Why Earn an Environmental Studies Minor ?
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You may enjoy learning about and gaining a better understanding of the complex environmental issues faced by society. You also may want to develop or refine your environmental values, either as a better informed individual or for a career goal. Also, this type of broad-based program may make you more "marketable" when you graduate, especially if you are interested in an environmental area.
Most academic majors encourage you to specialize on a relatively narrow subject area. While this is important, solutions to "real world" issues often benefit from perspective and understanding gained beyond a single academic discipline. For this reason, interdisciplinary programs are beneficial.
The Environmental Studies Program allows you to explore a range of disciplines. It helps put other coursework into perspective. A minor in Environmental Studies demonstrates to prospective employers that you have not only the depth required in your major field, but breadth beyond that field.
The Environmental Studies minor can enhance career opportunities in areas such as laboratory or field research, planning and design, policy making, public information and education, regulatory compliance, or information management.
Who is Eligible?
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- Any undergraduate student at SIUC is eligible to earn a minor in Environmental Studies. The Environmental Studies Program is designed to accommodate students in practically any major.
What are the Course Requirements?
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- You need to complete at least 5 courses ( a total of at least 15 credits). Depending on your major, courses that satisfy the requirements for the major also may be applied to the minor in Environmental Studies.
There are 3 core courses, and you can choose 2 elective courses from among more than 75 taught in 23 SIUC departments in 5 Colleges: Agriculture, Education, Engineering, Liberal Arts, and Science. Departments offering approved elective courses currently include Agribusiness Economics, General Agriculture, Animal Science, Anthropology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Civil Engineering, Curriculum and Instruction, Economics, Forestry, Geography, Geology, Health Education and Recreation, History, Mechanical Engineering, Microbiology, Philosophy, Physiology, Plant Biology, Plant and Soil Science, Sociology, Speech Communication, and Zoology.
Does it Take Extra Time to Earn a Minor in Environmental Studies?
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- If you begin the program in your freshman or sophomore year, probably not. The longer you wait to begin the Environmental Studies Program, however, the more likely you will need to spend additional time to satisfy the program requirements.
What Happens After I Complete the Program?
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- When you have met the program requirements and those of your major department for a bachelor's degree, you will receive a minor in Environmental Studies. It will be noted on your final university transcript that you have completed the program. Most important, you will have an undergraduate experience that combines depth and breadth, an interdisciplinary view of how different areas of expertise can be integrated to address environmental issues.
Where Can I Get More Information?
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- Come by the Environmental Studies Program office in Life Science II, Room 354A, or call us at (618) 453-4143.
Who is on the Environmental Studies Program Advisory Committee?
- George A. Feldhamer (Program Coordinator), Department of Zoology
- John H. Burde, Department of Forestry
- Lizette Chevalier, Department of Civil Engineering
- Jack Crelling, Department of Geology
- Kathy Fahey, Department of Library Affairs
- John Haddock, Department of Microbiology
- Steve Kraft, Department of Agribusiness Economics
- Christopher Lant, Department of Geography
- Dan Sitarz, Nova Publishing/Earth Press
- Gertrude L. Volk, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
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