This minor adopts a trans-disciplinary and interdisciplinary approach to introduce students to environmental and sustainability concepts, challenges, and approaches. It explores different theories and processes that inform environmental debates, activism and policy-making across geographic regions and cultures. The minor offers the breadth and depth of interdisciplinary inquiry, integrating knowledge across the social sciences, the humanities, legal and business studies. The minor helps students develops analytical tools and skills for understanding the physical, human, and social environment, while emphasizing the role of beliefs, values, ethics and aesthetics in shaping human behavior.
Environmental Studies is taught by faculty from across a wide range of disciplines, including anthropology, literature, history, human geography, public administration, and sociology. Topic areas explored in the minor include: biodiversity, sustainability, population growth, urbanization, development, climate change, global warming, agriculture and food (in)security, pollution, species extinction, water scarcity, the global economy, mass consumption, environmental awareness, disasters, policy frameworks, the role of governments, NGOs and other institutions, ethical considerations, long term historical processes (such as industrialization, state-building, consumerism, and colonialism), and socio-ecological justice.
The minor will develop knowledge about issues of ecology, resources, and sustainability; and help students understand how to address environmental challenges and opportunities. The minor will sharpen awareness about the interplay between the human and environment dimension and enable students to develop core skills for further advanced environmental study and career progression.
