, and Climate Laboratory Credits: 1
GEO 106LEC - Global Climate Change Credits: 3 OR
ERT 101LEC - Natural Hazards Credits: 3
ERT 105LAB - Natural Hazards and Climate Change:Past, Present, Future Credits: 1
ERT 102LEC - Climate Change Credits: 3

Total Credits Required for Minor: 31

Total Credit Hours Required represents the minimum credits needed to complete this program, and may vary based on a number of circumstances. This chart should not be used for financial aid purposes.

Academic Requirements

Students must attain a 2.330 GPA in the minor for degree conferral. All classes completed for the minor will be used to calculate the minor GPA.
All transfer courses officially articulated to UB courses used in the Environmental Studies major will be accepted to meet minor requirements.

Transfer Credit Policy

At least 50 percent of coursework toward the minor must be completed at UB.

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete this minor will:

Comprehend the fundamental concepts of ecology and environmental science.
Explain the interconnections between natural systems and human activities.
Integrate knowledge from various disciplines including biology, chemistry, geology, and social sciences to address environmental issues.
Recognize the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in solving complex environmental problems.
Analyze environmental policies and their impacts on society and the environment.
Understand ethical considerations and debates surrounding environmental issues and sustainability.
Utilize scientific methods to gather, analyze, and interpret environmental data.
Gain practical experience through fieldwork and laboratory exercises.
Use modern tools and technologies for environmental monitoring and analysis.