Total credit requirements for a Biology-Environmental Studies major: 66 (including 27 credits in Biology, 14 credits in supporting Science, and 25 credits in required coursework for all Environmental Studies majors)
Common Requirements for all Environmental Studies Majors
- Required Courses
- Introductory Coursework: Environmental Studies 120 and 207
- Foundation Coursework: Fulfill the following requirements for the two areas outside of your area of concentration (arts and humanities, natural and physical sciences, or social sciences).
- Environmental Arts and Humanities: Take two elective courses from the list below.
- Environmental Natural and Physical Sciences: Take 7 credits in elective courses from the list below. Credits must come from at least two departments, and include at least one course with a lab.
- Environmental Social Sciences: Take two elective courses from the list below.
- Interdisciplinary Coursework: Take one interdisciplinary elective from the list below.
- Senior Coursework: Environmental Studies 479
- Additional Requirements
- Fulfill all of the requirements for a major in a specific area of concentration, chosen from:
- Environmental Arts and Humanities: Art-Environmental Studies or Environmental Humanities
- Environmental Natural and Physical Sciences: Biology-Environmental Studies, Chemistry-Environmental Studies, Geology-Environmental Studies, or Physics-Environmental Studies
- Environmental Social Sciences: Anthropology-Environmental Studies, Economics-Environmental Studies, History-Environmental Studies, Politics-Environmental Studies, or Sociology-Environmental Studies
- Fulfill all of the requirements for a major in a specific area of concentration, chosen from:
- Senior Requirements
- Environmental Studies 479
- Further requirements as specified by the chosen major
- Honors
- Specified within each major
- Notes
- Up to 8 transfer credits may be applied to a major in Environmental Studies.
- No courses taken P-D-F can be applied toward the major.
Requirements for Biology-Environmental Studies Majors
- Complete the Common Requirements for all Environmental Studies Majors (25 Credits)
- Required Biology Courses
- Biology 101, 101L, 102, and 102L
- 3 credits of Biology 490 or 498
- Biology 499
- Upper-level electives (at least 3 credits must be taken at the 200-level before proceeding to coursework at the 300-level):
- Three credits in Molecular/Cell Biology
- Four credits in Organismal Biology
- Eight credits in Ecology/Evolution
- Required Supporting Science Courses
- Chemistry 125, 126, 135, and 136; or 140
- Chemistry 245
- Mathematics 124 or 125; or a course in statistics (Mathematics 128 or 247, Economics 227, Psychology 210, or Sociology 208)
- Senior Requirements
- 3 credits of Biology 490 or 498
- Biology 499
- One-hour oral exam and a passing score on the senior written exam
- Honors
- Students do not apply for admission to candidacy for honors.
- Accumulated at least 87 credits
- Completed two semesters of residency at Whitman
- Major GPA of at least 3.500
- Complete a written thesis or research project prepared exclusively for the satisfaction of this program.
- Earn a grade of at least A- on the honors thesis or project and the honors thesis course.
- Pass the senior assessment with distinction.
- Chair of the department will notify the Registrar of students attaining honors no later than the beginning of Week 12.
- An acceptable copy of the Honors Thesis must be submitted to Penrose Library no later than Reading Day.
- Notes
- Courses in Physics are recommended.
Foundational Environmental Arts and Humanities Courses
Note: Not all of the courses listed below are offered regularly. Students should consult the current course schedule to see which courses are available.
Some Special/Variable Topics courses not otherwise listed below may satisfy the Foundational Arts and Humanities course requirement. If applicable, this will be noted in the course description.
Course substitutions for Foundational and Interdisciplinary coursework must be approved by the Environmental Studies Committee.
All Environmental Studies majors except those concentrating in Environmental Humanities must take at least two of the following courses. Art-Environmental Studies majors must take one Humanities course chosen from this list.
Foundational Environmental Social Sciences Courses
Note: Not all of the courses listed below are offered regularly. Students should consult the current course schedule to see which courses are available.
Some Special/Variable Topics courses not otherwise listed below may satisfy the Foundational Environmental Social Sciences course requirement. If applicable, this will be noted in the course description.
Course substitutions for Foundational and Interdisciplinary coursework must be approved by the Environmental Studies Committee.
All Environmental Studies majors except those concentrating in Anthropology, Economics, History, Politics, or Sociology must take at least two of the following course from at least two different departments.
Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies Courses
Note: Not all of the courses listed below are offered regularly. Students should consult the current course schedule to see which courses are available.
Some Special/Variable Topics courses not otherwise listed below may satisfy the Interdisciplinary course requirement. If applicable, this will be noted in the course description.
Course substitutions for Foundational and Interdisciplinary coursework must be approved by the Environmental Studies Committee.
All Environmental Studies majors, regardless of concentration, must take at least one of the following courses.
Three Credits in Molecular/Cell Biology
Students majoring in Biology-Environmental Studies must take at least three credits in Molecular/Cell Biology, chosen from the following.
Note: Not all of the courses listed below are offered regularly. Students should consult the current course schedule to see which courses are available.
Some Special/Variable Topics courses not otherwise listed below may count toward the Molecular/Cell Biology course requirement. If applicable, this will be noted in the course description.
Four Credits in Organismal Biology
Students majoring in Biology, Biology+French, Biology-Geology, or Biology-Environmental Studies must take at least four credits in Organismal Biology, chosen from the following.
Note: Not all of the courses listed below are offered regularly. Students should consult the current course schedule to see which courses are available.
Some Special/Variable Topics courses not otherwise listed below may count toward the Organismal Biology course requirement. If applicable, this will be noted in the course description.
Eight Credits in Ecology/Evolution
Students majoring in Biology-Environmental Studies must take at least eight credits in Ecology/Evolution, chosen from the following.
Note: Not all of the courses listed below are offered regularly. Students should consult the current course schedule to see which courses are available.
Some Special/Variable Topics courses not otherwise listed below may count toward the Ecology/Evolution course requirement. If applicable, this will be noted in the course description.