Stonehill College
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

The B.A. in Environmental Studies degree provides emphasis on the social sciences and humanities. This degree serve as solid preparation for entry level work in the non-science areas of the environmental field, as well as for admission into graduate school in such areas (environmental policy, management, sustainability, etc.). Thirteen courses are required, including five courses in natural sciences and five courses in the social sciences/humanities. The last course remains the senior capstone, which includes a new one-credit senior seminar.

Majors in Environmental Science will demonstrate:
1. An in-depth understanding of fundamental concepts in the natural sciences & mathematics (biology, chemistry, geology, physics & math), particularly as they pertain to understanding the natural environment.
2. The ability to integrate knowledge across those disciplines, becoming skilled in the use of multiple lenses to analyze complexity.
3. Competence in the collection, analysis and interpretation of environmental science data.
4. Critical & constructive thinking on environmental issues and problems, at both the local and global levels.
5. Valuing the natural world and future humanity, developing/adopting an environmental ethic as part of a broader commitment to social justice, and taking personal and political action in keeping with those values.
6. Effective communication skills (written & oral), for audiences of natural scientists and beyond, into the public arena.

The B.S. in Environmental Science degree is designed to prepare students for entry level work as environmental scientists and graduate programs in environmental science or environmental management. Twenty courses are required: sixteen in natural science/mathematics (including the senior capstone), two in the humanities/social sciences, and two integrative seminars (an environmental Learning Community seminar and a senior seminar taken concurrently with the senior capstone).

Majors in Environmental Studies will demonstrate:
1. Relevant disciplinary knowledge in the natural and social sciences as well as in the humanities.
2. The ability to integrate knowledge across those disciplines, becoming skilled in the use of multiple lenses to analyze complexity.
3. Critical & constructive thinking on environmental issues and problems, at both the local and global levels.
4. Valuing the natural world and future humanity, developing/adopting an environmental ethic as part of a broader commitment to social justice, and taking personal and political action in keeping with those values.
5. Effective communication skills (written & oral) for various audiences, including the public.
Note well: In our learning outcomes, we chose not to incorporate terms that are either too vague in common usage (e.g., sustainability) or too specialized to convey much information to students (e.g., systems thinking).

The Earth & Planetary Sciences program provides students with training and skills that can be applied to the understanding of complex processes that shape the Earth’s surface and its interior, ultimately influencing life on our planet.

Majors in Earth and Planetary Sciences will demonstrate:
1. A clear understanding of general chemistry, general physics, general principles of environmental science and geology, climate science and oceanography.
2. An understanding of the philosophical, ethical, and societal dimensions of planetary science as a human endeavor.

Majors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering will demonstrate (among other things):
1. Ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
2. Ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgements, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.

The Environmental Studies minor provides introductory knowledge in the environmental field, as well as the opportunity to connect the program to one’s major. The minor requires six courses.

Environmental Studies (BA)
Environmental Science (BS)
Environmental Sciences and Studies (Minor)
3-2 Environmental Science/ Environmental Engineering dual degree program
Earth and Planetary Sciences (BS)