Campuses:
This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.
Duluth Campus
Environment, Sustainability & Geography B.A.Geography & Philosophy
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
The purpose of this degree is to prepare students to create sustainable communities for present and future generations. This program provides students with the tools to understand the physical and social systems of the earth to become informed change makers locally and globally. Sustainability challenges are all around us: from climate change, to vulnerabilities in the industrial food system, to the way we design cities. One of the fundamental hurdles in a transition toward sustainability is bridging the ecological and social sciences with decision-making. The program trains students to analyze the interwoven nature of social and ecological systems, and translate that knowledge into policies to enact change. Meaningful engagement with the world outside the classroom prepares students to comprehend and address these challenges. To this end, the program provides students with theoretical and hands-on instruction in ecological and social processes, mentoring, as well as opportunities for professional and real-world experiences through internships and applied research.
There are three tracks students may choose from: 1) Environment and Sustainability, 2) Geography, 3) Urban and Regional Studies.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
General Requirements
Program Requirements
1) A second field of study (either a minor, another major or dual degree).
2) Study abroad is encouraged for all students and the department makes every effort to facilitate such experiences.
First Term Requirement (1 cr)
Transfer students with 24 or more credits and current UMD students who change colleges to CLA are exempt from this requirement. New first-year students with 24 or more PSEO credits may request to be waived from this requirement.
UST 1000 - Learning in Community
(1.0-2.0 cr)
Advanced Writing Requirement (3 cr)
WRIT 31xx - Adv Writing (3 cr)
Electives (9 cr)
To fulfill this requirement students take at least 3 courses. Students have two options to complete this requirement: 1) Select 3 courses across the listed Course Lists. One course may be at the 2xxx level. 2) Students may propose 3 courses. NOTE: The first option is the system default. Courses listed in the tracks are not listed here as options, but may be applied with permission from an ESG adviser.
Course List (2xxx level)
Take 0 - 1 course(s) from the following:
·
ES 2095 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
ES 2100 - Western Lake Superior Sustainable Food Systems
(4.0 cr)
·
ES 2803 - Issues in Global Ecology
[LE CAT]
(3.0 cr)
·
Course List (3xxx-4xxx level)
Take 2 - 3 course(s) from the following:
·
ES 3200 - Environmental and Ecological Justice
(3.0 cr)
·
ES 3300 - Anthropocene Stories: Geology, Human Histories and Possible Futures
(3.0 cr)
·
ES 3500 - Ecological Economics
(3.0 cr)
·
ES 4612 - Field Techniques and Research Design
(3.0 cr)
·
EES 3605 - The Irish Landscape in Science and Literature - Study Abroad
[GLOBAL PER]
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOG 3370 - Geographies of Development
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOG 3411 - Human Environment Interactions
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOG 3422 - Natural Hazards
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOG 3481 - The Ecology of Cities
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOG 3712 - Geography of Latin America
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOG 3800 {Inactive}
[GLOBAL PER]
(4.0 cr)
·
GEOG 3995 - Special Topics: (various titles to be assigned)
(3.0 cr)
·
GEOG 4401 - Climate Science
(3.0 cr)
·
Optional Experience
Take 0 - 3 credit(s) from the following:
·
ES 4091 - Independent Study
(1.0-3.0 cr)
·
ES 4910 - Teaching Assistantship
(1.0-3.0 cr)
·
ES 4999 - Honors Project
(1.0-3.0 cr)
·
GEOG 3991 - Independent Study
(1.0-3.0 cr)
·
GEOG 4910 - Teaching Assistantship
(1.0-3.0 cr)
·
GEOG 4999 - Honors Project
(3.0 cr)
·
URS 3991 - Independent Study
(1.0-3.0 cr)
·
URS 4910 - Teaching Assistantship
(1.0-3.0 cr)
·
URS 4999 - Honors Project
(1.0-3.0 cr)
or
Propose Electives
If students elect to propose courses, they must consult with an ESG adviser. No more than 1 course at the 2xxx level. Proposal form found here: z.umn.edu/umdclaprograms
Program Sub-plans
Students are required to complete one of the following sub-plans.
Environment and Sustainability
This track emphasizes the ecological and societal dimensions of sustainability, specifically, the food-energy-water nexus. Students develop the skills to create solutions that meet material human needs while preserving natural resources and ecosystems.
Internship (3 cr)
ES 4097 - Internship
(3.0 cr)
Capstone (3 cr)
ES 4005 - Environmental Policy
(3.0 cr)
Geography
This track emphasizes a holistic and spatial approach to both human and physical systems. Students explore how humans transform the earth, with an emphasis on three broad streams of geographic thought: human-environment interaction, human systems, and physical systems.
Human-environment Interaction (3 cr)
GEOG 2306 {Inactive}
[LE CAT]
(3.0 cr)
or
GEOG 3411 - Human Environment Interactions
(3.0 cr)
Internship (3 cr)
GEOG 3997 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
Capstone (3 cr)
GEOG 4803 - Geographic Thought
(3.0 cr)
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Credits: | 1.0 -2.0 [max 2.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EHS 1000/UST 1000/ ES 1000 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ES 1001/ES 2005 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | GIS 2552/GEOG 2552 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EES 1110 FST 1409 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 1.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ES 4612/GEOG 4612 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ES 4612/GEOG 4612 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | EES 3605/ENGL 3605/FORS 3605 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |