Environmental Management Emphasis (with a 3+2 Master in Environmental Management)

The Environmental Management emphasis allows students to complete the B.A. in Politics and Government (POLS) and the Master in Environmental Management (MEM) at Western in five years. To remain qualified for the 3+2, upon earning 66 credits each student must have:

  • maintained a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.25 GPA within the major;
  • earned a B or above in two social science, two natural science (one with lab), and one statistics course;
  • fulfilled the 3-credit Internship requirement with a B or above and positive letter from the project sponsor;
  • provided three letters of recommendation, at least one of which is to be a professional reference and at least one of which is to be an academic reference from the student’s major at Western;
  • written a Statement of Purpose to the MEM program, detailing early career ambitions and ideas and connections for the eventual 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 91 credits in this plan—see “MAJOR MAP” at western.edu/3_2) 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 29 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 POLS undergraduate emphasis in Environmental Management and have earned the 120 credits necessary for a Western undergraduate degree.

A minimum of 68 credits is required.

POLS 117Introduction to Political Ideas (GT-SS1)3
POLS 180Introduction to American Politics (GT-SS1)3
POLS 250Politics of the Environment3
POLS 255Introduction to Comparative Politics (GT-SS1)3
POLS 260Introduction to World Politics (GT-SS1)3
POLS 309Political Theory I- Ancient to Early Modern3
POLS 310Political Theory II-Modern and Contemporary3
POLS 499Internship in Politics and Government3
Select five of the following:15
Issues in State and Local Government
Constitutional Law I
Constitutional Law II
The Politics of the Presidency
Politics of Social Movements
Human Rights
The Global South
American Foreign Policy
Political Economy
American Political Thought
The United Nations
Select one of the following:3
Statistics for Business and Economics
Statistical Thinking (GT-MA1)
Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1)
Quantitative Research Methods
Select one of the following:3
Studies in Political Theory:
Studies in American Politics:
Studies in International Relations:
Studies in Comparative Politics:
Core MEM Courses
ENVS 601Introduction to Environmental Management5
ENVS 605Science for Environmental Management3
ENVS 608ENVIRONMENTL POLITICS & POLICY3
ENVS 611Integrative Skills for Environmental Management3
ENVS 612Introduction to Analysis and Assessment for Environmental Management3
ENVS 615From Climate Science to Action3
Select one of the following from the MEM Emphases:3
Sustainable and Resilient Communities Emphasis:
Environmental Organization Development and Management
Global Sustainability Emphasis:
Global Sustainability
Integrative and Public Land Management Emphasis:
PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT
Total Credits68

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.S. 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 courses in the Business Administration Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: BUAD 491 STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT.

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

Major Map and Sample Sequence Major: B.A. in Politics and Government & Master in Environmental Management (3+2)

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
POLS 117 Introduction to Political Ideas (GT-SS1) 3
POLS 180 Introduction to American Politics (GT-SS1) 3
Gen EdGeneral Education Courses (including ENG 102) 9
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
 Credits16
Spring
POLS 260 Introduction to World Politics (GT-SS1) 3
BIOL 130
BIOL 135
Environmental Biology (GT-SC2)
and Environmental Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1)
4
Elective POLS Elective (1 of 5) 3
Gen EdOther General Education Courses (including ENG 103) 6
 Credits16
Year Two
Fall
POLS 250 Politics of the Environment 3
POLS 255 Introduction to Comparative Politics (GT-SS1) 3
POLS 309 Political Theory I- Ancient to Early Modern 3
Gen Ed Natural Sciences w/lab 4
 Credits13
Spring
POLS 310 Political Theory II-Modern and Contemporary 3
Elective POLS Elective (2 of 5) 3
STATSECON or MATH or SOC STATS 3
Gen EdGeneral Education Courses 6
 Credits15
Summer
POLS 499 Internship in Politics and Government 1 3
 Credits3
Year Three
Fall
Elective POLS Elective (3 of 5) 3
Elective ENVS Elective (ENVS 350, ENVS 360, ENVS 370) 3
Elective Elective 6
Gen EdGeneral Education Courses 3
 Credits15
Spring
Elective POLS Elective (4 of 5) 3
Elective Elective 9
Gen EdGeneral Education Courses 3
 Credits15
Summer
ENVS 601 Introduction to Environmental Management 5
 Credits5
Year Four
Fall
ENVS 605 Science for Environmental Management 3
ENVS 608 ENVIRONMENTL POLITICS & POLICY 3
ENVS 611 Integrative Skills for Environmental Management 3
Elective POLS Elective (5 of 5) 3
 Credits12
Spring
ENVS 612 Introduction to Analysis and Assessment for Environmental Management 3
ENVS 615 From Climate Science to Action 3
ENVS 616
Environmental Organization Development and Management
or PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT
3
Capstone POLS Capstone
 Credits9
Summer
ENVS 690 MEM Project Development 5
 Credits5
Year Five
Fall
ENVS 620
Studies in Sustainable and Resilient Communities
or Studies in Integrative and Public Land Management
3
ENVS 620
Studies in Sustainable and Resilient Communities
or Studies in Integrative and Public Land Management
3
ENVS 694 Master's Project and Portfolio 3
 Credits9
Spring
ENVS 620
Studies in Sustainable and Resilient Communities
or Studies in Integrative and Public Land Management
3
ENVS 694 Master's Project and Portfolio 3
ENVS 694 Master's Project and Portfolio 3
 Credits9
 Total Credits142
1

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