Sociology and Criminal Justice Comprehensive Major: Environmental Management Emphasis (with a 3+2 Master in Environmental Management)

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

The Environmental Management emphasis allows students to complete the B.A. in Sociology (SOC) 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.  Having met the criteria above and upon completion of 96 credits (see the Degree Plan tab), the School of Graduate Studies will designate students “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 4 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 SOC undergraduate emphasis in Environmental Management (with a 3+2 MEM) and have earned the 120 credits necessary for a Western undergraduate degree.

Program Requirements

A minimum of 69 credits is required for the B.A. The following is required for the Comprehensive Program with Five-Year Master in Environmental Management: 

Sociology Core
SOC 110The Sociological Imagination (GT-SS3)3
SOC 225Self and Society3
SOC 302Origins of Sociological Theory3
SOC 310Interviewing and Field Methods3
SOC 380Social Class, Status, and Power3
SOC 399Internship in Sociology3
SOC 498Capstone3
Select six of the following:18
PSY 368
Psychopathology
SOC 120
Communities & Social Change
SOC 150
Environmental Sociology
SOC 303
Contemporary Sociological Theory
SOC 320
Sociology of Families
SOC 322
Sociology of Health, Illness, and Medicine
SOC 323
Cultural Studies
SOC 349
Law Enforcement
SOC 350
Deviance
SOC 351
Juvenile Delinquency
SOC 355
Drugs and Society
SOC 367
Probation, Parole, and Incarceration
SOC 397
Special Topics
SOC 492
Independent Study
Select one of the following:3
ECON 216
Statistics for Business and Economics
MATH 213
Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1)
PSY 200
Statistics and Data Analysis
SOC 211
Questionnaires and Survey Methods
Additional Required Courses
Select one of the following:
SOC 150
Environmental Sociology
SOC 340
Social Movements
Select two of the following:6
ECON 215
Environmental Economics
ENVS 210
Introduction to Climate Policy
ENVS 250
Environmental Justice (GT-SS3)
ENVS 350
U.S. and Western Environmental Politics
ENVS 360
Global Environmental Policy
ENVS 370
Water Policy and Politics
GEOG 120
Introduction to Human Geography (GT-SS2)
GEOG 222
Our Digital Earth
GEOG 250
Geography of North America (GT-SS2)
GEOG 340
Intro Geographic Info Systems
HIST 128
Introduction to Environmental History (GT-HI1)
HIST 347
Indigenous America
HIST 348
History of the American West
HIST 350
Environmental History of the Borderlands
HIST 373
History of the National Park Service
HIST 374
History of U.S. Public Lands
POLS 250
Politics of the Environment
PSY 308
Environmental Psychology
Total Credits48
Core MEM Requirements:
ENVS 602Headwaters Conference1
ENVS 605The Field of Environmental Management2
ENVS 607Approaches in Conservation and Sustainability3
ENVS 608Environmental Politics & Policy3
ENVS 611Environmental Project Development and Management5
ENVS 623Studies in Environmental Management1
One of the following:3
ENVS 612
Quantitative Methods in Environmental Management
ENVS 614
Qualitative Methods in Environmental Management
Total Credits18

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 courses in the Sociology Major fulfill the capstone course requirement: SOC 498 Capstone, or SOC 399 Internship in Sociology (Criminal Justice Emphasis).

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.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) (Western Watershed Fundamental Skills - Writing I) 3
SOC 110 The Sociological Imagination (GT-SS3) 3
Western Watershed Western Watershed course 9
WWGE 101/102/103/104 Headwaters (select one) 2
 Credits17
Spring
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) (Western Watershed Fundamental Skills - Writing II) 3
SOC 225 Self and Society 3
SOC Elective SOC Elective (first two of six) 6
Western Watershed Western Watershed course Science with lab course recommended 4
 Credits16
Year Two
Fall
SOC Elective SOC Elective (third and fourth of six) 6
SOC 150
or SOC 340
 Environmental Sociology
or Social Movements
 3
Western Watershed Western Watershed course 6
 Credits15
Spring
SOC Elective SOC Elective (fifth and sixth of six) 6
SOC 310 Interviewing and Field Methods 3
Western Watershed Western Watershed course 6
MATH 113
or MATH 213
or ECON 216
or SOC 211
 Statistical Thinking (GT-MA1) course selection depends on whether Fundamental Math skill has already been completed
or Probability and Statistics (GT-MA1)
or Statistics for Business and Economics
or Questionnaires and Survey Methods
 3
 Credits18
Summer
SOC 399 Internship in Sociology 3
66 credit mark completed Submit 3+2 application materials by July 1.  
**Summer courses count towards a student’s GPA, Academic Standing, and follow summer tuition fee structure.  
 Credits3
Year Three
Fall
SOC 302 Origins of Sociological Theory 3
Elective Elective or Western Watershed course 9
One of the following: 3
ECON 215
 Environmental Economics  
ENVS 210
 Introduction to Climate Policy  
ENVS 250
 Environmental Justice (GT-SS3)  
ENVS 350
 U.S. and Western Environmental Politics  
ENVS 360
 Global Environmental Policy  
ENVS 370
 Water Policy and Politics  
GEOG 120
 Introduction to Human Geography (GT-SS2)  
GEOG 222
 Our Digital Earth  
GEOG 250
 Geography of North America (GT-SS2)  
GEOG 340
 Intro Geographic Info Systems  
HIST 128
 Introduction to Environmental History (GT-HI1)  
HIST 347
 Indigenous America  
HIST 348
 History of the American West  
HIST 350
 Environmental History of the Borderlands  
HIST 350
 Environmental History of the Borderlands  
HIST 373
 History of the National Park Service  
HIST 374
 History of U.S. Public Lands  
PSY 308
 Environmental Psychology  
 Credits15
Spring
Elective Elective or Western Watershed course 12
SOC 380 Social Class, Status, and Power 3
WWGE 301/302/303/304 Delta (select one) 1
 Credits16
Year Four
Fall
ENVS 602 Headwaters Conference 1
ENVS 605 The Field of Environmental Management 2
ENVS 607 Approaches in Conservation and Sustainability 3
ENVS 608 Environmental Politics & Policy 3
One of the following (not yet taken): 3
ECON 215
 Environmental Economics  
ENVS 210
 Introduction to Climate Policy  
ENVS 250
 Environmental Justice (GT-SS3)  
ENVS 350
 U.S. and Western Environmental Politics  
ENVS 360
 Global Environmental Policy  
ENVS 370
 Water Policy and Politics  
GEOG 120
 Introduction to Human Geography (GT-SS2)  
GEOG 222
 Our Digital Earth  
GEOG 250
 Geography of North America (GT-SS2)  
GEOG 340
 Intro Geographic Info Systems  
HIST 128
 Introduction to Environmental History (GT-HI1)  
HIST 347
 Indigenous America  
HIST 348
 History of the American West  
HIST 350
 Environmental History of the Borderlands  
HIST 373
 History of the National Park Service  
HIST 374
 History of U.S. Public Lands  
PSY 308
 Environmental Psychology  
 Credits12
Spring
ENVS 611 Environmental Project Development and Management 5
ENVS 612
or ENVS 614
 Quantitative Methods in Environmental Management
or Qualitative Methods in Environmental Management
 3
ENVS 623 Studies in Environmental Management 1
SOC 498 Capstone 3
 Credits12
 Total Credits124

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.