Environmental Sciences and Policy (AB)
Program Code: U-ENVS-AB
Degree Designation: Bachelor of Arts
Department: Nicholas School of Environment
Website: nicholas.duke.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/environmental-sciences-policy
Program Summary
The undergraduate major in environmental science and policy is offered as a bachelor of arts degree to students interested in the interdisciplinary study of environmental issues. The major draws from the breadth of perspectives from, science, policy, and humanities while engaging students in an in-depth study in natural or social sciences. This major is designed for students with career objectives such as environmental law, policy, science, management, or planning that require in-depth understanding of environmental issues that cross disciplinary boundaries. The corequisites for the AB degree stress a firm foundation in basic natural, environmental, and social science areas. The gateway course focuses on local, regional, and global case studies taught by interdisciplinary teams of faculty. The major requirements include three topical courses selected from three categories (Environmental Humanities, Environmental Sciences, and Environmental Policy) and three additional focus area courses. Students are required to participate in a relevant field experience or internship and many students choose to fulfill this requirement through study abroad, a semester at Duke Marine Lab, or the Stanback Internship Program. The department encourages all students to pursue independent research with Nicholas School faculty members.
Go to Programs by Department to view all related programs.
Advising in Environmental Sciences and Policy
Advisors are assigned based on students’ general areas of interest. Students present a proposed plan of study to their advisors that explains the rationale for their chosen area of concentration within their focused study. The program encourages close relationships between faculty and students with convergent interests.
Academic Requirements
Corequisites
The following courses or their equivalents (for example, Advanced Placement credit) are required. Approval to substitute courses taken at other universities must be obtained from the director of undergraduate studies in the department offering the course. Some of these courses are prerequisites to some upper-level courses in this major.
Environment 102 (Introduction to Environmental Sciences and Policy)
Biology 201L or 202L or 203L (Gateway to Biology)
Chemistry 101L or 110L (Advanced General Chemistry), or equivalent
Economics: Economics 101 (Economic Principles); Environment 155 (Principles of Economics and the Environment); or Political Science 145 (Introduction to Political Economy) or equivalent
Mathematics 111L (Introductory Calculus) or equivalent (e.g., Mathematics 105L and 106L)
Statistics: Statistical Science 101L, 102L, 111L, 130L, or 199L; or Biology 304; or Sociology 333; or equivalent
Major Requirements
Gateway Course: Environment 201 (Integrating Environmental Sciences and Policy)
Topical Areas: One course in each area, chosen from a list of approved courses:
Environmental Humanities
Environmental Sciences
Environmental Policy
Focus Area: Students are required to choose a focus area and take three courses around that focus, at least one of which is a 500-level course. Focus areas will be chosen under the direction of the student’s major advisor and will be approved by the director of undergraduate studies upon successful submission of a short essay outlining the focus area and justifying the chosen courses.
Capstone: Environment 495 (Capstone Course). Participating in Graduation with Distinction (GWD) can fulfill this requirement.
Field Experience or Internship: Students will complete a field experience or internship relevant to their major. The Duke Career Center maintains information on available internships. Field experiences may include a semester or summer session at the Duke University Marine Laboratory or participation in field-oriented study abroad programs.
Graduation with Distinction
The environmental sciences and policy and environmental sciences both offer a Graduation with Distinction option. Interested students with a 3.0 grade point average overall and 3.2 grade point average in the environmental sciences/policy major should apply by the beginning of their senior year. The application should include a written request to the director of undergraduate studies describing the proposed research project, and identifying a primary faculty advisor who has agreed to supervise the research. Students are required to take one independent research study as part of the Graduation with Distinction process. Students will write a substantial paper describing their completed research, which is evaluated by the faculty advisor, and will make an oral presentation to students and faculty of the program before the end of classes of the student’s final semester. For additional information and an application form, contact the director of undergraduate programs or visit nicholas.duke.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/graduation-distinction.