Environmental Justice

Understanding the impact that human and natural systems have on each other will be an important area of study in the 21^st century. The Environmental Justice curriculum combines scientific knowledge about the natural environment with an understanding of environmental policy and its impact on vulnerable populations. Integrating these disciplinary perspectives will prepare students to think critically about global environmental issues, to assess the effects human activity has on the natural environment, and to address issues of social injustice that arise when vulnerable populations are disproportionately impacted by environmental degradation. As whole new categories of Green jobs are being created, knowledge of environmental justice will become necessary in fields such as business, health care, social work, education, law, tourism, outdoor conservation, and policy making. The Environmental Justice minor can be easily paired with any major to create an area of emphasis for your bachelor’s degree.

See the Graduate section of this Catalog for more information on Graduate programs offered at Mount Mercy.

Environmental Justice Minor

Required:
BI 125	Foundations of Biology & Scientific Inquiry I 1 *	3
BI 125L	Biostatistics and Scientific Investigation I 1	1.5
PO 103	Introduction to International Relations *	3
PO 112	Globalization and Human Survival *	3
HI 278	History Of US Environmentalism	3
Choose One of the Following:		4.5
BI 225	Global Environmental Issues
BI 242	Iowa Natural History
Choose One of the Following:		3
SO 330	Global Race Relations *
SW 265	Diversity in America *
Total Hours		21

¹

Transfer students or students in majors requiring an alternative introductory science course may count BI 123 Biology of Human Concern or PH 115 Introduction To Earth Sciencein lieu of BI 125 Foundations of Biology & Scientific Inquiry I and BI 125L Biostatistics and Scientific Investigation I.

*

Students may count no more than two of these Core Curriculum requirements towards the Environmental Justice minor.