BA.SO.EN - Sociology-Environmental Studies (Major)

Total credit requirements for a Sociology-Environmental Studies major: 59 (34 credits in Sociology and 25 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 Humanities: Take two elective courses from the list below.

    • Environmental Natural and Physical Sciences: Take 7 credits in elective courses from the list below from at least two departments, including 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

• 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 Sociology-Environmental Studies Majors

• Complete the Common Requirements for all Environmental Studies Majors (25 Credits)

• Required Sociology Courses

  • Sociology 117, 207, 229, 251, and 490

  • Sociology 325, 329, or 353

  • Sociology 492 or 498

  • One additional four-credit elective course in Sociology

• Additional Required Courses

  • Environmental Studies 488 or 498

  • One additional relevant foundational course in Environmental Social Sciences outside of Sociology

• Senior Requirements

  • Sociology 490; and 492 or 498

  • Environmental Studies 488 or 498, which involve a written thesis

  • Pass a comprehensive oral examination.

• Honors

  • Students do not apply for admission to candidacy for honors.

  • Students must submit a proposal for their thesis within the first six weeks of the two-semester period in which they are eligible.

  • Accumulated at least 87 credits

  • Completed two semesters of residency at Whitman

  • Major GPA of at least 3.500

  • Complete a written thesis prepared exclusively for the satisfaction of this program.

  • Earn a grade of at least A- on the honors thesis 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 digital copy of the honors thesis must be submitted to Penrose Library no later than Reading Day.