Requirements: Environmental Studies

Interdisciplinary

The major and concentration bring together the different perspectives of the life sciences, physical sciences, social sciences and humanities to help students understand the interactions between the human and natural systems that affect our environment. The academic program is enhanced by four green centers: the Kenyon Farm, the Kokosing Nature Preserve, the Philander Chase Conservancy and the 700-acre Brown Family Environmental Center (BFEC). The BFEC, within walking distance of campus, features a wide range of natural and managed habitats and includes part of the Kokosing River.

The department’s goals are for students to understand the interplay among humans, together with their social and cultural institutions, and the physical, chemical and biological processes of the natural world; approach complex problems from an analytical perspective and apply logic, scientific principles and quantitative tools to their solutions; understand the social, historical, philosophical, spiritual and literary traditions that define the relationships between humans and their environment; and persuasively communicate ideas and logical arguments both orally and in writing as active participants in the environmental problem-solving process. Consequently, the major and concentration knit together many traditional academic disciplines, drawing on coursework in anthropology, economics, philosophy, political science, religious studies and sociology, in addition to biology, chemistry and physics.

The Kenyon College faculty voted to change from Kenyon units to semester hours. This change will go into effect for all students who start at the College in the fall of 2024. Both systems will be used throughout the course catalog with the Kenyon units being listed first.

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First-year and New Students

Students interested in environmental studies are encouraged to take ENVS 112 in their first year.

Other appropriate courses for first-year or new students include:

  • ANTH 111: Introduction to Biological Anthropology
  • BIOL 115: Energy in Living Systems
  • ECON 101: Principles of Microeconomics
  • PHIL 190: Anthropocene Philosophical Problem
  • SOCY 101: Powers, Energies and Peoples
  • STAT 106: Elements of Statistics

Students Graduating in 2026-2028

Use the major requirements found in the archived course catalog.

Requirements for the Major

The environmental studies major requires a total of 62 semester hours, including a 20 semester-hour common core. Students select one of three tracks-- Environmental Science, Economics and Policy, and Cultures and Justice.

Common Core- five courses required of all tracks

ENVS 112: Introduction to Environmental Studies
BIOL 115: Energy in Living Systems
ENVS 220: Applied Environmental Analysis
ENVS 231: Earth Systems Science
ENVS 461: Seminar in Environmental Studies

Environmental Science Track

Skills and Labs (two courses required)

  • Lab Skills -choose one set
    • ENVS 210 and two semesters of ENVS 385 
    • BIOL 109Y-110Y and (BIOL 229 or BIOL 353)
    • CHEM 123, CHEM 126, and CHEM 233
  • Quantitative Skills - choose one course from COMP 118, ECON 101, MATH 111, or STAT 106

Environmental Skills - choose one course from ENVS 104, ENVS 253, ENVS 261, CHEM 341

Foundations - choose one course from BIOL 106, BIOL 116, CHEM 110, CHEM 121, CHEM 122, PHYS 108

Living Systems - choose two courses from BIOL 228, BIOL 352, ENVS 341, ENVS 342, ENVS 343

Cognate Courses - choose two courses from one of the categories below

  • Economics and Policy: ECON 101, ECON 331, ECON 336, ECON 342, ECON 347, ECON 360, ECON 379, ECON 474, PSCI 310, PSCI 342, PSCI 363, PSCI 463, PSCI 480
  • Cultures and Justice: ANTH 111, ANTH 112, ANTH 113, ANTH 150, ANTH 157, ANTH 256, ANTH 320, ANTH 324, ENGL 206, ENGL 265, ENGL 268, ENGL 379, HIST 209, HIST 360, HIST 426, HIST 481, SOCY 101, SOCY 238, SOCY 242

Elective Courses choose two courses 

Select any additional ENVS course or courses listed in a department in your core, track or skills and lab departments (BIOL, CHEM, COMP, ECON, MATH, PHYS or STAT)

Economics and Policy Track

Skills and labs (two courses required)

Take ENVS 210 and one of  the following courses- ENVS 104, ENVS 261, ENVS 385 (two semesters), PSCI 280 or STAT 106

Foundation Courses (four required courses)

ECON 101: Principles of Microeconomics

ECON 102: Principles of Macroeconomics

ECON 336: Environmental Economics

PSCI 363: Global Environmental Politics

Exploratory course - choose one course from ECON 201, ECON 205, ECON 331, ECON 342, ECON 347, ECON 360, ECON 379, ECON 474, PSCI 310, PSCI 342, PSCI 463, PSCI 480

Cognate Courses -choose two courses from one category

  • Cultures and Justice: ANTH 111, ANTH 112, ANTH 113, ANTH 150, ANTH 157, ANTH 256, ANTH 320, ANTH 324, ENGL 206, ENGL 265, ENGL 268, ENGL 379, HIST 209, HIST 360, HIST 426, HIST 481, SOCY 101, SOCY 238, SOCY 242
  • Environmental Science: BIOL 106, BIOL 108, BIOL 228, BIOL 238, BIOL 352, CHEM 110, ENVS 104, ENVS 106, ENVS 240, ENVS 253, ENVS 341, ENVS 342, PHYS 108, PYSC 235

Electives -choose two courses

Choose any ENVS course or any additional course listed in a department in your core, track or skills and labs (BIOL, ECON, PSCI,  or STAT).

Cultures and Justice Track

Skills and Labs (two courses required)

Take ENVS 210 and one of  the following courses- ENVS 104, ENVS 261, ENVS 385 (two semesters), STAT 106

Foundations courses - choose two courses from two departments- (ANTH 111, ANTH 112, ANTH 113), HIST 209, PHIL 190, SOCY 101, SOCY 103

Exploratory Courses - choose three from two categories

  • Environmental History and Justice: ANTH 256, ANTH 310D, ANTH 324, ENGL 379, HIST 180, SOCY 238
  • Cultures and Societies: ANTH 259, ANTH 320, ANTH 342, ENGL 265, PHIL 285, RLST 350, SOCY 238, SOCY 322
  • Scientific Communication/Knowledge Production: ANTH 150, ANTH 258, ANTH 321, ATH 353, ENGL 206, PHIL 245, SOCY 242, HIST 360

Cognate Courses - choose two courses from one category

  • Economics and Policy: ECON 101, ECON 331, ECON 336, ECON 342, ECON 347, ECON 360, ECON 379, ECON 474, PSCI 310, PSCI 342, PSCI 363, PSCI 463, PSCI 480
  • Environmental Science: BIOL 106, BIOL 108, BIOL 228, BIOL 238, BIOL 352, CHEM 110, ENVS 104, ENVS 106, ENVS 240, ENVS 253, ENVS 341, ENVS 342, PHYS 108, PYSC 235

Electives - choose two courses

Any additional ENVS course or any course listed in the department in your core, track or skills and labs (ANTH, BIOL, ENGL, HIST, PHIL, RLST, SOCY or STAT)

Experiential Community Exercise

Each student must complete an applied environmental exercise that provides a practical application of the knowledge and skills developed in the program within a community setting. The principal elements of the project: A student must conceptualize, plan and/or execute a project, and it must benefit, or be in partnership with, some community. The student may be part of a team, but the student must be a principal in the project, not simply an observer. The Senior Capstone may not serve as the experiential community exercise, but may arise out of it. Examples of potentially acceptable experiences include, but are not limited to approved courses with a practicum or community engagement component; a field-based study-abroad program that requires students to complete individual research; participation in NFS REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) research with community implications; an internship in which the student completes a significant environmental project; independent research with a faculty member; or an independent study working with a faculty member and a professional staff member at one of Kenyon’s green centers.

Senior Capstone

Majors will undertake a substantial, independent research project that demonstrates the development of depth in their environmental education and their ability to approach environmental issues from a systems-based, interdisciplinary perspective. Senior Capstones usually take the form of a research paper of around 20 to 30 pages, but may also take the form of substantial creative works for those whose area of curricular focus is in the arts. The choice of topic should reflect the student’s area of curricular focus in consultation with, and with approval from, the chair and the faculty advisor. Students are encouraged to consult with any faculty member whose expertise supports their investigation. The faculty supervisor will generally be a member of the environmental studies faculty, but the chair may approve other willing faculty members when their areas of expertise are appropriate to the topic. Projects are due early in the spring semester of the senior year.

Requirements for the Concentration

The concentration requires a total of 3.50 units/28 semester hours. Affiliated courses are offered in anthropology, biology, chemistry, economics, English, history philosophy, physics, political science, religious studies and sociology.

Required Environmental Studies Course: 0.50 units/4 semester hours

ENVS 112: Introduction to Environmental Studies

Core Courses in Environmental Studies: 1.50 units/12 semester hours

Take 12 semester hours of ENVS courses

Elective courses for Environmental Studies: 1.50 units/12 semester hours from the elective course list in at least two departments:

Anthropology:
ANTH 111: Introduction to Biological Anthropology
ANTH 256: Habitat and Humanity
ANTH 320: Anthropology of Food
ANTH 324: Human Ecology: Biocultural Adaptations

Biology:
BIOL 106: Conservation Biology
BIOL 115: Energy in Living Systems
BIOL 228, 229: Ecology and Ecology Laboratory
BIOL 328: Global Ecology and Biogeography
BIOL 352, 353: Aquatic Systems Biology and Aquatic Systems Lab

Chemistry:
CHEM 110: Environmental Chemistry
CHEM 121: Introductory Chemistry
CHEM 122: Chemical Principles
CHEM 231, 233: Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Lab I
CHEM 341: Instrumental Analysis

Economics:
ECON 101: Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 336: Environmental Economics
ECON 342: Economics of Regulation
ECON 347: Economics of the Public Sector

English:
ENGL 206: Introduction to Science and Nature Writing
ENGL 268: Climate Emergencies

History:
HIST 260: Corn, Farming and the Roots of American Cultures

Philosophy:
PHIL 110: Introduction to Ethics
PHIL 115: Practical Issues in Ethics
PHIL 190: The Anthropocene as a Philosophical Problem

Physics:
PHYS 108: Geology

Political Science:
PSCI 310: Public Policy
PSCI 342: Politics of Development
PSCI 363: Global Environmental Politics
PSCI 463: American Environmental Politics and Policy
PSCI 480: Science and Politics

Religious Studies:
RLST 350: Religion and Nature

Sociology:
SOCY 101: Powers, Energies and Peoples
SOCY 233: Sociology of Food
SOCY 238: Environmental Sociology
SOCY 242: Science, Society and the Environment

Transfer Credit Policy

Because careful course selection is necessary to achieve specific objectives, students are urged to consult as early as possible with the department chair and other faculty members in the Environmental Studies Department.

A maximum of two off-campus courses may be applied to the major or to the concentration.  Students planning to take a course for transfer credit should consult the department chair in advance as all transfer credit must be approved.