Environment and Sustainability Comprehensive Major: Environmental Management Emphasis (with a 3+2 Master in Environmental Management)

The Environmental Management emphasis allows students to complete the B.A. in Environment and Sustainability (ENVS) and the Master in Environmental Management (MEM) at Western in five years. Students who declare this emphasis must maintain degree progress as suggested in the degree plan and receive approval from the MEM Program Director to apply for provisional admission to the graduate program between August 1st and February 1st. 

Provisional Admission Requirements 

• Complete a minimum of 66 credits hours;
• Hold a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.25 GPA within the major;
• Earn a B or above in two social science, two natural science, and one statistics course;
• Fulfill the undergraduate internship requirement with a B or above, and provide a positive letter from the project sponsor; 
• Three letters of recommendation, including at least one professional reference and at least one academic reference from the student’s major; 
• Statement of Purpose to the MEM Application Committee outlining early career goals and potential ideas for the master’s project. 

At this point, if any aspect of a student’s performance is found to be insufficient, the MEM Director may reject a 3+2 student from the MEM program, in which case the student will need to find a new emphasis or minor in order to complete the undergraduate degree. Upon meeting the requirements above, and after Junior Year reaching 96 undergraduate credits in this plan,) holding to the same GPA and general performance standards outlined above, the School of Graduate Studies will designate students as “MEM candidates with provisional acceptance.” Upon completion of the final 24 credits (18 graduate credits + 6 undergraduate credits) of the Western B.A. in Year Four of this plan, the School of Graduate Studies will designate students as “MEM degree seeking students.” Students who have completed all other requirements of the 3+2 program and all Western undergraduate requirements, yet choose to leave the MEM program before Year 5, will still have completed the undergraduate emphasis in Environmental Management (with a 3+2 MEM) and have earned the 120 credits necessary for a Western undergraduate degree.

Program Learning Goals:

Program Requirements

A minimum of 69 credits is required for the B.A. components of the emphasis.

Upon successful completion of the prescribed courses listed above, University defined General Education, and elective requirements totaling 120 credits (with 40 at the 300-level or higher), students are eligible for their B.A. conferral. Students electing to complete MEM must follow the balance of their declared emphasis curriculum.

For a full description of the required Graduate coursework, please see the appropriate MEM program in the Western Graduate Catalog. 

Capstone Course Requirement

The following course in the Environment and Sustainability Major fulfills the capstone course requirement: ENVS 400 Applied Sustainability.

Western Watershed General Education Requirements

Students must complete all Western Watershed General Education requirements to graduate. 

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation.  Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above).  Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued. 

Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements. 

Sample Plan

Degree Plans are for planning purposes.  They reflect a suggested plan to complete the degree in a projected timeframe per program of study. 

“Western Watershed Course(s)” refers to a course from the Tributaries area of the Western Watershed program. These courses should be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.

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66 credit mark completed. Submit 3+2 application materials by July 1.

Western is committed to doing our part to provide each student a clear path to graduation. This four‐year degree plan is a sample map for fulfilling requirements in the major and General Education. The pathway that you take to your degree may differ somewhat from this illustration, depending on where you start and the detours and side trips you may take along the way. You are responsible for ensuring your overall, upper division, and major‐specific credits as well as GPA requirements are fulfilled for graduation.