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The environmental studies program at Saint Martin's University is a truly interdisciplinary program. Students have an opportunity to focus on a B.S. (science track) or a B.A. (social policy track). In each of these tracks, students gain experience in a broad spectrum of environmental topics and service learning opportunities.

Program highlights

  • Students participate in research and internships as a fundamental part of the major.
  • Individualized tailoring of the student’s program of study to prepare them for graduate study, or careers in science and/or policy.
  • Strong commitment to an interdisciplinary approach with faculty from a variety of areas (Biology, English, Chemistry, Anthropology, History, Business, etc.).
  • Opportunities for collaborations with local businesses, government agencies, non-profits, and universities.
  • Proximity to natural resources and conservation sites, with opportunities to examine the interactions and collaborations between public and private organizations focused on environmental issues.

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  • What to expect at Saint Martin's

    The Environmental Studies program at Saint Martin's incorporates the Benedictine tradition of creating sustainable communities of peace for 1500 years, and benefits from our close proximity to the Washington State Department of Ecology and the state government in Olympia. We are also able to take advantage of the natural resources located immediately on our campus and close by in Western Washington.

    The B.S. track is a degree centered in Biology and the fundamental scientific processes governing the environment. The degree is rooted by a broad selection of courses in ethics, service learning, social science, economics, policy, and mathematics. Additional tracks may be designed in both chemistry and mathematical modeling.

    The B.A. track is a degree centered in policy and social justice issues surrounding the environment. Students receive a critical foundation in science concepts and an expansive selection of electives allows a student to focus on areas of ethics, service, economics, policy, or food sustainability

  • Career paths

    Graduates of the University's environmental studies program will be prepared for avariety of careers in environmental sciences including:

    • Research and development
    • Biotechnology and bioinformatics
    • State and federal government
    • Botany
    • Marine biology
    • Genetics
    • Agriculture
    • Environmental protection

     

    For a complete list of professional applications, visit "What Can I Do With This Major?". For additional information about how Saint Martin’s can help you find the career for you, visit our Career Center.

Requirements

Major in Environmental Studies (BA)

  • General Education Core (40-46 semester hours)
  • Lower Division Courses (16 semester hours)
  • Upper-Division Courses (21 semester hours)
  • Elective courses chosen from following list (18 semester hours)
  • Upper-Division Courses (21 semester hours)
    • ENV 330 Climate Change
    • ENV 340 Global Environmental Politics
    • ENV 390 or ENV 397 Internship or directed study
    • ENV 498/PLS 498 Research Methods
    • ENV 499/PLS 499 Senior Research Paper
    • RLS 319, RLS 345 or RLS 352 (Select one)
  • Elective courses chosen from following list (18 semester hours)
    • ECN 201 Microeconomics
    • ECN 371 Econometrics
    • ECN 375 Cost Benefit Analysis
    • ECN 325 Evolution of Economic Thought
    • ENV 115, ENV 110 or ENV 105 (separate from LD requirement)
    • ENV 310 Environmental Social Issues (repeatable)
    • ENV 320 Environmental Humanities (repeatable)
    • ENV 350 Environmental Law
    • ENV 395 Special Topics (repeatable)
    • GPH 210 World Regional Geography
    • PHL 314 or 356 Phil of Nat/Sci or Bioethics
    • PLS 300 International Relations
    • PLS 320 State and Local Politics
    • SJ 310 or 301 Soc justice in Film or SJ in Literature

Major in Environmental Studies (BS)

  • General Education Core (40 semester hours)
  • Lower Division Courses (34 semester hours)
  • Upper-Division Courses (22 semester hours)
  • Elective Courses  (12 semester hours)
  • Lower Division Courses (34 semester hours)
    • Bio141 & 142 General Biology I and II w/ labs
    • Chm 141 & 142 General Chemistry I and II w/ labs
    • ECN 202 Macroeconomics
    • ENV 115, ENV 110 or ENV 105 (Select one)
    • MTH 122 or MTH 171
    • MTH 201 Statistics or MTH 357 or BIO 301
    • SOC 102, or SOC 103, or SJ 110 (Select one)


     

  • Upper-Division Courses (22 semester hours)
    • Bio 358 or Bio 359 Ecology or Field Ecology w/ lab
    • ENV 330 Climate Change
    • ENV 340 Global Environmental Politics
    • ENV 390 or ENV 397 Internship or Directed Study (service)
    • ENV 400 Senior Seminar
    • ENV 401 Senior Research
    • RLS 319, RLS 345 or RLS 352 (Select one)
  • Elective courses chosen from following list (12 semester hours)
    • Bio 301 Biostatistics
    • Bio 305 Botany w/ lab
    • Bio 310 Marine Biology w/ lab
    • Bio 350 Microbial Ecology
    • Bio 358 or Bio359 Ecology or Field Ecology w/ lab
    • Bio 375 Genetics w/ lab
    • Chm 201 Organic Chemistry w/ lab
    • CHM 331 Quantitative Analysis w/ lab
    • ENV 310 Environmental Social Issues
    • ENV 320 Environmental Humanities
    • ENV 350 Environmental Law
    • ENV 395 Special Topics (can be repeated)
    • GPH 210 World Regional Geography
    • MTH 322 Differential Equations
    • MTH 353 Linear Algebra
    • MTH 381 Math Modeling
    • PHL 314 or 356 Phil of Nat/Sci or Bioethics

Faculty

Jeff Birkenstein, Ph.D.

"There is no hiding in my classes. Students are in the middle of it. Students not only read great texts, but they create knowledge. They write and discover new things about themselves, about their topics. There are many reasons to attend a smaller school, and this is chief among them."

Jeff Birkenstein, Ph.D.
Professor, English
 College of Arts & Sciences
Nathalie Kuroiwa-Lewis, Ph.D.

"I would like students to take away from my classes that writing is one of the ultimate arts in self-expression. It is a serious means of finding communion with humanity. Write what you like to write, write often and with purpose and you may find yourself more in sync with the human planet."

Nathalie Kuroiwa-Lewis, Ph.D.
Director, Writing Center
Associate Professor, English
 College of Arts & Sciences