Bachelor of Arts in Environmental and Sustainability Studies

• Individual and Group Behavior (people): critically assess the part individuals and communities have played in creating environmental challenges, the diversity of ethical and social justice issues raised by human interactions with the environment, and understand how individuals and communities can use these ethical insights as a foundation to devise and implement solutions to address these problems;
• Business and Public Policy (prosperity): analytically consider how political institutions, markets, and businesses have interacted with the environment, and the pivotal role they have in developing solutions that address environmental concerns;
• Environmental Science and Society (planet): identify the components and interactions that make up the ecosystem, and how this system responds to natural and human interactions;
• Integration and Analysis: integrate and apply the knowledge of the three aspects of environmental and sustainability studies to practical applications within the community and critically assess and devise plans that address the social factors related to natural resource use;
• Written and Oral Communication: communicate effectively in a written format and apply appropriate rhetorical standards (e.g., audience adaptation, language, argument, organization, evidence). Students will also communicate effectively in an oral format, applying appropriate rhetorical standards (e.g., audience adaptation, language, argument, organization, evidence).
• Innovation: contribute to the global movement towards realizing a more healthy, just, and sustainable society;
• Concentrated Expertise: create in-depth knowledge in one of six concentration areas related to environmental and sustainability studies.

ESS graduates continue to learn, serve and prosper after they finish at Mason. Our alumni have gone on to work in the Peace Corps, for state and local government, for businesses focused on sustainability, and for advocacy groups such as the Sierra Club and the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Other students further their education in graduate programs in environmental policy, sustainable development, and sustainable food systems.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: minimum 120

This is a Green Leaf program.

Of the credits required for this degree, 14 credits simultaneously fulfill core requirements for the major and Mason Core requirements, and, depending on the concentration and electives chosen, up to 9 credits may simultaneously fulfill Mason Core requirements and college BA requirements.

Core Courses in the Major

Environmental Science and Society

• EVPP 377 Applied Ecology 3

And completion of one of the following sequences: 11-12

• EVPP 108 & EVPP 109 & EVPP 112 & EVPP 113 & EVPP 336 Ecosphere - Introduction to Environmental Science I-Lecture (Mason Core) and Ecosphere- Introduction to Environmental Science I- Lab (Mason Core) and Ecosphere: Introduction to Environmental Science II-Lecture (Mason Core) and Ecosphere: Introduction to Environmental Science II–Lab (Mason Core) and Human Dimensions of the Environment
• or EVPP 210 & EVPP 301 & EVPP 302 Environmental Biology: Molecules and Cells and Environmental Science: Biological Diversity and Ecosystems and Environmental Science: Biomes and Human Dimensions

Individual and Group Behavior

• INTS 334 Environmental Justice (Mason Core) 4

Business and Public Policy

Select one course from the following: 3

• ECON 100 Economics for the Citizen (Mason Core)
• ECON 103 Contemporary Microeconomic Principles (Mason Core)
• ECON 105 Environmental Economics for the Citizen (Mason Core)
• EVPP 322 Business and Sustainability 3
• EVPP 361 Introduction to Environmental Policy 3 or GOVT 361 Introduction to Environmental Policy

Statistics

Select one course from the following: 3-4

• SOCI 313 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (Mason Core)
• BIOL 214 Biostatistics for Biology Majors
• STAT 250 Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core)

Integration, Analysis, Innovation

• INTS 210 Sustainable World (Mason Core) 4
• EVPP 480 Sustainability in Action (Mason Core) 4

Select one course from the following: 3

• INTS 390 International Internship (minimum of 3 credits required)
• INTS 398 Experiential Learning (minimum of 3 credits required)
• INTS 498 Experiential Learning (minimum of 3 credits required)
• INTS 490 Internship (minimum of 3 credits required)
• EVPP 395 Undergraduate Research in Environmental Science and Policy (minimum of 3 credits required)
• EVPP 494 Internship (minimum of 3 credits required)

Total Credits 41-43

Concentration in the Major

• Concentration in Business and Sustainability (BUSU)
• Concentration in Climate Change and Society (CCSO)
• Concentration in Conservation and Sustainability (CSUS)
• Concentration in Environmental Policy and Economics (EVPE)
• Concentration in Equity and Environmental Justice (EQEJ)
• Concentration in Sustainable Food and Agriculture (SFG)

Concentration in Business and Sustainability (BUSU)

The requirements for this concentration, depending on the electives chosen, may satisfy the college BA requirement in philosophy and religious studies (PHIL 243 Global Environmental Ethics (Mason Core), PHIL 305 Business Ethics).

Students who have already taken and received credit for OSCM 303 Operations Management shall substitute it for MBUS 306 Managing Projects and Operations. Both courses cannot be taken for credit. Students who have taken and received credit for both ACCT 203 Survey of Accounting and FNAN 303 Financial Management shall substitute the combination for MBUS 300 Accounting in a Global Economy. All three courses cannot be taken for credit.

Core Courses

Required Courses

• MBUS 300 Accounting in a Global Economy 3
• MBUS 306 Managing Projects and Operations 3
• MGMT 303 Principles of Management 3

Additional Course

Select one course (3 credits) from the following: 3

• GOVT 353 Social Entrepreneurship
• EVPP 434 Food-Energy-Water Nexus
• INTS 375 Special Topics (when topic is relevant with approval)
• INTS 450 Social Innovation in Action
• INTS 475 Special Topics (when topic is relevant with approval)
• MBUS 304 Entrepreneurship: Starting and Managing a New Enterprise
• MGMT 451 Introduction to Entrepreneurship
• EVPP 490 Special Topics in Environmental Science and Policy (when topic is relevant with approval)
• EVPP 505 Selected Topics in Environmental Science (when topic is relevant with approval)

Total Credits 12

Two Courses

Select two courses (6 credits) from the following: 6

• ECON 335 Environmental Economics
• EVPP 338 Economics of Environmental Policy
• EVPP 362 Intermediate Environmental Policy
• GGS 307 Geographic Approaches for Sustainable Development
• INTS 204 Leadership Theory and Practice
• PHIL 243 Global Environmental Ethics (Mason Core)
• PHIL 305 Business Ethics

Other course work with advisor approval

Total Credits 6

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated as "writing intensive" in their major at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in environmental and sustainability studies should consult an advisor to learn how to fulfill this requirement.

Upper-Level Requirement

Students seeking a bachelor’s degree must apply at least 45 credits of upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above) toward graduation requirements.

Additional Electives

Any remaining credits may be completed with elective courses to bring the degree total to 120.

College Level Requirements for the BA Degree

In addition to the Mason Core program, students pursuing a BA degree must complete the coursework below. Except where expressly prohibited, a course used to fulfill a college-level requirement may also be used simultaneously to satisfy other requirements (Mason Core requirements or requirements for the major).

• Philosophy or Religious Studies
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Foreign Language
• Non-Western Culture

Mason Core

Some Mason Core requirements may already be fulfilled by the major requirements listed above. Students are strongly encouraged to consult their advisors to ensure they fulfill all remaining Mason Core requirements.

Foundation Requirements

• Written Communication (ENGH 101) 3
• Oral Communication 3
• Quantitative Reasoning 3
• Information Technology and Computing 3

Exploration Requirements

• Arts 3
• Global Understanding 3
• Literature 3
• Natural Science 7
• Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
• Western Civilization/World History 3

Integration Requirements

• Written Communications (ENGH 302) 3
• Writing-Intensive 3
• Synthesis/Capstone 3

Total Credits 40