Green Leaf

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

Admissions

University-wide admissions policies can be found in the Undergraduate Admissions Policies section of this catalog.

To apply for this program, please complete the George Mason University Admissions Application.

Policies

Students pursuing this degree must complete a minimum of 60 credits within the major, with a minimum grade of 2.00 in each course.

For policies governing all undergraduate degrees, see AP.5 Undergraduate Policies.

Banner Code: LA-BA-EVSS

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

Environmental Science and Society
EVPP 377Applied Ecology3
And completion of one of the following sequences: 111-12
Ecosphere - Introduction to Environmental Science I-Lecture (Mason Core)
and Ecosphere- Introduction to Environmental Science I- Lab (Mason Core)
and Ecosphere: Introduction to Environmental Science II-Lecture (Mason Core)
and Ecosphere: Introduction to Environmental Science II–Lab (Mason Core)
and Tackling Wicked Problems in Society the Environment (Mason Core)
or
Environmental Biology: Molecules and Cells
and Environmental Science: Biological Diversity and Ecosystems
and Environmental Science: Biomes and Human Dimensions
Individual and Group Behavior
INTS 334Environmental Justice (Mason Core)4
Business and Public Policy
Select one course from the following:3
Economics for the Citizen (Mason Core)
Contemporary Microeconomic Principles (Mason Core)
Environmental Economics for the Citizen (Mason Core)
EVPP 322Business and Sustainability3
EVPP 361Introduction to Environmental Policy 23
or GOVT 361 Introduction to Environmental Policy
Statistics
Select one course from the following:3-4
Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (Mason Core)
Biostatistics for Biology Majors
Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core)
Integration, Analysis, Innovation
INTS 210Sustainable World (Mason Core)4
EVPP 480Sustainability in Action (Mason Core)4
Select one course from the following:3
International Internship (Mason Core) (minimum of 3 credits required)
Experiential Learning (minimum of 3 credits required)
Experiential Learning (minimum of 3 credits required)
Internship (minimum of 3 credits required)
Undergraduate Research in Environmental Science and Policy (minimum of 3 credits required)
Internship (minimum of 3 credits required)
Total Credits41-43
1

EVPP 110 can be used toward EVPP 108/109 and EVPP 111 can be used toward EVPP 112/113.

2

 Satisfies the college BA requirement for social and behavioral science.

Concentration in the Major

Available Concentrations

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
Required Courses
MBUS 300Accounting in a Global Economy3
MBUS 306Managing Projects and Operations3
MGMT 303Principles of Management3
Additional Course
Select one course (3 credits) from the following:3
Food-Energy-Water-Climate Nexus
Special Topics (when topic is relevant with approval)
Social Innovation in Action
Special Topics (when topic is relevant with approval)
Entrepreneurship: Starting and Managing a New Enterprise
Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Special Topics in Environmental Science and Policy (when topic is relevant with approval)
Selected Topics in Environmental Science (when topic is relevant with approval)
Total Credits12
Two Courses
Select two courses (6 credits) from the following:6
Environmental Economics
Economics of Environmental Policy
Intermediate Environmental Policy
Geographic Approaches for Sustainable Development
Leadership Theory and Practice
Global Environmental Ethics (Mason Core)
Business Ethics
Other course work with advisor approval
Total Credits6

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
CLIM 101Global Warming: Weather, Climate, and Society (Mason Core)3-4
or GGS 121 Dynamic Atmosphere and Hydrosphere (Mason Core)
EVPP 432Energy Policy3
EVPP 436Politics of Climate Change Governance3
Total Credits9-10
Three Courses
Select three courses (9 credits) from the following:9
Archaeology of Climate Change
Introduction to Global Climate Change Science (Mason Core)
Severe and Extreme Weather
Air Pollution
Intermediate Environmental Policy
RS: Ecological Sustainability (Mason Core)
Nature and Culture in Global Wetlands (Mason Core)
Food-Energy-Water-Climate Nexus
Urban Ecosystems and Processes
Special Topics in Environmental Science and Policy (when topic is relevant with approval)
Selected Topics in Environmental Science (when topic is relevant with approval)
Global Environmental Hazards
Population Geography (Mason Core)
Urban Geography
Introduction to Weather and Climate
Physical Climatology
Severe and Extreme Weather
Special Topics (when topic is relevant with approval)
Special Topics (when topic is relevant with approval)
Global Environmental Ethics (Mason Core) 1
Topics in Environmental Philosophy (Mason Core) 1
Other course work with advisor approval
Total Credits9
1

Satisfies the college BA requirement in philosophy and religious studies.

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)
CONS 320Conservation in Practice3
CONS 401Conservation Theory3
CONS 402Applied Conservation4
CONS 410Human Dimensions in Conservation (Mason Core)3
CONS 490RS: Integrated Conservation Strategies (Mason Core)3
Total Credits16
Wildlife, Ecology, and Conservation Option (16 credits)

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

CONS 400Conservation Seminar2
CONS 404Biodiversity Monitoring4
CONS 405Landscape and Macrosystems Ecology4
CONS 496Research in Conservation (Mason Core)6
Total Credits16
Endangered Species and Conservation Option (16 credits)

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

CONS 400Conservation Seminar2
CONS 406Small Population Management4
CONS 491RS: Conservation Management Planning (Mason Core)4
CONS 496Research in Conservation (Mason Core)6
Total Credits16
Three Credits
Select a minimum of three credits from the following:3
Insect Biology (when topic is relevant with approval)
Introductory Animal Behavior
Environmental Policy Making in Developing Countries (Mason Core)
Freshwater Ecosystems
EVPP 355
Nature and Culture in Global Wetlands (Mason Core)
EVPP 401
Mushrooms, Molds and Society
Marine Mammal Biology and Conservation
Marine Conservation
Beekeeping and Sustainability
Conservation Medicine
Fundamentals of Environmental Geographic Information Systems
Energy Policy
Food-Energy-Water-Climate Nexus
Politics of Climate Change Governance
Ornithology
Mammalogy
Herpetology
Marine Ecology
Fungi and Ecosystems
Infectious Diseases of Wildlife
Global Biodiversity Governance
Geography of Resource Conservation (Mason Core)
Geographic Approaches for Sustainable Development
Biogeography
Introduction to Conservation Studies (Mason Core)
Science in the News (Mason Core)
Social Movements and Community Activism (Mason Core)
The Mysteries of Migration: Consequences for Conservation (Mason Core)
The Nonprofit Sector (Mason Core)
Sustainable Food Systems
Food Systems and Policy (Mason Core)
Conservation Biology (Mason Core)
Conservation Behavior (Mason Core)
Special Topics (when topic is relevant with approval)
Special Topics (when topic is relevant with approval)
Special Topics in Environmental Science and Policy (when topic is relevant with approval)
Selected Topics in Environmental Science (when topic is relevant with approval)
Other course work with advisor approval
Total Credits3

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.

EVPP 338Economics of Environmental Policy3
EVPP 362Intermediate Environmental Policy3
or GOVT 362 Intermediate Environmental Policy
GOVT 351Administration in the Political System3
Total Credits9
Nine Credits
Select a minimum of nine credits from the following:9
Environment and Culture
Politics and the Mass Media
Global Conflict Analysis and Resolution (Mason Core)
Contemporary Microeconomic Principles (Mason Core) (if not used to meet the Business and Public Policy core requirement)
Contemporary Macroeconomic Principles (Mason Core)
Intermediate Microeconomics
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Public Finance
Introduction to Econometrics
Economics of Developing Areas (Mason Core)
Game Theory and Economics of Institutions
Environmental Policy Making in Developing Countries (Mason Core)
Directed Topic in Environmental Science and Policy
EVPP 401
Energy Policy
Earth Science and Policy (Mason Core)
Economic Geography
Geographic Approaches for Sustainable Development
Legislative Behavior
International Political Economy
Urban Planning
Public Policy Making
Administrative Law and Procedures
Issues in Public Policy and Administration
The Nonprofit Sector (Mason Core)
Food Systems and Policy (Mason Core)
Special Topics in Environmental Science and Policy (when topic is relevant with approval)
Selected Topics in Environmental Science (when topic is relevant with approval)
Special Topics (when topic is relevant with approval)
Special Topics (when topic is relevant with approval)
Other course work with advisor approval
Total Credits9

Concentration in Equity and Environmental Justice (EQEJ)

Required Courses
EVPP 362Intermediate Environmental Policy3
EVPP 436Politics of Climate Change Governance3
INTS 336Poverty, Wealth and Inequality in the US (Mason Core)3
INTS 337Social Justice Consciousness and Action3
Total Credits12
Six Credits
Select a minimum of six credits from the following:6
Environment and Culture
Human Rights and Inequality
Food-Energy-Water-Climate Nexus
Population Geography (Mason Core)
Geographic Approaches for Sustainable Development
Human Rights
Social Movements and Community Activism (Mason Core)
The Nonprofit Sector (Mason Core)
Social Justice and Human Rights (Mason Core)
Social Innovation in Action
Globalization and Social Change (Mason Core)
Social Inequality (Mason Core)
Special Topics (when topic is relevant with approval)
Special Topics (when topic is relevant with approval)
Special Topics in Environmental Science and Policy (when topic is relevant with approval)
Selected Topics in Environmental Science (when topic is relevant with approval)
Other course work with advisor approval
Total Credits6

Concentration in Sustainable Food and Agriculture (SFG)

Required Courses
INTS 370Sustainable Food Systems6
INTS 371Food Systems and Policy (Mason Core)3
INTS 470Professional Pathways in Sustainable Food Systems1
Total Credits10
Eight Credits
Select a minimum of eight credits from the following:8
Food and Human Evolution
Food and Culture
Plant Diversity and Evolution
Plant Ecology
Nature and Culture in Global Wetlands (Mason Core)
Beekeeping and Sustainability
Food-Energy-Water-Climate Nexus
Politics of Climate Change Governance
Geography of Resource Conservation (Mason Core)
The Nonprofit Sector (Mason Core)
Introduction to Nutrition (Mason Core)
Global Nutrition and Food Security
Taste and Place
Food Security
Community Nutrition
Urban Agriculture
Special Topics (when topic is relevant with approval)
Special Topics (when topic is relevant with approval)
Special Topics in Environmental Science and Policy (when topic is relevant with approval)
Selected Topics in Environmental Science (when topic is relevant with approval)
Other course work with advisor approval
Total Credits8

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.

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.)
Foundation Requirements
Written Communication (lower-level)3
Oral Communication3
Quantitative Reasoning3
Information Technology and Computing3
Exploration Requirements
Arts3
Global Contexts3
Global History3
Literature3
Natural Science7
Social and Behavioral Sciences3
Just Societies (optional) 1
Integration Requirements
Written Communication (upper-level)3
Writing Intensive 23
Mason Apex 33
Total Credits40
1

In addition to covering content related to the designated category, Exploration level courses marked with a Just Societies "flag" are specifically designed to help students learn how to interact effectively with others from all walks of life, including those with backgrounds and beliefs that differ from their own. Courses marked with the Just Societies flag are available for students starting in Fall 2024. Students admitted prior to the Fall of 2025 are not required to take courses with a Just Societies flag but may wish to do so to increase their knowledge and skills in this important area. Students interested in this approach to completing their Mason Core Exploration Requirements should work closely wiht their advisor to identify the appropriate Just Societies-flagged courses.

2

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.

3

Minimum 3 credits required.

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
Select 3 credits from the following:3
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 253RELI 235RELI 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
Select 3 credits of social and behavioral sciences from the following (additional to the Mason Core social and behavioral sciences requirement) 13
ANTH
CRIM
ECON
GOVT
HIST 2
LING
PSYC
SOCI
Or choose from the following GGS courses:
Major World Regions (Mason Core)
Human Geography (Mason Core)
Introduction to Geoinformation Technologies
Political Geography (Mason Core)
Geography of Resource Conservation (Mason Core)
Population Geography (Mason Core)
Economic Geography
Urban Geography
Geography of the United States
Geography of Latin America
Geography of Europe
Geography of North Africa and the Middle East
Geography of Eastern Europe and Russia
Urban Planning
Geography of Virginia
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
Intermediate-level proficiency in one foreign language, fulfilled by: 1
Or achieving a satisfactory score on an approved proficiency test
Or completing the following ASL three course sequence:
American Sign Language (ASL) I
American Sign Language (ASL) II
American Sign Language (ASL) III
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)

Select 3 credits (additional to Mason Core Global Understanding requirement) 1
ANTH 114Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (Mason Core)3
ANTH 300Civilizations3
ANTH 302Peoples and Cultures of Latin America (Mason Core)3
ANTH 307Ancient Mesoamerica (Mason Core)3
ANTH 308Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East (Mason Core)3
ANTH 309Peoples and Cultures of India (Mason Core)3
ANTH 313Myth, Magic, and Mind (Mason Core)3
ANTH 314Zombies3
ANTH 317East Asian Cultures3
ANTH 330Peoples and Cultures of Selected Regions: Non-Western3
ANTH 332Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Globalization (Mason Core)3
ANTH 381Medical Anthropology3
ANTH 396Issues in Anthropology: Social Sciences (Mason Core)3
ARAB 360Topics in Arabic Cultural Production3
ARAB 365Black and Minority Cultures in Arabic Literature (Mason Core)3
ARAB 420Survey of Arabic Literature3
ARAB 440Topics in Arabic Religious Thought and Texts (Mason Core)3
ARTH 203Survey of Asian Art (Mason Core)3
ARTH 204Survey of Latin American Art (Mason Core)3
ARTH 206Survey of African Art (Mason Core)3
ARTH 317The Black Pharaohs: Art and Archaeology of Ancient Nubia (Mason Core)3
ARTH 318Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt3
ARTH 319Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (Mason Core)3
ARTH 320Art of the Islamic World (Mason Core)3
ARTH 382Arts of India (Mason Core)3
ARTH 383Arts of Southeast Asia (Mason Core)3
ARTH 384Arts of China (Mason Core)3
ARTH 385Arts of Japan (Mason Core)3
ARTH 482RS: Advanced Studies in Asian Art (Mason Core)3
CHIN 318Introduction to Classical Chinese (Mason Core)3
CHIN 320Contemporary Chinese Film3
CHIN 325Major Chinese Writers (Mason Core)3
CHIN 470Special Topics in Chinese Studies3
DANC 118Global Dance Perspectives I (Mason Core)3
ECON 361Economic Development of Latin America (Mason Core)3
ECON 362African Economic Development (Mason Core)3
FREN 454Topics in Caribbean Francophone Literature and Culture3
GGS 101Major World Regions (Mason Core)3
GGS 316Geography of Latin America3
GGS 317Geography of China (Mason Core)3
GGS 325Geography of North Africa and the Middle East3
GGS 399Select Topics in GGS3
GOVT 332Politics of the Middle East and North Africa3
GOVT 333Politics of East Asia3
GOVT 338Politics of Eurasia3
GOVT 340Central Asian Politics3
GOVT 341Chinese Foreign Policy3
GOVT 345Islam and Politics3
GOVT 433Political Economy of East Asia3
HIST 251Survey of East Asian History (Mason Core)3
HIST 252Survey of East Asian History (Mason Core)3
HIST 261Survey of African History (Mason Core)3
HIST 262Survey of African History (Mason Core)3
HIST 271Survey of Latin American History (Mason Core)3
HIST 272Survey of Latin American History (Mason Core)3
HIST 281Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization (Mason Core)3
HIST 282Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization (Mason Core)3
HIST 326Stalinism3
HIST 327The Soviet Union and Russia Since World War II3
HIST 328Rise of Russia (Mason Core)3
HIST 329Modern Russia and the Soviet Union (Mason Core)3
HIST 353History of Traditional China3
HIST 354Modern China (Mason Core)3
HIST 356Modern Japan (Mason Core)3
HIST 357Postwar Japan (Mason Core)3
HIST 358Post-1949 China (Mason Core)3
HIST 360History of South Africa (Mason Core)3
HIST 364Revolution in Latin America (Mason Core)3
HIST 365Conquest and Colonization in Latin America (Mason Core)3
HIST 366Comparative Slavery3
HIST 377The Vietnam War (Mason Core)3
HIST 384Global History of Christianity (Mason Core)3
HIST 387Topics in Global History (Mason Core)3-6
HIST 461Arab-Israeli Conflict3
HIST 462Women in Islamic Society (Mason Core)3
HIST 465The Middle East in the 20th Century3
JAPA 310Japanese Culture in a Global World (Mason Core)3
JAPA 340Topics in Japanese Literature (Mason Core)3
JAPA 380Japan in Motion3
KORE 300Korean Culture and Society3
KORE 320Korean Popular Culture in a Global World3
KORE 385Introduction to Korean Linguistics3
MUSI 103Musics of the World (Mason Core)3
RELI 211Introduction to Religions of the "West" (Mason Core)3
RELI 212Introduction to Religions of Asia (Mason Core)3
RELI 312Islam (Mason Core)3
RELI 313Hinduism (Mason Core)3
RELI 314Chinese Philosophies and Religious Traditions3
RELI 315Buddhism (Mason Core)3
RELI 317Daoism3
RELI 318Korean Philosophy and Religions3
RELI 338Qur'an and Hadith3
RELI 342Comparative Study of Mysticism3
RELI 344Muhammad: Life and Legacy3
RELI 358Islamic Thought (Mason Core)3
RELI 367Islamic Law, Society, and Ethics3
RELI 368Islam, Democracy, and Human Rights (Mason Core)3
RELI 384Global History of Christianity (Mason Core)3
RELI 490Comparative Study of Religions (Mason Core)3
RUSS 353Russian Civilization (Mason Core)3
RUSS 354Contemporary Post-Soviet Life (Mason Core)3
WMST 407Transnational Sexualities3
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.

Program Outcomes

Program Outcomes

  • Individual and Group Behavior (people): critically assess the part individuals and communities have played in creating environmental challenges, the diversity of ethical and social justice issues raised by human interactions with the environment, and understand how individuals and communities can use these ethical insights as a foundation to devise and implement solutions to address these problems; 
  • Business and Public Policy (prosperity): analytically consider how political institutions, markets and businesses have interacted with the environment, and the pivotal role they have in developing solutions that address environmental concerns; 
  • Environmental Science and Society (planet): identify the components and interactions that make up the ecosystem, and how this system responds to natural and human interactions; 
  • Integration and Analysis: integrate and apply the knowledge of the three aspects of environmental and sustainability studies to practical applications within the community and to critically assess and devise plans that address the social factors related to natural resource use; 
  • Written and Oral Communication: communicate effectively in a written format and apply appropriate rhetorical standards (e.g., audience adaptation, language, argument, organization, evidence, etc.). Students will also communicate effectively in an oral format, applying appropriate rhetorical standards (e.g., audience adaptation, language, argument, organization, evidence, etc.). 
  • Innovation: contribute to the global movement towards realizing a more healthy, just and sustainable society; 
  • Concentrated Expertise: create in-depth knowledge in one of six concentration areas related to environmental and sustainability studies.