Previous Environmental Studies Degree Programs
Pre-Fall 2023 Minors
Starting with Fall 2023, the requirements for the Environmental Studies minor have changed. Current students can continue with the original program, or they can switch to the new one. No classes have been deleted. The Water Sciences and Biological Conservation minors will no longer be offered.
- Pre-2023 Environmental Studies Minor: checksheet (pdf), approved courses
- Water Sciences Minor: checksheet (pdf), approved courses (pdf)
- Biological Conservation Minor: checksheet (pdf), approved courses (pdf)
Pre-2021 Environmental Studies Major
Beginning Summer 2021, Environmental Studies transitioned to a revised degree program. The Environmental Studies BS will no longer be offered. This degree has been deleted, and it is not available to students who entered OU in Fall 2021 or later.
If you are completing the Environmental Studies BS, or the BA under the pre-2021 rules, your electives are still available. The categories for the old electives are Natural Sciences (#NS), Social Sciences (#SS), Humanities (#HU), Environmentally-related Skills (#SK), and Major Support (#MS) courses.
View the list of approved electives for the pre-2021 degree.
Students who are currently enrolled in the BS can graduate with the BS degree. No courses that you need have been deleted. Students currently enrolled in the pre-summer 2021 BA can still graduate under the old requirements.
If you declared an Environmental Studies major before Summer 2021, your advisor will help you finish your degree as planned. You will take the same courses (though some might have different numbers than on the pre-2021 check sheet). The list of electives for the pre-2021 majors is slightly different from the list for the revised BA. Be sure to consult the correct list as you plan your schedule.
A key element of the BS is the six-hour research requirement (“ERES”). As part of the transition to the revised degree program, we recommend that students fulfill the research requirement by taking ENST 2813, Environmental Studies Cornerstone, in which they will develop a plan for their research, and then ENST 3893, Environmental Studies Research Project.
If you do not wish to choose this option, you must identify a topic and a faculty supervisor to begin your project. You must then arrange with the Director of Environmental Studies to set up a course number for enrollment. You should contact the Director of Environmental Studies as early as possible to discuss how you will complete your research requirement.
If you began an Environmental Studies major under the pre-2021 rules, it might work to your advantage to switch to the 2021 BA. Talk to the Environmental Studies advisor to see whether this option is best for you.
Students who entered OU before Summer 2021 and wish to declare an Environmental Studies major will follow the rules for the 2021 BA. Please consult with the Environmental Studies advisor if you have questions.
