About the Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies
The College of Liberal Arts offers the interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies. Students evaluate vital environmental issues of today and learn how to become part of the range of innovative responses to current challenges.
Through coursework in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, students gain knowledge of:
- Environmental science, including the ecological, meteorological, and chemical systems involved in species conservation, climate change, and pollution mitigation.
- The political, social, and psychological dimensions of human-environmental interactions and policy design.
- The ethics of human-environment interactions and the role of the environment in human history, philosophy, religion, literature, and art.
Beyond the classroom, our students also gain hands-on experience through internships and may also earn credits through fieldwork and study abroad.
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Program Information
Program Type
Major
Minor
Area of Study
Interdisciplinary Programs
School
Degree
Program Location
Required Credit Hours
120
Academic Requirements
Students majoring in Environmental Studies complete 38 hours of coursework. At least 16 of these credit hours can also be counted toward completion of the College of Liberal Arts general education requirements in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The major consists of 10 hours of required introductory courses, 9 hours of core electives, 3 hours of internship, a 1 hour capstone colloquium, and 15 hours of electives. Students must also complete a minor.
Students must take the following 3 required introductory courses:
- Humanities: Envs 101. Introduction to the Environmental Humanities
- Social Sciences: Anth 105. Introduction to Environment and Society
- Natural Sciences: students select one of the following introductory biology courses:
- Bisc 111. The Environment: Integrated Exploration (lab built in) OR
- Bisc 104 & 105. Inquiring into Life: The Environment (and lab) OR
- Bisc 162 & 163. Biological Sciences II (and lab) [recommended for students interested in taking advanced Bisc courses for the major]
Students must also complete one course from each of the following three categories:
- Humanities core electives:
- Phil 245/PPL 345. Environmental Ethics
- Env 405. Nature Writing
- Social science core electives:
- Anth 330. Environmental Anthropology
- Anth 360/Geog 360. Political Ecology
- Anth 417. Environmentalism: Society, Politics, Law
- Anth 420. Environmental Archaeology
- PPL 381. Global Environmental Issues
- Psy 365. Environmental Psychology
- Natural Science core electives:
- Envs 333/Bisc 322. General Ecology
- Envs 333/Bisc 413. Conservation Biology
- Chem 210. Environmental Chemistry I
- Chem 202. Environmental Chemistry II
- Geol 104. Environmental Geology: Hazards
Additional requirements
- Envs 385. Internship in Environmental Studies
- Environmental Studies Capstone Colloquium (1 credit hour)
The remaining 15 hours of coursework must be chosen from the following list of Environmental Studies credit electives:
- Anth 104/Geog 101. Introduction to Human Geography
- Anth 330. Environmental Anthropology
- Anth 338/Geog 338. Food, Place, and Power
- Anth 350. Ice Age North America
- Anth 360/Geog 360. Political Ecology
- Anth 362/Geog 362/Soc 362. Sustainable Development
- Anth 417. Environmentalism: Society, Politics, Law
- Anth 420. Environmental Archaeology
- Bisc 220. Natural Resource Management
- Bisc 318. Botany
- Bisc 320. Introductory Marine Biology
- Bisc 321. Introduction to Aquatic Biology
- Bisc 322. General Ecology
- Bisc 323. Biology of Invasive Species
- Bisc 329. Biology of Fishes
- Bisc 334. Ornithology
- Bisc 337. Introductory Entomology
- Bisc 342. Plant Diversity
- Bisc 345. Symbiosis: From Parasitism to Mutualism
- Bisc 349. Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives
- Bisc 350. Mammalogy
- Bisc 413. Conservation Biology
- Bisc 443. Ecology of Plant Communities of Mississippi
- Bisc 445. Introduction to Coral-Reef Ecology
- Bisc 448. Tropical Studies in Biology
- Bisc 502. Mycology
- Bisc 504. Biometry
- Bisc 505. Aquatic Microbiology
- Bisc 510. Theoretical Ecology
- Bisc 512. Animal Behavior
- Bisc 514. Population Genetics
- Bisc 522. Microbial Ecology
- Bisc 524. Aquatic Botany
- Bisc 525. Conservation and Restoration Ecology
- Bisc 528. Conservation Physiology
- Bisc 530. Advanced Field Study in Ecology
- Bisc 535. Plant-Insect Interactions
- Bisc 540. Chemical Ecology
- Bisc 550. Biological Oceanography
- Bisc 554. Ecological Physiology
- Bisc 568. Infectious Disease Ecology
- C E 471. Environmental Engineering
- Chem 103. Survey of Chemistry I
- Chem 105. General Chemistry I
- Chem 201. Environmental Chemistry I
- Chem 202. Environmental Chemistry II
- Econ 406. Natural Resource Economics
- Eng 388. Studies in British Environmental Lit
- Eng 389. Studies in American Environmental Lit
- Eng 391. Environmental Genres and Forms
- Eng 405. Nature Writing
- Eng 458. Southern Environmental Literature
- Eng 494. Special Topics in Environmental Studies
- Eng 495. Literature and the Nonhuman
- Envs 311. Study Abroad—Humanities and the Environment
- Envs 312. Study Abroad—Social Sciences and the Environment
- Envs 313. Study Abroad—Natural Sciences and the Environment
- Envs 321. Special Topics in Humanities
- Envs 322. Special Topics in Social Sciences
- Envs 323. Special Topics in Natural Sciences
- Envs 333. Natural Sciences for Envs minors
- Envs 385. Environmental Studies Internship
- Envs 397. Topics in Environmental Studies Abroad
- Envs 399. Special Topics in Environmental Studies
- Fr 589. The Environment in French Literature
- G St 391. Women, Gender, and the Environment
- G E 470. Intro to Geographic Information System
- Geol 104. Environmental Geology – Hazards
- Geol 105. Environmental Geology – Resources
- Geol 107. Introduction to Oceanography
- Hst 355. Water in the Middle East
- Math 115. Elementary Statistics
- Math 120. Quantitative Reasoning
- Phil 345/PPL 345. Environmental Ethics
- Phil 348/Rel 390. Nature and Environment in Asian Religion
- Phcl 347/547. Introduction to Environmental Toxicology
- Phcl 349. Specialized Topics in Environmental Health
- Phcl 381/581. Introduction to Toxicology
- PH 300. Environmental Health
- PPL 345/Phil 345. Environmental Ethics
- PPL 381. Global Environmental Issues
- Psy 202. Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
- Psy 350. Ecopsychology and International Youth
- Psy 365. Environmental Psychology
- Rel 390/Phil 348. Nature and Environment in Asian Religion
- S St 536. The Southern Environment
Students minoring in Environmental Studies complete 18 hours of courses.
- Envs 101: Humanities and the Environment or Envs 301: Advanced Humanities and the Environment
- Bisc 104: Inquiry into Life or Bisc 162: Biological Science II
- 15 credit hours of approved electives, with a minimum of 3 hours in the social sciences and a minimum of 3 hours in the natural sciences.
Humanities Category
- Eng 388: Studies in British Environmental Lit
- Eng 389: Studies in American Environmental Lit
- Eng 391: Environmental Genres and Forms
- Eng 405: Nature Writing
- Eng 458: Southern Environmental Literature Writing
- Eng 494: Special Topics in Environmental Studies
- Eng 495: Literature and the Nonhuman
- Envs 311: Study Abroad - Envs & Humanities
- Envs 321: Special Topics in Humanities
- G St 391: Women, Gender, and the Environment
- Hst 355: Water in the Middle East
- Hst 453: Environmental History of the South
- Phil 345: Environmental Ethics
- Rel 390/Phil 348: Nature and Environment in Asian Religion
- S St 536: The Southern Environment
Natural Sciences Category
- Bisc 104: Inquiry into Life: The Environment
- Bisc 162: Biological Sciences II
- Envs 313: Study Abroad: Environment & Natural Science
- Envs 323: Special Topics in Natural Sciences
- Envs 333: Natural Sciences for Envs Minors
- Bisc 220: Natural Resource Management
- Bisc 318: Botany
- Bisc 320: Introductory Marine Biology
- Bisc 321: Introduction to Aquatic Biology
- Bisc 322: General Ecology
- Bisc 329: Biology of Fishes
- Bisc 334: Ornithology
- Bisc 337: Introductory Entomology
- Bisc 342: Plant Diversity
- Bisc 345: Symbiosis
- Bisc 349: Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives
- Bisc 350: Mammology
- Bisc 413: Conservation Biology
- Bisc 443: Ecology of Plant Communities of MS
- Bisc 502: Mycology
- Bisc 510: Theoretical Ecology
- Bisc 512: Animal Behavior
- Bisc 522: Microbial Ecology
- Bisc 524: Aquatic Botany
- Bisc 525: Conservation and Restoration Ecology
- CE 471: Environmental Engineering
- Chem 103: Chemistry for Non Majors OR Chem 105: Chemistry for Majors
- Chem 201: Environmental Chemistry I
- Chem 202: Environmental Chemistry II
- Geol 104: Environmental Geology - Hazards
- Geol 105: Environmental Geology - Resources
- Geol 107: Introduction to Oceanography
- Phcl 347/547: Intro to Environmental Toxicology
- Phcl 349: Specialized Topics in Environmental Health
- Phcl 381/581: Introduction to Toxicology
Social Sciences Category
- Anth 104/Geog 101: Intro to Human Geography
- Anth 105/Geog 105: Intro to Environment and Society
- Anth 319: Environmental History of the South
- Anth 320: Archaeozoology: Animal Use in History
- Anth 330: Environmental Anthropology
- Anth 331: American Indians and the Natural World
- Anth 338: Food, Place, and Power
- Anth 360: Political Ecology
- Anth 417: Environmentalism: Society, Politics, Law
- Econ 406: Environmental Economics
- Envs 312: Study Abroad - Environment & Social Science
- Envs 322: Special Topics in Social Sciences
- PPL 381: Global Environmental Issues
- Psy 350: Ecopsychology and International Youth
- Psy 365: Environmental Psychology
- Soc 411: Environment, Technology, and Society
Enhance your Academic Experience with an Internship
Employers are more likely to hire college graduates who have had internships. We encourage our students to combine coursework with these hands-on, experiential learning opportunities.
Our environmental studies minors have had internship experiences with a broad range of organizations, including:
- UM Office of Sustainability
- UM Field Station
- The Nature Conservancy
- Citizens Climate Lobby
- The Black Earth Institute
- Delta Wind Birds Non-Profit
- Homeplace Pastures Farm
- Farmstead Florals
- NIHT, Inc. (carbon credit sales)
- Mississippi Farm to School Network
- Oxford Community Market
A Word from Our Directors
"The Environmental Studies program at UM prepares students to become innovators and leaders in an effort to meet these environmental challenges head-on. We believe it’s crucial to train students for careers that help create sustainable, just, and climate-resilient communities in Mississippi and beyond. As the shift to sustainability continues to become a major driver of economic growth, technological innovation, and social policy, we aim to ensure that University of Mississippi students are prepared to succeed in the new climate economy."
Cristin Ellis and Deanna Kreisel
Co-Directors of the Environmental Studies Program
Recent Environmental Studies graduates are working in the following roles:
- Director of Federal Affairs, Louisiana Department of Energy & Natural Resources
- Water Resources Engineer, Gresham Smith
- Environmental Educator, South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources
- Environmental Planner, New Orleans Regional Planning Commission
- Research Intern, Houston Zoo
- Volunteer Program Associate, Park Pride Atlanta
- Energy Transactional and Regulatory Attorney, Balch & Bingham
- Legislative Policy Fellow, US Senate
- Program Coordinator, Working Landscapes
Welcome to the College of Liberal Arts
As Coordinator of Student Recruitment for the College of Liberal Arts, I work with students, and their parents, who are interested in attending UM for their undergraduate degrees. I coordinate personalized visits to our departments, answer questions about the majors and programs in the CLA and handle all recruitment communications from the CLA. Please feel free to send me any questions you may have. It is my job to make sure you have everything you need to make an informed decision on where to spend your college career, and I hope it will be with the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Mississippi!
Annabelle Harris
Admissions Counselor
Future CLA Students
College of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Students
We invite future undergraduates to learn about the College of Liberal Arts, the value of the liberal arts education, our programs, career opportunities, and resources to help you succeed. You can also request a personalized degree sheet.
Next Steps
Explore Affordability
We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.
Apply to the University of Mississippi
Are you ready to take the next step toward building your legacy?