BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies (CHSS)

Catalog Year: 2023-2024

Banner Code: LA-BA-EVSS

The BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies is a joint program between the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the College of Science.

This degree provides students with theoretical and practical knowledge of three aspects of environmental and sustainability studies: people, prosperity, and planet. In addition to required core courses, students develop more in-depth knowledge in their choice of concentration. This degree prepares students for employment and graduate study in fields related to social justice, business and public policy, and environmental protection as they relate to the environment and sustainability.

This is a Green Leaf program. 

Degree Requirements

Total credits: minimum 120

This is a Green Leaf program.

Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.

Of the credits required for this degree, 14 credits simultaneously fulfill core requirements for the major and Mason Core requirements, and, depending on the concentration and electives chosen, up to 9 credits may simultaneously fulfill Mason Core requirements and college BA requirements.

Core Courses in the Major

Concentration in the Major

Available Concentrations

• Concentration in Business and Sustainability (BUSU)
• Concentration in Climate Change and Society (CCSO)
• Concentration in Conservation and Sustainability (CSUS)
• Concentration in Environmental Policy (EVP)
• Concentration in Equity and Environmental Justice (EQEJ)
• Concentration in Sustainable Food and Agriculture (SFG)

Concentration in Business and Sustainability (BUSU)

The requirements for this concentration, depending on the electives chosen, may satisfy the college BA requirement in philosophy and religious studies (PHIL 243 Global Environmental Ethics (Mason Core), PHIL 305 Business Ethics).

Students who have already taken and received credit for OSCM 303 Operations Management shall substitute it for MBUS 306 Managing Projects and Operations. Both courses cannot be taken for credit. Students who have taken and received credit for both ACCT 203 Survey of Accounting and FNAN 303 Financial Management shall substitute the combination for MBUS 300 Accounting in a Global Economy. All three courses cannot be taken for credit.

Core Courses

Two Courses

Concentration in Climate Change and Society (CCSO)

The requirements for this concentration, depending on the electives chosen, may satisfy the college BA requirement in philosophy and religious studies (PHIL 243 Global Environmental Ethics (Mason Core), PHIL 343 Topics in Environmental Philosophy (Mason Core)).

Required Courses

Three Courses

Concentration in Conservation and Sustainability (CSUS)

Smithsonian-Mason Program

Students complete one of the programs offered through the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation in cooperation with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

Conservation, Biodiversity and Society Option (16 credits)

Wildlife, Ecology, and Conservation Option (16 credits)

Offered only in Fall semesters, students complete four required courses:

Endangered Species and Conservation Option (16 credits)

Offered only in Spring semesters, students complete four required courses:

Three Credits

Concentration in Environmental Policy (EVP)

The requirements for this concentration satisfy the Mason Core requirement in social and behavioral science (ECON 104 Contemporary Macroeconomic Principles (Mason Core)) and, depending on the elective chosen, may fulfill the college BA requirement in non-Western culture (ECON 362 African Economic Development (Mason Core)).

Required Courses

Completion of these courses will satisfy the Mason Core social and behavioral science requirement.

Nine Credits

Concentration in Equity and Environmental Justice (EQEJ)

Required Courses

Six Credits

Concentration in Sustainable Food and Agriculture (SFG)

Required Courses

Eight Credits

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated as "writing intensive" in their major at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in environmental and sustainability studies should consult an advisor to learn how to fulfill this requirement.

Upper Level Requirement

Students seeking a bachelor’s degree must apply at least 45 credits of upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above) toward graduation requirements.

Additional Electives

Any remaining credits may be completed with elective courses to bring the degree total to 120.

College Level Requirements for the BA Degree

In addition to the Mason Core program, students pursuing a BA degree must complete the coursework below. Except where expressly prohibited, a course used to fulfill a college level requirement may also be used simultaneously to satisfy other requirements (Mason Core requirements or requirements for the major).

Philosophy or Religious Studies

¹

Note that the following courses may not be used to fulfill this requirement:

• PHIL 323 Classical Western Political Theory 
• PHIL 324 Modern Western Political Theory 
• PHIL 327 Contemporary Western Political Theory 
• PHIL 393 Humanities College to Career 
• PHIL 460 Senior Seminar in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics

Additionally, PHIL 253, RELI 235,  RELI 333, and RELI 339 cannot be used to fulfill both the philosophy/religious studies requirement and the Mason Core literature requirement.

Social and Behavioral Sciences

¹

The two courses used to fulfill the combined college and Mason Core requirements must be from different disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. 

²

HIST 100 and HIST 125 may not be used to fulfill this requirement.

Foreign Language

¹

Students who are already proficient in a second language may be eligible for a waiver of this requirement. Additional information on waivers can be found at the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

Non-Western Culture

Select 3 credits of an approved course in the study of a non-Western culture (additional to the Mason Core requirement in global understanding)

¹

A course used to fulfill the Mason Core global understanding requirement may not be simultaneously used to satisfy this college-level requirement. A course used to fulfill this requirement may be used simultaneously to fulfill any other requirements (Mason Core requirements, college-level requirements, or requirements for the major). Additional information on waivers can be found at the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

Mason Core

Some Mason Core requirements may already be fulfilled by the major requirements listed above. Students are strongly encouraged to consult their advisors to ensure they fulfill all remaining Mason Core requirements.

Students who have completed the following credentials are eligible for a waiver of the Foundation and Exploration (lower level) requirement categories. The Integration category (upper level) is not waived under this policy. See Admissions for more information. 

• VCCS Uniform Certificate of General Studies
• VCCS or Richard Bland Associate of Science (A.S.), Associate of Arts (A.A.), Associate of Arts and Sciences (A.A.&S.), or Associate of Fine Arts (A.F.A.)

¹

Most programs include the writing-intensive course designated for the major as part of the major requirements; this course is therefore not counted towards the total required for Mason Core.

²

Minimum 3 credits required.