The minor in environmental studies has as its central organizing principle that to understand the human/environment relationship, students must understand how to examine this relationship from multiple disciplinary perspectives, within and outside the natural sciences. The minor draws on fundamental scientific knowledge in mathematics, chemistry, engineering, physics, and biology to provide an advanced scientific understanding of contemporary environmental challenges, such as air and water pollution or the potential for alternative energy supplies. In addition, Environmental Studies provides a broadly integrated understanding of the social, political, and historical context of our environmental challenges. It also examines the ethical and moral aspects of humankind’s relationship with non-human animals and other species, ecosystems, and the planetary commons to determine the nature and extent of humankind’s moral responsibilities concerning the natural world. TCNJ also offers an Environmental Sustainability Education Minor.
The Environmental Studies minor is a six-course minor – five courses and one co-requisite course.
- Required Core Course (1 unit): ENV 200: Introduction to Environmental Studies. Grade C or better required.
- Two courses from natural sciences and engineering approved course options (2 units). Students should choose from two different disciplines. Note: Geology and Meteorology are considered two different disciplines even though they both have a PHY course prefix at TCNJ.
- Two courses from social sciences and humanities approved course options (2 units). Students should choose from two different disciplines.
- 1 co-requisite in Quantitative Literacy (1 unit): MAT 127 Calculus A or STA 145 Applied Statistics for the Social Sciences or STA 215 Inferential Statistics or ECO 105 Statistics (Business students only). C grade or better required.
Students may elect to complete one course unit of independent study, independent research, or internship in environmental studies (ENV 391, 393, and 399) in lieu of one class in either natural sciences and engineering or social sciences and humanities options.
Students who complete ENV 391, 393, or 399 as their fourth elective must follow TCNJ and relevant departmental policies regarding independent study, independent research, and/or internship experiences. If the faculty advisor for ENV 391, 393, or 399 is not a member of the current Environmental Studies Faculty Committee, the final written component for the experience must be evaluated by a member of the committee in the same or closely related discipline prior to the assignment of a final grade.
To declare the Environmental Studies minor, please download the Minor form from from Records and Registration and send to Program Director Dr. Diane Bates for signature and advising.