The Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program (ENVST) strives to foster an understanding of ecological systems and the consequences of human interactions with the environment. The curriculum is rooted in interdisciplinary approaches from earth systems science, humanities, and social and behavioral sciences. The ENVST program provides students with a broad multi-methods education that emphasizes systemic analysis, peer learning, and community engagement. It stresses the importance of social responsibility, leadership, and a science-based focus on solutions and integrated problem solving.
While the ENVST core classes are available online for all ENVST majors, the Sustainability Initiatives Emphasis is the only ENVST emphasis that can be completed entirely online. This emphasis gives students the opportunity to engage in an interdisciplinary education focused on sustainability. Students will take electives from a pre-selected list of classes that are offered online. The capstone class includes a project on the related topic of their choice, which serves as a culmination of their studies on sustainability.
At the University of Utah, our courses combine the flexibility of online teaching with the advantages and direct engagement of traditional teaching. Enjoy the benefit of studying online at your own pace while still engaging with classmates and instructors. This flexible way of teaching improves your overall experience and your ability to retain what you learn.
Interactive learning comes in a variety of ways:
- Group assignments, where you collaborate via email or a discussion forum to answer a problem set.
- Contributions to a discussion forum, where you directly respond to previous posts.
- Peer reviews, where you review and comment on assignments from other students.
Our classes also offer multiple routes to stay connected and get help:
- Communicate directly with the instructor via email.
- Participate in and guide online discussions.
- Attend online office hours in discussion threads or on the phone.
- Instructors are available in “real” office hours for students on or near campus; for some courses we offer Q&A sessions in a classroom.
Minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies
All of the courses at the University, whether online or on campus, are taught by the same high-quality faculty members. There’s no distinction on your diploma that you completed courses online.
REQUIRED CLASSES
Courses with * have prerequisites.
Prerequisites for ENVST Upper Division Courses
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ENVST 2050 |
Introduction to Environmental Science (SF) |
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ENVST 2100 |
Introduction to Environmental and Sustainability Studies (BF) |
ENVST Upper Division Courses
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GEOG 3210 |
Global Climate Change (SF) |
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*ENVST 3364 |
Challenges to Global Sustainability (IR) |
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*ENVST 3365 |
Environmental Justice (DV) |
|
POLS 3390 |
Introduction to Environmental and Sustainability Policy |
To Be Completed in Your Last Year
|
*ENVST 5556 |
Capstone Experience |
Statistics Courses (choose 1 course)
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*ECON 3640 |
Probability & Statistics for Economists (QB) |
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SOC 3112 |
Social Statistics (QI and QB) |
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FCS 3210 |
Statistics in Family & Consumer Studies (QI and QB) |
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*PSY 3000 |
Statistical Methods in Psychology (QI and QB) |
Writing Courses (choose 1 course)
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*MGT 3810 |
Business and Professional Communication (CW) |
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*WRTG 3014 |
Scientific Writing (CW) |
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*WRTG 3012 |
Writing in the Social Sciences (CW) |
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*WRTG 3015 |
Professional Writing (CW) |
Methods Courses (choose 1 course)
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FCS 3200 |
Research Methods in Family and Consumer Studies |
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*ECON 4650 |
Econometrics (QI) |
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POLS 3001 |
Political Analysis (QB and QI) |
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SOC 3111 |
Research Methods (CW) |
|
SW 4100 |
Global Community Based Research |
ENVST Electives (choose 7 courses)
Choose no more than 4 from one department.
|
ANTH 1050 |
Evolution and Human Nature (SF) |
|
ANTH 4255 |
Race and Culture (DV) |
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*CHEM 1210 |
General Chemistry (SF) |
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COMM 3030 |
Communications and Social Responsibility |
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ECON 3190 |
Introduction to Health Economics |
|
GEOG 3030 |
Living with QUakes |
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GEOG 3600 |
Geography of Utah |
|
GEOG/ENVST 3368 |
Energy Choices for the 21st Century |
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GNDR 1100 |
Gender and Social Change (DV/BF) |
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GNDR 3380 |
Social Inequality (DV) |
|
NUIP 1020 |
Scientific Foundations of Human Nutrition & Health (AS) |
|
PHIL 3530 |
Environmental Ethics (HF) |
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PHIL 3520 |
Bioethics (HF) |
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PRT 3310 |
Leisure Behavior and Human Diversity (DV) |
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PRT 3610 |
The Global Citizen (IR) |
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SOC 1020 |
Social Problems |
|
SOC 3480 |
Environmental Sociology (IR) |
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SOC 3650 |
Population and Society (QI/QB/IR) |
|
SW 3550 |
Social Diversity and Cultural Understanding (DV) |
More information on admissions, applications and degree requirements can be found here.
All students transferring credit from another institution will need to make visiting with an advisor a top priority. Students will be able to gather a full sense of what credits transferred, how many credits are left remaining for degree completion and those opportunities that will enhance the post-graduate experience. Students can only transfer 4 classes, only 1 can be 1000/2000 level.
Upon graduation students end up in a variety of different careers, due the interdisciplinary nature of this degree. Almost half of our students continue on to advanced degrees and many others enter the non-profit sector of work.
Where are our graduates now? Learn more at envst.utah.edu.
Program Credits
55 Credit Hours*
*Program credits only. This does not include gen ed/bachelor degree requirements or
the university's 122 hour rule.
All ENVST program pre-requisite courses, as well as ENVST core classes, are available
in the online format. For more information, please contact an ENVST academic advisor.
Application Deadlines