Curriculum

New ENVS Track System

Beginning in the Fall 2012 semester, the Environmental Studies major will require the completion of five core courses, plus five courses in any one track, and an internship. The core curriculum requires students to master basic scientific principles of environmental processes, to examine interactions between technology and the environment, and to explore the societal context for implementing environmental policy. We recommend that students begin the major by taking Environmental Biology (Bio7/Env7) early on, to get to know the program.

In addition to the new core, students are required to take five courses in their program track. The program tracks are required for the class of 2016, and optional for current students.

The revised tracks include:

Track I: Environmental Science focuses on science and the tools necessary to detect, evaluate, and solve environmental problems (basic principles, theories, and methods in biology, chemistry, Earth and ocean sciences, and physics).

Track II: Sustainability, Policy, and Equity focuses on human development policies and practices that can have both positive and negative effects on the natural ecosystem and human well-being, both now and in the future.

Track III: Environmental Communication will require students to have knowledge of natural sciences, social sciences, and the arts and humanities to effectively communicate complex environmental issues to diverse audiences.

Track IV: Food Systems and the Environment

Track V: Self-Designed with Advisor is intended to allow students with the capacity to design their own environmental focus in coordination with an Environmental Studies Advisor. An example of this track might be a student who coordinates with Environmental Studies' engineering and political science faculty to design a series of courses that fit within the requirements of the major, on the topic of energy and public policy.

The track courses must include one introduction to the track course; three additional courses, one of which must be a seminar; and a methods or research course. Student may double count courses, but no more than three courses can count for both their first and second majors.

Environmental Studies majors enrolled prior to the Fall 2012 semester may be able to opt to transfer into the new track system but should consult an advisor to fully understand how this might affect their four-year graduation trajectory. For those that remain in the existing structure, the eight-core/three-course tracks they originally declared for during their time at Tufts University are required.

Concentration Checklist for Majors (New Track) >

Old ENVS Track System

The curriculum here is designed to give students both breadth and depth. Environmental Studies students enrolled prior to Fall 2012 are generally following this curriculum, unless they have officially opted into the new track system. Students in the old track system must complete an eight course core curriculum. The core requires students to master basic scientific principles of environmental processes, to examine interactions between technology and the environment, and to explore the societal context for implementing environmental policy. Students must also complete three courses in a specific track. These courses are designed to capture the fundamental principles of that track. In addition, students must complete an internship.

The tracks under this system are:

Track I: Environmental Science focuses on basic principles, theories, and methods of the natural sciences (biology, physics, chemistry, and geology) and their application to environmental problems.

Track II: Environment and Technology emphasizes engineering and applied science aspects of resource management, environmental impacts, and pollution prevention and abatement.

Track III: Environment and Society examines sociopolitical, humanistic, economic, and cultural aspects of managing environmental problems.

Since the environmental studies curriculum is designed to complement an additional major, students may double count courses (no more than fifty percent of the courses counted in the primary major) to fulfill both their majors.

Concentration Checklist for Majors (Old Track) >