Providing Undergraduates with Interdisciplinary Training in Environmental Studies
In October 2000, the College of Arts and Sciences at The University of Alabama approved a new minor in Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies. The minor is housed in New College and co-sponsored by the Department of Geography.
The objective of the minor is to provide undergraduates with interdisciplinary training in Environmental Studies. This training draws on the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences. The minor acquaints students with current environmental problems and gives them the tools of analysis to identify causes and work toward solutions. The minor does not compete with the Environmental Science major, but complements and supplements the offerings of that major.
The minor consists of 18 hours, including at least 6 hours at the 300-400 level earned on this campus. In addition to the required courses, students must also take 6-7 hours of environmentally related electives. Through the students’ choice of electives, they may focus their minor on the humanities, the social sciences, or the natural sciences; or they may spread their electives across all three approaches.
Students enrolled in the minor are eligible for the Watson Memorial Endowed Scholarship, which provides tuition support to a New College student in Environmental Studies.
Features of the Program:
- required courses taught as discussion-oriented seminars, with a limit of 20 students
- incorporation of fieldtrips into required courses (e.g. to an organic farm, Moundville, recycling center, water reatment plant, poultry processing plant, etc.)
- independent study opportunities, such as fieldwork at the University Arboretum under the direction of their horticulturist and environmental educator or design work on the New College solar car project.
- hiking and camping trips
- involvement with local environmental groups (e.g. Alabama Environmental Council, Alabama Animal Rights Fellowship, Friends of Hurricane Creek, Friends of the Arboretum, etc.)
Required Courses
- New 230 “Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies”
And one of the following two courses:
- New 215 "Perspectives in Environmental Literature" or
- GY 452 Environmental Decision Making
Elective Courses
Choose 10-11 hours of electives, such that your total hours in the minor equal at least 18 hours, including 6 hours at the 300-400 level. Courses other than those listed below may be approved at the discretion of the coordinator.
- BSC 305 “Biology, Environment and Resource Development”
- BSC 385 “General Ecology”
- BSC 482 “Conservation Biology”
- EC 480 “Economics of the Environment and Natural Resources”
- GEO 202 “Environmental Geology”
- GY 318 Geography of National Parks
- GEO 363 “Geomorphology”
- GEO 460 “Watershed Hydrology”
- GY 410 “Water Resources Policy and Management”
- GY 439 “Natural Resources and Environment Planning”
- GY 452 “Environmental Decision Making”
- GY 453 “Environment and Society”
- GY 467 “Topics in Global Environmental Change”
- GY 484 “Environmental Science for Teachers”
- CH 107 “Introductory Chemistry for Non-Majors I”
- NEW 218 “Environmental Literature”
- NEW TBA “Social Science II: A Sense of Place”
- NEW 226 “Organic Farming”
- NEW 310 “Independent Study”
- REL 305 “Religion and Environmental Crisis”
- AMS 306 “Discovering the American Landscape”
For More Information
Coordinator, Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies Minor
Michael K. Steinberg, PhD
mksteinberg@as.ua.edu
New College Director
Dr. Jim Hall
(205) 348-8408
jhall2@nc.ua.edu
107C Carmichael Hall
New College Program Assistant
Margaret D’Souza
(205) 348-8400
mdsouza@nc.ua.edu
107B Carmichael Hall
New College Records Specialist
Lori Pittman
(205) 348-8407
lpittman@nc.ua.edu
107A Carmichael Hall
New College
107 Carmichael Hall
Box 870229
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0229
Phone: (205) 348-4600
Fax: (205) 348-8417
