Environmental
The environmental studies concentration allows students to direct the holistic approach and analytical skills of geography toward an understanding of contemporary environmental problems. The program's goal is to prepare students to communicate intelligently with both natural scientists and social scientists and to be sensitive to the ecological, economic, cultural, and political issues which must be addressed when conserving, managing, or restoring a healthy, productive environment for humans and all other forms of life.
The concentration has a built-in flexibility that encourages students to design their own program of study and to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for them to contribute as environmental professionals in their chosen area of interest. Many students obtain minors in economics, political science, anthropology, biology, geology, media studies, or some other discipline while in pursuit of their area of interest expertise.
The individualized nature of the concentration lies in 18 hours of upper division classes in a declared Area of Interest. These courses may be selected from disciplines other than geography, although they must include at least one geographic techniques course. A semester of either environmental economics or natural resource economics is also mandatory.
Internships or volunteer work are strongly recommended; elective credits may be earned in a pre-approved internship.
Contact the Department of Geography:
Sarah Madden, Administrative Support: Phone:540-831-5558 Fax: 540-831-5254
Curriculum1
GEOGRAPHY CORE COURSES: Physical Geography, Human Geography, Map Interpretation, World Geography (Europe and the Americas or Africa and Asia), and one 200-level regional course chosen by the student.
REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL COURSES: Introduction to Environmental Studies, Focus Seminar: Determining an Area of Interest, Environmental Regulation, Biogeography, and Senior Capstone Project.
THREE ADDITIONAL GEOGRAPHY COURSES: Selected from among 300- and 400-level courses such as Economic Geography, Population Geography, Climatology, International Environmental Problems, Cartography, Geographic Information Systems, Remote Sensing, Conservation of Natural Resources, Land Use, Field Research Techniques, Planning Techniques, or special topics courses.
AREA OF INTEREST COURSES: A minimum of 18 hours of upper division courses (not restricted to Geography offerings). Included must be three hours from either ECON 272 Natural Resource Economics or ECON 375 Environmental Economics, and three hours of one of Geography's techniques courses. The remaining 12 hours are selected by the student during the Focus Seminar and approved by his/her advisor. Course selection should focus on building a strong background in knowledge and skills appropriate to the student's stated interest within the environmental field. Independent study and specialized coursework at other institutions may be used to fulfill part of this requirement.
B.S. REQUIREMENT: CHEM 101 and STAT 211 or equivalent. If these were taken to meet part of the General Education requirements, then 6-8 hours must selected from the natural and physical sciences.
B.A. REQUIREMENT: 6-12 hours in a foreign language. Strongly recommended for students interested in global or international environmental issues.
1Check the appropriate Radford University Catalog for official requirements.
Beginning with 2004/2005 New Requirements:
GEOGRAPHY CORE COURSES: World Geography (Europe and the Americas or Africa and Asia), Physical Geography, Perspectives in Geography, Intro to GeoSpatial Data, Introduction to GIS and Senior Capstone.
REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL COURSES: Introduction to Environmental Studies, Environmental Regulations, Population Geography, Biogeography, Natural Resource Economics OR Environmental Economics.
MAJORS MUST THEN CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TRACKS TO COMPLETE THE CONCENTRATION:
TRACK 1 (for students interested in land management or environmental planning): Economic Geography; Human Ecology, Public Lands, Advanced GIS, Digital Image Processing, Land Use, and Planning Techniques. Plus two upper division courses in geography or a complementary field.
TRACK 2 (for students interested in advocacy, policy, and education): 1) A 200-level regional course in geography and International Environmental Problems. 2) Two upper division courses in geography or a complementary field selected from among the following: Conservation Biology, Argumentation and Advocacy, Criminal Law and Evidence, Preparation of Professional Papers, Literature and the Environment, Science and Environmental Writing, Constitutional Law: Governmental Powers, International Political Economy, Environmental Sociology. 3) Four additional courses chosen from geography or complementary disciplines, with approval of advisor. Geography courses selected to meet this last requirement must be upper-division courses.
B.S. REQUIREMENT: CHEM 101 or 115 and STAT 200. If these were taken to meet part of the General Education requirements, then 6-8 hours of additional science are required.
B.A. REQUIREMENT: 6-12 hours in a foreign language. Strongly recommended for students interested in global or international environmental issues.