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Undergraduate: Environmental Humanities

  • Program Overview

    Environmental Humanities (EHM)

    The Environmental Humanities major, leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree, draws together a range of disciplines to explore human understanding and interpretation of nature. The curriculum integrates disciplines from social sciences and the humanities including: writing, literature, philosophy, history, anthropology, archaeology, and art and architectural history. 

    The major prepares students to lead efforts to revitalize public understanding of the natural world through nature education, museum work, community organizing, literacy education, advocacy, business, writing and the arts. They may also choose to pursue advanced degrees in literature, journalism, education, social work, the arts, the social sciences and law.

    The major builds on the interdisciplinary sustainability core curriculum.  Students will enroll in major-specific courses in their junior and senior year.  As part of the degree requirements, students will work in teams with students enrolled in related majors to solve problems collaboratively.Students are encouraged to take advantage of local and international independent research opportunities, internships and field camps to gain real-world experience.  

  • Degrees and Requirements

    Major and Minor in Environmental Humanities (EHM)

    Requirements for the Major in Environmental Humanities

    Note: Effective Spring 2023, students may not declare the major in Environmental Humanities. Students may instead enroll in the Environmental Humanities track in the BA in Sustainability Studies. 

    A. Required Foundation Courses for Major (30 credits)

    • AMS 102 Elements of Statistics
    • ANT 102 What Makes Us Human?
    • GSS 105 Introduction to Maps and Mapping
    • POL 102 Introduction to American Government
    • SUS 111 Introduction to Sustainability (formerly offered as SBC 111) or ENS 101 Prospects for Planet Earth
    • SUS 201 Systems and Models (formerly offered as SBC 201)
    • SUS 202 Introduction to Environmental Humanities (formerly offered as EHM 202)
    • SUS 203 Critical Analysis (formerly offered as SBC 203)
    • Two of the following:
      • ATM 201 Introduction to Climate and Climate Change
      • BIO 113 General Ecology
      • BIO 115 Evolution and Society
      • CHE/ENV 115 Chemistry, Environment and Life (Note: CHE 129, 131, , or 152 may be substituted for CHE/ENV 115)
      • GEO 102 The Earth
      • MAR 101 Long Island Sound Science and Use
      • MAR 104 Oceanography
      • SUS 118 Introduction to the Natural History of Long Island (formerly offered as EHM 118)

    B. Core Courses (12-13 credits)

    • ENV 301 Sustainability of the Long Island Pine Barrens or SUS 401 Integrative Collaborative Systems Studies
    • GSS 313/314 GIS Design and Applications I/GIS Laboratory or GIS 317 Geospatial Narratives
    • SUS 301 Technical Writing and Communication (formerly offered as CSK 302)
    • SUS 305 Collective Action and Advocacy (formerly offered as CSK 305)

    C. Upper-Division Course Groups (24 credits)

    Group 1: Natural Sciences

    Choose one of the following:

    • ENV 304 Global Environmental Change
    • GEO 313 Understanding Water Resources for the 21st Century
    • MAR 340 Environmental Problems and Solutions
    • MAR 392 Waste Management Issues

    Students are required to complete 21 credits total from the courses of Groups 2, 3, and 4. Select one course from each of Groups 2 and 3 and two courses from Group 4.  The remaining three courses may be selected from any one area or spread across areas as is most relevant to the student.  With the permission of the faculty advisor, students may do an independent study or research (SUS 487SUS 488, or ANP 487) in place of 3 credits in groups 2, 3, or 4.

    Other classes may be substituted with permission of undergraduate director.

    Group 2: Writing and Literature

    • EGL 394 Topics in Literary and Cultural Studies of Science and Technology
    • SUS 320 Utopia and Dystopia in the Environment in Literature and Culture (formerly offered as EHM 321)
    • SUS 321 Ecology and Evolution in American Literature (formerly offered as SBC 321)
    • SUS 325 Environmental Writing and the Media (formerly offered as SBC 325)
    • SUS 328 Ecofeminism, Lit, and Film (formerly offered as EHM 322)
    • SUS 350 Contemporary Topics in Sustainability (SUS 350 is a topics course, and may be applied to Groups 2, 3, or 4 with permission.)

    Group 3: Social Sciences

    • AAS 352/HIS 352 Environmental History of China
    • AFS 374/SUS 374 Environment and Development in African History
    • ENS 333 Environmental Law
    • HIS 302 Environmental History in a Global Perspective
    • SOC 344 Environmental Sociology
    • SUS 309 Global Environmental Politics (formerly offered as SBC 309)
    • SUS 314 Civilizations and Collapse (formerly offered as EHM 314)
    • SUS 315 Ethnographic Field Methods (formerly offered as EHM 315)
    • SUS 317 American Environmental History (formerly offered as SBC 307)
    • SUS 318 American Environmental Politics (formerly offered as SBC 308)
    • SUS 323 Environmental Justice (formerly offered as EHM 323)
    • SUS 324 Human Geography and the Environment
    • SUS 343 Age of the Anthropocene
    • SUS 350 Contemporary Topics in Sustainability (SUS 350 is a topics course, and may be applied to Groups 2, 3, or 4 with permission.)
    • SUS 386 The Maya (formerly offered as EHM 386)

    Group 4: Digital Skills for the Humanities

    • SUS 117 Design and Drawing (formerly offered as SBC 117)
    • SUS 329 Environmental Film, Media, Arts (formerly offered as EHM 325)
    • SUS 350 Contemporary Topics in Sustainability (SUS 350 is a topics course, and may be applied to Groups 2, 3, or 4 with permission.) 

    Optional Study Abroad Experience (4-6 credits, may be taken to apply to Groups 2, 3, or 4 with permission)

    • ANP 307 Comparing Ecosystems in Madagascar
    • ANP 310 Environments, Ecosystems and Evolution: Evidence from the Turkana Basin
    • ANP 326 Lemurs of Madagascar
    • ANP 391 Ecosystem Diversity and Evolution
    • SUS 316 Cuba and Sustainability (formerly offered as EHM 316)

    D. Upper-Division Writing Requirement

    The advanced writing component of the major in  EHM  requires registration  in the 0-credit ​SUS 459 and approval of either a term paper or a laboratory report written for an  advanced course in ​the appropriate major at Stony Brook (including Readings and Research  courses). Completion of  SUS 459 with a grade of S will result in approval of the WRTD requirement. A  list of preapproved courses can be  obtained through the department. 

    Students should consult with the department advisor to ensure that their plan for completing the Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent with university graduation requirements for General Education.  Students completing the Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) must complete a course that satisfies the "Write Effectively within One's Discipline" (WRTD) learning objective to graduate.  The Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent in most cases with the SBC learning outcomes for WRTD.

    Note: 
    No more than one course (4 credits maximum) with a passing grade lower than C can be credited towards the major. Course taken with the Pass/NC option may not be applied to the major.

    Double Majors

    Excluding ENV 301 (Sustainability of the Long Island Pine Barrens), SUS 301 (Technical Writing and Communication), SUS 305 (Collective Advocacy and Action), and SUS  401 (Integrative Collaborative Systems Studies), no more than 6 credits of 300-400 level course credits can be applied to two majors within the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences.

    Study Abroad

    Stony Brook University offers study abroad experiences that are focused on issues of sustainability in Costa Rica, Madagascar, and the Turkana Basin (Kenya). While issues of climate change, water and energy security, sustainable agriculture, environmental justice, sustainable economic development, conservation of unique and threatened ecosystems, population growth, and human health are important everywhere, viewing these issues through the lens of a different place and a different culture provides a valuable perspective. Students are encouraged to participate in study abroad experiences and to talk with their major director to determine how study abroad coursework can be used to fulfill some requirements for their major.

    Minor in Environmental Humanities (EHM)

    The Environmental Humanities minor is intended for students who seek to complement their chosen major with a foundation in the humanistic aspects of environmental studies and develop skills in one of Environmental Humanities core areas of study.

    Requirements for the Minor in Environmental Humanities (EHM)

    At least 12 credits applied to the minor may not be applied to any major or other minor. No more than one three-credit course in the minor may be taken under the Pass/No Credit option. All upper-division courses offered for the minor must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher. Completion of the minor requires 21 credits. 

    Declaration of the Minor

    Students should declare the Environmental Humanities minor no later than the middle of their junior year, at which time they should consult with the minor coordinator or undergraduate director and plan their course of study for fulfillment of the requirements.

    A. Required courses (12 credits)

    • SUS 111 Introduction to Sustainability Studies  (formerly offered as SBC 111) or ENS 101 Prospects for Planet Earth
    • SUS 202 Introduction to Environmental Humanities (formerly offered as EHM 202)
    • SUS 203  Interpretation and Critical Analysis (formerly offered as SBC 203)

    One of the following courses:

    • ATM 201 Introduction to Climate Change
    • BIO 113 General Ecology
    • BIO 115 Evolution and Society
    • ENV 115 Chemistry, Life, Environment (Note: CHE 129, 131, or 152 may be substituted for CHE/ENV 115)
    • MAR 101 Long Island Sound: Science and Use
    • MAR 104 Oceanography
    • SUS 118 Intro to the Natural History of Long Island (formerly offered as EHM 118)

    B. Electives (9 credits)

    Choose one of the following courses:

    • GSS 317 Geospatial Narratives: Deep Mapping for Humanities and Social Sciences
    • SUS 117 Design and Drawing (formerly offered as SBC)
    • SUS 329 Environmental Film, Media, Arts (formerly offered as EHM 325)

    Choose two of the following courses:

    • AFS 374/SUS 374 Environment and Development in African History
    • ENS 333 Environmental Law
    • SUS 309 Global Environmental Politics (formerly offered as SBC 309)
    • SUS 314 Civilizations and Collapse (formerly offered as EHM 314)
    • SUS 315 Ethnographic Field Methods (formerly offered as EHM 315)
    • SUS 317 American Environmental History (formerly offered as SBC 307)
    • SUS 318 American Environmental Politics (formerly offered as SBC 308)
    • SUS 320 Utopia and Dystopia in the Environment in Lit and Culture (formerly offered as EHM 321)
    • SUS 321 Ecology and Evolution in American Literature (formerly offered as SBC 321)
    • SUS 323 Environmental Justice (formerly offered as EHM 323)
    • SUS 325 Environmental Writing and the Media (formerly offered as SBC 325)
    • SUS 328 Ecofeminism, Lit, and Film (formerly offered as EHM 322)
    • SUS 343 Age of the Anthropocene
    • SUS 350 Contemporary Topics in Sustainability
    • SUS 386 The Maya (formerly offered as EHM 386)

     

     

     

     

  • Sequence

    Sample Course Sequence for the Major in Environmental Humanities

    For more information about SBC courses that fulfill major requirements, click here.

    FRESHMAN

    FALL Credits
    First Year Seminar 101 1
    WRT 101 3
    SBC 111 3
    MAT 125, MAT 131, or AMS 151
    3
    GSS 105 3
    AMS 102 3
     Total 16
     
    SPRING Credits
    First Year Seminar 102 1
    WRT 102 3
    SUS 202 3
    ANT 102  3
    SBC course 3
    POL 102  3
     Total 16
     
    SOPHOMORE

    FALL Credits
    SUS 203 3
    SUS 201 3
    ATM 201 or BIO 113 or BIO 115 or CHE/ENV 115 or MAR 101 or MAR 104 or SUS 118 3
    SBC course 3
    SBC course 3
     Total 15
     
    SPRING Credits
    SUS 305 3
    ATM 201 or BIO 113 or BIO 115 or CHE/ENV 115 or MAR 101 or MAR 104 or SUS 118  3
    SBC course 3
    Course Selection Group 2: Writing & Literature  3
    SBC course  3
     Total 15
     
    JUNIOR

    FALL Credits
    GSS 313/314 3
    Core Course Selection Group 3: Social Sciences 3
    Core Course Selection Group 4: Digital Skills for Humanities 3
    SBC course  3
    SBC course  3
    Total 15
     
    SPRING Credits
    Core Course Selection Group 4: Digital Skills for Humanities 3
    SBC course
    Core Course Selection Group 1, 2, or 3
    SBC course 3
    Elective 3
     Total 15 
     
    SENIOR

    FALL Credits
    Core Course Selection Group 1, 2, or 3  3
    ENV 304 or GEO 313 or MAR 392   3 
    Upper-division SBC  3
    Internship/Research
    Elective/Fieldwork
     3
    SBC course  3
     Total 15
     
    SPRING Credits
    ENV 301 or SUS 401 3
    Core Course Selection Group 1, 2, or 3  3
    SUS 301   3 
    Upper-division SBC  3
    Upper-division SBC  3
     Total 15

     

  • Contact

    Environmental Humanities

    Major and Minor in Environmental Humanities

    Director: David Taylor

    Email: david.j.taylor@stonybrook.edu

    Undergraduate Advisor: Nancy Black

    Program Office: E2361 Melville Library

    Phone: (631) 632-9404

    Website: https://www.somas.stonybrook.edu/

     

     

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