SUNY ESF
Department of Environmental Studies
The Environmental Studies program emphasizes interdisciplinary social science, humanities and natural science approaches to environmental understanding and stewardship.
ES programs maintain a strong academic orientation, facilitating student and faculty engagement with fundamental environmental challenges and dynamics such as multiple and conflicting levels of environmental governance, participatory democracy, sustainable development, uses and limits of scientific prediction, discourses of environment, cultural expressions of nature, risk, and ecological sustainability.
Contact
Theresa Selfa
Chair
211 Baker Laboratory
tselfa@esf.edu
315-470-6570
*Special Course Codes
Code indicates course meets certain program or accreditation requirements. Ignore if there is no relevance to this program of study.
G = General Education Course (GenEd)
E = Engineering
ES = Engineering Sciences
M = Mathematics
NS = Natural Sciences
PE = Professional Education
S = Summer only course
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Education and Interpretation
Environmental Education and Interpretation
Environmental Education teaches people of all ages about the natural environment, so that they can make informed decisions on how to care for it.
Interpretation is a communications process that reveals meanings and relationships about natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources. Interpretation and environmental education work hand-in-hand to help make connections between the world of science and the public. Through the art of interpretation, students will learn how to help people make connections with the natural world and science through educational programs and materials.
Required Courses
| Course Number | Course | Codes* | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| APM 104 OR APM 105 |
College Algebra and Precalculus Survey of Calculus and Its Applications I |
G G |
3 4 |
| APM 391 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics | G | 3 |
| EFB 101 | General Biology I: Organismal Biology and Ecology | G | 3 |
| EFB 102 | General Biology I Laboratory | G | 1 |
| EFB 103 | General Biology II: Cell Biology and Genetics | G | 3 |
| EFB 104 | General Biology II Laboratory | G | 1 |
| EFB 120 | The Global Environment and the Evolution of Human Society | G | 3 |
| EFB 202 | Ecological Monitoring and Biodiversity Assessment | 3 | |
| EFB 210 | Diversity of Life I | 3 | |
| EFB 211 | Diversity of Life II | 3 | |
| EFB 320 | General Ecology | 4 | |
| EST 132 | Orientation Seminar for Environmental Studies | 1 | |
| EST 133 | Introduction to Environmental Studies | 3 | |
| EST 361 | History of the American Environmental Movement | G | 3 |
| EST 370 | Introduction to Personal Environmental Interpretation Methods | 3 | |
| EST 407 | Assessment for Environmental Programs | 3 | |
| EST 415 | Environmental Justice | 3 | |
| EST 444 | Creative Responses to the Environment | 3 | |
| EST 471 | Non-Personal Environmental Interpretation Methods | 3 | |
| EST 494 | Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies | 1 | |
| EST 499 | Internship in Environmental Studies | 3 | |
| EWP 190 | Writing and the Environment | G | 3 |
| EWP 290 | Research Writing and Humanities | G | 3 |
| FCH 150 | General Chemistry I | G | 3 |
| FCH 151 | General Chemistry Laboratory I | G | 1 |
| FOR 372 | Fundamentals of Outdoor Recreation | 3 |
Electives
| Course | Codes* | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Course in one of the following categories:The Arts, Western Civilization, Other World Civilizations, Foreign Language | G | 3 |
| Directed Electives | 30 | |
| Open Electives | 21 |
Directed Electives: Environmental Education & Interpretation
- Conservation Biology and Resource Management
At least 6 credits hours must be in the subject area of advanced conservation biology and Management. Allowable courses are listed below. The list may vary slightly from year to year.- EFB 370 Population Ecology and Management
- EFB 390 Wildlife Ecology & Management (4 cr.) F
- EFB 413 Introduction to Conservation Biology (4 cr.) S
- EFB 423 Marine Biology (4 cr.) S even years
- EFB 487 Fisheries Science and Management (3 cr.) F
- EST 220 Urban Ecology (3 cr.) F
- FOR 332 Forest Ecology (4 cr.) F
- FOR 404 Ecotourism Abroad (3 cr.) S
- FOR 475 Recreation Behavior and Management (3 cr.) F
- FOR 476 Ecotourism and Nature Tourism (3 cr.) F
- Advanced Communication
At least 6 credit hours must be in the subject area of advanced communication. Allowable courses are listed below. The list may vary slightly from year to year.- EST 395 Public Communication of Science and Technology (3 cr.) S
- EST 493 Environmental Communication WOrkshop (3 cr.) S
- EWP 390 Literature of Nature (3 cr.) F, S
- EWP 394 The Art of Storytelling (3 cr.) F
- EWP 407 Writing for Environmental and Science Professionals (3 cr.) F, S
- EWP 420 Public Presentation Skills (3 cr.) F, S
- EWP 450 Digital Storytelling (3 cr.) F, S
- EWP 494 Creative Non-fiction in the Sciences (3 cr.) S
- LSA 300 Digital Methods and Graphics I (3 cr.) F
- Advanced Environmental Education and Interpretation
At least 3 credit hours must be in the subject area of advanced interpretation. Allowable courses are listed below. The list may vary slightly from year to year.- EST 333 Inquiry-Based Science Education (3 cr.) S
- EST 472 Natural History Museums and Modern Science (3 cr.) Maymester
- EST 474 Advanced Interpretation and Environmental Education (3 cr.) S
- Organismal Diversity
To encourage breadth in organism-level biology, students must complete 12 credit hours in any combination from this list.- Earth Sciences
- EST 231 Environmental Geology (3 cr.) S
- FOR 338 Meteorology (3 cr.) S
- FOR 340 Watershed Hydrology (3 cr.) S
- FOR 345 Introduction to Soils (3 cr.) F
- FOR 442 Watershed Ecology and Management (3 cr.) F
- Diversity of Microorganisms
- EFB 303 Introductory Environmental Microbiology (4 cr.) F
- EFB 340 Forest and Shade Tree Pathology (3 cr.) S
- EFB 342 Fungal Diversity and Ecology (3 cr.) CLBS
- EFB 428 Mycorrhizal Ecology (3cr.) F, even years
- EFB 440 Mycology (3 cr.) F
- Diversity of Plants
- EFB 326 Plant Evolution, Diversification and Conservation (3 cr.) S
- EFB 327 Adirondack Flora (3 cr.) CLBS
- EFB 336 Dendrology (3 cr.) F
- EFB 337 Field Ethnobotany (3 cr.) CLBS
- EFB 435 Flowering Plants: Diversity, Evolution, and Systematics (3 cr.) F
- EFB 446 Ecology of Mosses (3 cr.) S
- EFB 496 Flora of Central NY (3 cr.) Maymester
- EFB 496 Wetland Plants & Communities of Adirondacks (3 cr.) CLBS
- Diversity of Invertebrate Animals
- EFB 351 Principles of Forest Entomology (3 cr.) S
- EFB 352 Elements of Entomology (3 cr.) F
- EFB 355 Invertebrate Zoology (4 cr.) S
- EFB 453 Parasitology (3 cr.) F
- EFB 554 Aquatic Entomology (3 cr.) F
- Diversity of Vertebrate Animals
- EFB 388 Ecology of Adirondack Fishes (3 cr.) CLBS
- EFB 482 Ornithology (4 cr.) S
- EFB 483 Mammal Diversity (4 cr.) F
- EFB 484 Winter Mammalian Ecology (3 cr.) S
- EFB 485 Herpetology (3 cr.) S
- EFB 486 Ichthyology (3 cr.) S
- Earth Sciences
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
At least 3 credit hours are required in this subject area related to the inclusion of diverse perspectives in Environmental Education and Interpretation.- EFB 305 Indigenous Issues and the Environment (3 cr.) S
- EST 140 Introduction to Native Peoples, Lands and Cultures (3 cr.) S
- EST 204 Diversity and Knowledge of the Environment (3 cr.) F
- EST 366 Attitudes, Values and the Environment (3 cr.) F even years
- EST 405 Gender, Culture and the Environment (3 cr.) F
Total Minimum Credits For Degree: 123
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies
Students may enter the Bachelor of Science program as first-year students or as transfer students. Students who are preparing to transfer to ESF as juniors must have earned at least 60 credits of college coursework, in courses comparable to the lower-division course requirements as noted below.
In the first two years of the program, students develop a foundation in the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences as they relate to environmental affairs. During that time, students also fulfill SUNY general education requirements and take some open elective courses.
Option Areas
In the final two years of the program, students must select one of three specializations called Option Areas.
Environment, Communication and Society
This option focuses on how communication and social systems influence environmental affairs and shape our perceptions of the non-human world. It addresses the subjects of rhetoric and discourse; news media; public participation; advocacy campaigns; collaboration; conflict resolution; risk communication; social processes; and representations of nature in literature and popular culture.
Environmental Policy, Planning and Law
This option is concerned with how environmental policies, plans, and laws from the local to the global are created, implemented and contested. It emphasizes legislative, regulatory, and collaborative approaches to addressing environmental issues.
Natural Systems Applications
This option is designed for students interested in the interface between biology and socio-economic issues. It provides an emphasis on natural systems and their interactions with societal issues ranging from education to habitat management.
Lower Division Environmental Studies Core Courses
| Course Number | Course | Codes* | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| APM 103 OR APM 104 OR APM 105 |
Applied College Algebra and Trigonometry College Algebra and Precalculus Survey of Calculus and Its Applications I |
G G G |
3 3 4 |
| EFB 101 | General Biology I: Organismal Biology and Ecology | G | 3 |
| EFB 102 | General Biology I Laboratory | G | 1 |
| EFB 103 AND EFB 104 OR EST 231 |
General Biology II: Cell Biology and Genetics General Biology II Laboratory Environmental Geology |
G G |
3 1 3 |
| EFB 120 | The Global Environment and the Evolution of Human Society | G | 3 |
| ESF 200 | Information Literacy | 1 | |
| EST 132 | Orientation Seminar for Environmental Studies | 1 | |
| EST 133 | Introduction to Environmental Studies | 3 | |
| EST 221 | Introduction to American Government | 3 | |
| EST 245 | Foundations of Environmental Communication | 3 | |
| EST 255 | Research Methods for Environmental Studies | 3 | |
| EWP 190 | Writing and the Environment | G | 3 |
| EWP 220 | Public Presentation Skills | 2 - 3 | |
| EWP 290 | Research Writing and Humanities | G | 3 |
| FCH 110 AND FCH 111 OR FCH 150 AND FCH 151 |
Survey of Chemical Principles Survey of Chemical Principles Laboratory General Chemistry I General Chemistry Laboratory I |
G G G |
3 1 3 1 |
| FOR 207 | Introduction to Economics | G | 3 |
Lower Division Electives
| Course | Codes* | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Course in two of the following categories: American History, The Arts, Western Civilization, Other World Civilizations, Foreign Language | G | 6 |
| Directed Electives | 27 | |
| Open Electives | 18 |
Upper Division Environmental Studies Core Courses
| Course Number | Course | Codes* | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| APM 391 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics | G | 3 |
EFB 320 FOR 232 EST 220 FOR 442 LSA 321 |
Ecology- Choose one of the following: General Ecology Natural Resources Ecology Urban Ecology Watershed Ecology and Management Ecological Application in Planning & Design |
4 3 3 3 3 |
|
| EST 321 | Government and the Environment | 3 | |
| EST 361 | History of the American Environmental Movement | G | 3 |
| EST 494 | Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies | 1 | |
| EWP 407 | Writing for Environmental & Science Professionals | 3 | |
| Senior Synthesis | 3 | ||
Upper Division Electives
| Course | Codes* | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Division Computing OR Natural Science Course | 3 |
Environment, Communication and Society Option
| Course Number | Course | Codes* | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| EST 390 | Social Processes and the Environment | 3 | |
| EST 395 | Public Communication of Science and Technology | 3 | |
| EST 493 | Environmental Communication Workshop | 3 | |
| Choose two of the following five courses: EWP 495, EWP 420, ESF 300, EFB 417, EFB 312 | 6 | ||
| Option Courses (Including 3 credits in Methods) | 15 | ||
Environmental Policy, Planning and Law Option
| Course Number | Course | Codes* | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| EST 550 | Environmental Impact Analysis | 3 | |
| Methods Courses | 6 | ||
| Law Option Courses | 3 | ||
| Planning Option Courses | 3 | ||
| Environmental Policy/Planning/Law Option Courses | 15 | ||
Natural Systems Applications Option
| Course Number | Course | Codes* | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field Methods | GIS (Required) | 3 | |
| Scientific breadth | 3 | ||
| Natural Applications Sub options | Natural Systems | 3 | |
| Environmental Quality | 3 | ||
| Social Science | Policy or law courses | 9 | |
| Communication courses | 6 | ||
| Critical Issues in the Environment | 3 |
Total Minimum Credits For Degree: 122-125
(total credits must include a minimum of 51 credit hours at the 300 level or above)