Environmental Sciences

The field of environmental sciences challenges students to examine both the ecological and social underpinnings of environmental issues and the complex interplay among these systems at local to global scales. The Department of Environmental Sciences at Emory University offers an interdisciplinary curriculum that combines coursework in both natural and social sciences and the humanities. Because environmental issues transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries, the structure and content of the Environmental Sciences (ENVS) curriculum emphasizes systems thinking and integrative learning. Classroom activities and field and individual study courses allow students to engage in real world issues. The curriculum is designed to sharpen critical thinking and problem solving skills by challenging students to translate theory and classroom learning into practice. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in internships and/or research, and to study abroad when possible.

The major in Environmental Sciences is an 11-course sequence consisting of 4 Foundation Courses, 3 Intermediate Breadth Courses, 4 Upper-Level electives, and 1 Independent Study Course, as described below.

Within these requirements, at least one approved 4-hour Field Course and one Upper-Level Lab Course or two approved 4-hour Field Courses or two Upper-Level Lab Courses (200-level or higher courses with lab component, at least 4 hours each) must be completed. Students may satisfy the lab and/or field course requirements while fulfilling either the Intermediate Breadth Course or Upper Level Elective requirements.

Students may earn either a BA or a BS in Environmental Sciences, with additional science coursework required for the BS. The same general major requirements apply for students in either degree track. Under certain circumstances, relevant classes from ENVS or other Emory University departments or programs may be substituted for a required ENVS class. Course Substitutions are part of the flexibility of an ENVS major and are intended to enhance student academic opportunities. However, normally no more than one Substitution request will be approved towards completion of ENVS requirements. Substitution Petition forms may be picked up at the ENVS department and should be submitted to the ENVS Academic Degree Programs Coordinator. Deadlines for Substitution Petitions are: Fall semester: September 30; Spring semester: February 28.

FOUNDATION COURSES (11 hrs)

Foundation courses introduce students to topics, skills, and methods that they will encounter in upper level courses throughout their undergraduate experience, including upper level courses and independent study classes in Environmental Sciences. 

FOUR REQUIRED COURSES:

1. *ENVS 130: Environmental Sciences (3 hrs)
2. **ENVS 131: Intro to Field Studies (2 hrs)
3. ENVS 260: Quantitative Methods in Environmental Sciences (prerequisite: QTM 100) (4hrs)
4. ENVS 390: Seminar in Environmental Issues (2hrs)

*in some cases, ENVS 120: Living in the Anthropocene may be substituted for ENVS 130
**ENVS_OX 131 fulfills the requirement of both ENVS 130 and ENVS 131

Notes:

• Students with a score of 4 or 5 on the AP Environmental Science exam will receive credit for ENVS 130; this credit must be reflected on the transcript
• ENVS 131 is a prerequisite for most intermediate and upper level ENVS classes.
• ENVS 260 should be completed before upper level classes or independent study courses are attempted; it is recommended that students complete the prerequisite, QTM 100, in their freshmen year. 
• ENVS 390 is typically completed in the Junior or Senior year.

INTERMEDIATE BREADTH REQUIREMENTS (12-14 hrs)

Following the introductory ENVS 131, students must take at least one currently approved 200-level course from each of the three disciplines comprising Environmental Sciences (ecology, earth sciences, social sciences). Currently approved courses in each discipline are listed below.

Ecology/Conservation

• ENVS 232: Fundamentals of Ecology w/Lab (4hrs)
• ENVS 240: Ecosystem Ecology (3hrs) or ENVS 240 w/lab (4hrs)
• ENVS/BIOL 247: Ecology and 247LWR: Ecology Lab (4-6hr; 247LWR is not required to fulfill the Breadth Course requirement, but it will fulfill the Upper Level Lab requirement if taken with ENVS/BIOL 247)

Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

• ENVS 222: Evolution of the Earth w/lab (4hrs)
• ENVS 229: Atmospheric Science w/lab (4 hrs)
• ENVS 230: Introductory Geoscience w/lab (4hrs)
• ENVS 235: Environmental Geology (3hrs)
• ENVS 241/242: Modern and Ancient Tropical Environments (1hr/3hrs; fulfills field course requirement)

Social Science and Policy

• ENVS 225: Institutions and the Environment (3hrs)
• ENVS 227: Environmental Policy (3hrs/4hrs WRT)
• ENVS 228: Environmental Policy with Lab (4hrs/5hrs WRT)

UPPER LEVEL ELECTIVES (14-18 hrs)

Upper level electives (14-18hrs) Students must complete four upper-level (200, 300, 400) elective courses. When choosing upper level electives (including the required field course), the student should consult with their academic advisor and focus his/her course choices in a particular area which can be supported by the academic specialty of an ENVS faculty member(s). The focus area electives choices are intended to prepare the student for independent study or honors research during his/her senior year. Elective courses should be chosen in consultation with the student’s academic advisor. For a current list of possible electives, consult the ENVS Course list on the ENVS website.

Examples of focus areas:
1. Conservation and Resource Management
2. Environment and Health
3. Urban Ecology
4. Environmental Policy

Examples of Elective choices for a focus in Environment and Health:

• ENVS 250: Fundamentals of Cartography and GIS
• ENVS 321: Geology and Health
• ENVS 359: Ecology and Evolution of Disease
• ENVS 483: Spatial Analysis in Disease Ecology

Examples of Elective choices for a focus in Environmental Policy:

• ENVS 250: Fundamentals of Cartography and GIS
• ENVS 325: Energy and Climate Change
• ENVS/HIST 344: American Environmental History
• ENVS/POLS 377WR: International Environmental Policy

INDEPENDENT STUDY (4hrs)

Students must earn 4 credit hours in one of the following independent study classes (detailed infromation about Independent Study courses can be found here). Students should only consider individual directed reading (ENVS 498) an option when they are highly motivated to study a subject than is not taught in regular classes and for which there is a faculty member with relevant specialization. In addition to the courses in the bulleted list below, pre-approved study abroad courses may also fulfill the requirement:

• ENVS 491: Service Learning in Environmental Sciences
• ENVS 494: Individual Research in Environmental Sciences
• ENVS 495R: Honors research
• ENVS 497R: Undergraduate Internship
• ENVS 498R: Individual Directed Reading
• ENVS 499R: Independent Research

FIELD COURSE & UPPER LEVEL LAB COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Students must complete at least one approved Field Course and one Upper-Level Lab Course or two approved Field Courses or two Upper-Level Lab Courses during their 11 course ENVS major sequence. The lab and field course requirements are not in addition to the above listed course requirements, and may be fulfilled either by one of the three Intermediate Breadth course or by one of the four Upper Level elective courses.

• Upper Level Lab Course:  Any ENVS course above the 100-level that includes a required lab component will fulfill the Upper Level Lab course requirement

• Field Course:The courses listed below currently fulfill the field course requirement. In addition to the bulleted list of courses below, pre-approved study abroad courses may also fulfill the requirement.
  • ENVS 241/242: Modern and Ancient Tropical Environments (1/3 hrs)
  • ENVS/BIOL 371/371: Ecology of the Tropics (2/2 hrs)
  • ENVS 444: Ecosystems of the South Eastern United States (4 hrs)
  • ENVS 446SAF: Field studies in Southern Africa, Namibia, and Botswana (6 hrs)
  • ENVS 442: Ecology of Emory w/ Lab (4 hrs)

• Common Application or Coalition Application
• A $75 application fee or application fee waiver
• Official high school transcripts
• Official college transcripts, if applicable
• Official scores from the SAT and/or the ACT; if English is your second language, it is highly recommended that you submit results from the TOEFL or IELTS
  • Testing Codes: SAT/TOEFL: 5187; ACT: 0810
• Secondary school report/counselor’s recommendation
• Two teacher letters of recommendation
• Mid-year report (due January 25 for EDII; February 15 for RD applicants)
• As an international applicant, you are required to certify that you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses while attending Emory University. You will need to download a copy of the International/Financial Certification form (FIF), which should be completed and returned to the Office of Admission. We also will accept a note or statement from your bank or financial institution as proof of sufficient funding.

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Scholarships

Emory University is committed to enrolling a talented first year class with representation from all corners of the globe. In accordance with this philosophy, we offer need-based financial aid awards to a select group of international students each year. As well, international applicants are encouraged to apply for merit-based scholarships through the Emory University Scholar Programs (November 15 deadline).

In order to be considered for a need-based financial assistance, international students need simply apply under our Regular Decision plan. An international student is considered a student who is NOT a U.S. citizen and NOT a U.S. permanent resident. Students who hold F1, F2, J1, J2, or G series visas or other eligible non-citizens (humanitarian parole, Cuban-Haitian Entrant, refugee status, asylum) are considered international students. Please note, these are a few of the many visas and immigration categories we work with in the admission process.

International students who apply for need-based financial aid will be reviewed as a separate cohort of applicants. In our admission process, we must be “need-aware” for international students. This means that when reviewing applications from students who are not citizens or Permanent Residents of the United States, Emory University takes into account whether or not an applicant has requested financial assistance. As a result of this need-aware approach and the limited funds available to international students, Emory’s admission rate for international applicants requesting need-based financial aid is notably lower than the rate of acceptance for those students not requesting aid. Because of this, we advise students to apply for financial aid only if they do not have the resources to fund their education, and to complete the financial aid form as accurately as possible.

International students are only eligible for financial aid if they apply for support during the admission process. Students who are certain they will need financial aid at any point during their years at Emory / Oxford must apply for financial aid during the admission process. Only those students who apply for and receive financial aid for their freshman year will be eligible to receive financial assistance in subsequent years.

International students receiving financial aid from Emory / Oxford must plan to contribute funding towards their educational expenses. For example, students will be responsible for travel expenses to the U.S. from their home country. Emory University cannot assume responsibility for economic changes such as currency fluctuation, nor can it replace lost support that a student may have expected to receive from relatives, sponsors, or government and corporate grants.

Students in the process of obtaining permanent residency status, or "Permanent Residence Pending" status in the United States, should be aware that they cannot be considered for federal financial aid until the receive actual documentation of their immigration status and provide it to the university.