Skip to main content

Environmental Studies, B.A. (Madrid)

The Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies program at SLU-Madrid focuses on relationships between the natural environment and the society's social, economic, political, legal and humanistic aspects.

Environmental Studies at SLU-Madrid

Major in Environmental Studies

As global population and consumption rise, understanding the interplay between environmental and social systems is an increasingly important component of planning and decision-making. SLU-Madrid's B.A. in environmental studies prepares students for careers that emphasize a dual awareness of scientific and social perspectives and their relationship to the natural environment.

A B.A. in environmental studies is appropriate for students who are interested in public policy associated with environmental science or in pursuing graduate studies. This interdisciplinary program is also an excellent option for students interested in double-majoring and pairs well with degrees in communication, economics, international politics and Spanish. Adding environmental studies to other majors offers students a strong understanding of environmental issues viewed through their different disciplines. In addition, a double major can help students qualify for graduate scholarships and ensure they are qualified for jobs requiring multi-disciplinary preparation. 

SLU-Madrid's environmental studies academic curriculum is completely integrated with its counterpart offered at the U.S. campus. Students can complete the B.A. environmental studies entirely in Madrid, or they may transfer freely between Spain and the U.S. throughout their undergraduate degree program.

For information about the assessment of student learning in this program, please see the University-wide website. 

Curriculum Overview

The environmental studies curriculum at Saint Louis University is built upon a breadth-plus-depth model. All students entering the environmental studies program are required to complete a core set of preparatory science and skill development courses that provide a broad introduction to the environmental sciences. Students then choose a specialized concentration that provides more advanced instruction in their areas of interest to help prepare them for careers after graduation. 

Environmental studies students take a minimum of 35 credits of math and science core classes. Students then choose from one of the following concentrations: 

  • Natural Sciences
  • Economics, Politics and Public Policy

Required Courses

Physical Sciences

  • EAS 1030 Earth's Dynamic Environment II (3 credits)
  • EAS 1430/1435 Introduction to the Solid Earth and Lab (3/1 credits)

Chemistry Elective

  • CHEM 1110/1115 General Chemistry 1 and Lab (3/1 credits)

Life Sciences

Select two of the following:

  • BIOL 1200 Ecological Issues and Society (3 credits)
  • BIOL 1240/1245 General Biology: Information Flow and Evolution and Lab (3/1 credits)
  • BIOL 1260/1265 General Biology: Transformations of Energy and Matter and Lab (3/1 credits)
  • BIOL 1340 Diversity of Life (3 credits)

Integrated Science Course

  • EAS 3100 Environmental Issues (3 credits)

Mathematics/Statistics Requirement

Select one of the following:

  • MATH 1200 College Algebra (3 credits)
  • MATH 1400 Pre-Calculus (3 credits)
  • MATH 1510 Calculus I (4 credits)

Mathematics/Statistics Elective

Select one of the following:

  • MATH 1510 Calculus I (4 credits)
  • MATH 1520 Calculus II (4 credits)
  • OPM 2070 Intro: Business Statistics (3 credits)
  • PSY 2050 Foundations of Research Methods and Statistics (4 credits)

Skill Development

  • CMM 1200 Public Speaking (3 credits)
  • GIS 4010 Introduction to GIS (3 credits)

Senior Experience 

Select one of the following:

  • EAS 4910 Internship (3 credits)
  • EAS 4980 Advance Independent Study (3 credits)
  • 4000-course (environmental science related) (3 credits)

Natural Sciences Concentration

First-Tier Courses 

  • ANTH 2200 Cultural Anthropology (3 credits) OR ANTH 3270 Climate Change and Environmental Futures (3 credits)
  • BIOL 1200 Ecological Issues and Society (3 credits) OR BIOL 1340 Diversity of Life (3 credits)
  • CMM 2100 Journalism: News writing (3 credits)
  • ECON 1900 Principles of Economics (3 credits)
  • PHIL 3420 Environmental and Ecological Ethics (3 credits) OR THEO-2820 Religion and Science (3 credits)

Second-Tier Courses

Select three or four of the following:

  • BIOL 1260/1265 General Biology: Transformations of Energy and Matter and Lab (3/1 credits)
  • CHEM 1120/1125 General Chemistry 2 and Lab (3/1 credits)
  • CMM 3060 Political Communication (3 credits)
  • EAS 1310 Water – Our Precious Resource (3 credits)
  • EAS 1420 Introduction to Atmospheric Science (3 credits)
  • EAS 1450 Introduction to Oceanography (3 credits)
  • EAS 2700 Sustainable Development in Latin America (3 credits)
  • EAS 4420 Environment and Conservation in Africa (3 credits)

Economics, Politics, and Public Policy Concentration

First-Tier Courses 

  • ANTH 2200 Cultural Anthropology (3 credits) OR ANTH 3270 Climate Change and Environmental Futures (3 credits)
  • BIOL 1200 Ecological Issues and Society (3 credits) OR BIOL 1340 Diversity of Life (3 credits)
  • CMM 2100 Journalism: News writing (3 credits)
  • ECON 1900 Principles of Economics (3 credits)
  • PHIL 3420 Environmental and Ecological Ethics (3 credits) OR THEO-2820 Religion and Science (3 credits)

Second-Tier Courses

Select three or four of the following:

  • CMM 3060 Political Communication (3 credits)
  • ECON 3140 Intermediate Microeconomics (3 credits)
  • POLS 2600 Introduction to International Political Economy (3 credits)
  • EAS 2700 Sustainable Development in Latin America (3 credits)

General Electives (0-3 credits)

Undergraduate Core Requirements 

Beginning in fall 2022, all incoming SLU undergraduates — regardless of major, program, college or school — will complete the University Core curriculum.

Learn About the University Core

Non-Course Requirements

All Science and Engineering B.A. and B.S. students must complete an exit interview/survey near the end of their bachelor's program.

Minor in Computer Science

The computer science minor pairs well with almost every major offered at Saint Louis University. This program allows students to build their technical skills and better appreciate and advance the ways in which computing technologies can be used to advance many areas of society. The computer science minor can also help better position graduates for advancing their desired careers.

Requirements for the Minor

Internships and Careers

SLU-Madrid's environmental studies program prepares students for international careers in business, government or careers where knowledge of scientific and social perspectives on the environment is important. Students also have the opportunity to prepare for more advanced degrees in a wide range of fields, including law, economics and public policy.

Faculty
Tuition and Fees

SLU-Madrid is committed to providing a quality Jesuit education at an affordable price. Tuition rates at the Madrid campus are approximately 40% lower than at comparable private universities in the U.S.

If you have questions or would like to speak with a financial aid officer, email us at financialaid-madrid@slu.edu. 

Admission to the Major

To be admitted to the major, you must have at least a 2.00 cumulative average and complete a declaration of major form, available in the Office of the Registrar. Upon acceptance to the program, you will be assigned a departmental advisor.

Graduation Requirements

To be certified for graduation, you are required to:

  • Have at least a 2.00 cumulative average, a 2.00 average in the major and a 2.00 average in the minor or related elective hours.
  • Complete 30 of your final 36 credits at Saint Louis University (either the Madrid or St. Louis campus).
  • Submit the online application for degree before the beginning of the semester in which you intend to graduate.
Real-World Experience

Fieldwork Opportunities

SLU-Madrid's environmental science faculty organize one-day and weekend field trips where students can visit research institutes, natural parks and natural reserves and carry out fieldwork in environmentally important sites in the Madrid region and around Spain.

Environmental field work in the Basque Country.