ENS Major Requirements
The Environmental and Sustainability Studies B.A. provides students with an interdisciplinary foundation for understanding and addressing today’s most pressing environmental challenges. Through core coursework in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, policy, ethics, writing and applied capstone work, ENS students build the skills needed to analyze sustainability issues from multiple perspectives.
The major also allows students to shape their academic path by selecting areas of expertise in economics, environment and society, giving them flexibility to explore the dimensions of sustainability that best align with their interests and goals. Together, these requirements prepare students to think critically, communicate effectively, and contribute to more just and sustainable futures.
Office of the University Registrar: Environmental and Sustainability Studies, B.A.
ENS Major Requirements
Check out the ENS Core Courses page for more details!
- ENS 201 Environmental & Sustainability Studies I: Humanities and Social Sciences
- ENS 202 Environmental & Sustainability Studies II: Natural Sciences and Policy
- ENS 300 Special Topics in Environmental & Sustainability Studies
- PHI 336 Environmental Ethics
- Choose one of the following:
- ENG 425 Environmental Writing
- WRD 304 Writing in the Social Sciences
- WRD 305 Public Science Writing
- WRD 310 Writing in the Natural Sciences
- ENS 400 Capstone Course in Environmental & Sustainability Studies
ENS Major Requirements: Areas of Expertise
You will take 24 credit hours across three areas of expertise: 1) economics, 2) environment, and 3) society.
You'll select a primary, secondary, and tertiary area and take a different number of courses for each:
- Primary area: 5 courses (15 credit hours)
- Secondary area: 2 courses (6 credit hours)
- Tertiary area: 1 course (3 credit hours)
| Economics Area Courses | Environment Area Courses | Society Area Courses |
UK Core RequirementsThe UK Core requires 21 credit hours across a number of areas of inquiry. |
College of Arts & Sciences RequirementsThe UK College of Arts and Sciences requires 18 credit hours across a number of areas and a foreign language, which can be satisfied in several different ways. |
| NOTE: If you would like a course that isn't pre-approved to count towards one of these areas of expertise, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Senanayake to request an exception. |
You can also access this information on the ENS Curriculum page in Canvas. Access to this Canvas page is limited to students in the ENS program. If you are a student and cannot get access to this page, contact Dr. Senanayake.
Optional: Thematic Concentrations
Please be aware that these Thematic Concentrations options are being revised AY 2025-2026.
You may create your own thematic concentration by selecting a group of related elective courses from the three areas of expertise. You might identify a theme based on your own interests, subjects for which there is significant career potential or to prepare for a particular experience, such as a study abroad or internship.