University of Richmond
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

The Environmental Studies Program offers students the opportunity to study how humans should relate to the natural world, a subject that has become increasingly relevant as more people begin paying attention to the Earth’s limited resources and our own impact on those resources. Environmental Studies focuses on the interactions among physical, chemical and biological components of the environment. Students take many courses in the natural sciences, as well as courses in the social sciences and humanities. The courses are designed to expand students' knowledge and awareness of environmental problems, so that graduates may recommend practical public policies and environmental standards to address issues such as climate change, conservation, biodiversity, pollution, natural resource usage, waste management and sustainable development. To receive a Bachelor of Arts, the major requires a five course core in environmental studies, a course in environmental life science, a course in physical environmental science, an introductory statistics course, an environmental research methods course, and three environmental studies electives - one of which must be an experiential learning course. The same requirements apply for Environmental Studies Bachelor of Science degree with additional requirements of Calculus II or Introduction to Data Science, and two units in biology, chemistry, or physics at or above the 300 level.

Geography and the Environment cultivates informed and engaged global citizens through an emphasis on integrative problem solving, geospatial technology, spatial theory, and communication skills. The Geography major addresses important issues like global climate change, industrialization, globalization, resource management, agricultural change, urbanization, land use, deforestation and hydrology. This department bridges the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities to provide a better understanding of the earth's cultural and biological diversity. The major includes four core courses in geography, Introduction to Statistical Modeling, and four electives from the Geography and the Environment Department, which must include an approved experiential learning component (internship, field work, study abroad).

The Sustainability minor is a new undergraduate track that began in 2022. This minor requires two required courses and one course each in Economic Sustainability, Environmental Sustainability, and Social Sustainability. To encourage the active learning and participation of students on the Sustainability minor track an Acting for Positive Change requirement is also included in the minor. This minor is the most sustainability-focuses offered at the University of Richmond and encourages students to delve into systems thinking, sustainability knowledge, justice, and integration.

Six courses including Introduction to Environmental Studies, Topics in Environmental Ethics, Environmental Economics or Environmental Law and Policy, one environmental life science course, one physical environmental science course, and one elective in environmental studies.

The Geography Minor cultivates informed and engaged global citizens through an emphasis on integrative problem solving, geospatial technology, spatial theory, and communication skills. 

The minor includes the following six units, including:

• GEOG210 Planet Earth: People and Place

• GEOG250 Planet Earth: Wind, Water, Fire

• GEOG260 Foundations of Geospatial Analysis

• Three units of electives in geography, to include no more than one unit of GEOG390 nor more than a half unit of GEOG388.