Why Environmental Humanities?

Environmental problems are not solely scientific, but are also social, cultural, and political. The Environmental Humanities minor encourages a multifaceted approach to environmental study in the disciplines of literature, creative writing, history, religion, and communication. Students use creative and critical thinking to explore how environmental issues intersect with race, ethnicity, gender, and socio-economic status. The Environmental Humanities internship and independent study options provide opportunities for students to develop creative and culturally responsive approaches to environmental issues.

Goals

1. To study and develop creative expressions of the environmental imagination.
2. To develop critical and ethical thinking about nature and culture.
3. To encourage reflection on the way environmental issues intersect with race, ethnicity, sex, gender, class, religion, and health.

Student Learning Objectives

1. Students will be able to articulate broad historical and cultural views of the complex interactions between humans and the natural and material environment.
2. Students will be able to analyze and/or produce an expressive, creative work that illustrates the complexity of human interaction with the environment.