College of Science

The Certificate in Environmental Studies is intended for students who have an interest in the environment or who wish to combine environmental studies with some other major or minor.  The certificate will be noted on official and unofficial transcripts; paperwork is available in the Registrar’s office.  The Certificate in Environmental Studies will entail successfully completing at least 12 credit hours of coursework in environment-related courses from the attached list.  All courses must be completed at Benedictine University.  Courses from at least two different colleges must be included among the 12 credits.  Only courses in which a student has received a grade of “C” or better may be applied to the certificate.  Any credit completed for the certificate may be applied to fulfill core major or minor requirements.  

The certificate program gives students the option of choosing environmental-focused courses from a number of disciplines including Anthropology, Biochemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, Geography, Global Studies, Humanities, Literature, Management, Natural Science, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, Sociology and Theology. Among the courses students can apply to the certificate are “Ecology of a Changing Planet,” “General Ethics for the Environmentally-Minded,” “Disease and the Environment,” “The Global Environment,” “Humanity and the Environment,” “The Divine Economy” and “Faith and Science.”

Courses Spring 2017:

ANTH 291A: Topics in Anthropology: Environment & Community Development in Costa Rica BIOL 180: Ecology of a Changing Planet BIOL 290: Marine and Island Ecology of the Bahamas BIOL 291-NA: Selected Topics: Soil Ecology BIOL 291-NB: Selected Topics: Introduction to Ecological Restoration BIOL 300: Limnology or Ecology of Lakes and Streams BIOL 325: Biology of Complex Systems BIOL 363: Ecology BIOL WI364: Ecology Laboratory BIOL 391A: Selected Topics: Urban Ecology and Pollution Control BIOL 391A: Environmental Modeling ENVS 211: OSHA Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response Refresher ENVS 398: Capstone Project IDS-202: Catholic/Benedictine Intellectual Traditions: Sustainability/Stewardship IDS-302: Human Dignity/Common Good: Sustainability/Stewardship LITR 241: Environmental Literature MGT 120: “Going Green” in the Business World  (Starts mid-semester) MGT 125: Business Sustainability Topics PLSC C215: Model United Nations RELS180: The Devine Economy

Approved Courses: Full List

ANTH 291N: Topics in Anthropology: Ecotourism, Sustainable Agriculture, and Social Justice in Costa Rica, Spring 2011 ANTH 291N: Topics in Anthropology: Cuba, Tourism, and Environmental Sustainability, Fall 2011 ANTH 291N: Topics in Anthropology: Environment & Community Development in Costa Rica, Spring 2015 ANTH 309: People, Culture and Environment, when dedicated to an environmental theme, as Fall 2008, Fall 2010 BCHM C100: Impact of Science and Technology on Society BIOL 180: Ecology of a Changing Planet BIOL C191A: Humanity and the Environment BIOL 191A: Selected Topics: Industrial Ecology, Spring 2015 BIOL 205: Introduction to Environmental Science BIOL 275: Invertebrate Zoology BIOL 281: ACCA seminar (Ecology): when dedicated to an environmental theme, as in Fall 2008, Spring 2009, Fall 2010 (Environmental Microbiology), Fall 2011 (Ecology of the Chicago Region), Fall 2012 (Water), Fall 2013 (Invasive Species) BIOL 290: Marine and Island Ecology of Bahamas BIOL 291: Selected Topics: Global Warming BIOL 291: Selected Topics: Paleobiology (before 2012) BIOL 291 A: Selected Topics: Water Processes and Conservation F12 BIOL 291-NA: Selected Topics: Soil Ecology S17 BIOL 291-NB: Selected Topics: Introduction to Ecological Restoration S17 BIOL 300  Limnology or Ecology of Lakes and Streams BIOL 322: Paleobiology BIOL 325: Biology of Complex Systems BIOL 330: Plant-Animal Interactions BIOL 363: Ecology BIOL WI364: Ecology Laboratory BIOL 391A WI: Disease and the Environment BIOL 391C WI: Readings in the History of Biology, when dedicated to an environmental theme as Fall 2008 BIOL 391N: Nature Writing, Spring 2011, Fall 2011 BIOL 391B: Evolution and Conservation of Plant Biodiversity, Spring 2011 BIOL 391: Selected Topics: Plant/Animal Interactions Spring 2010, Spring 2012, Spring 2014 BIOL 394: Nature Writing ENVS 205: Environmental Science ENVS 210: OSHA Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response Training ENVS 211: OSHA Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response Refresher ENVS 398: Capstone Project GEOG 106: Geography and Cartography, when dedicated to an environmental theme as in Fall 2009, Spring 2011. GBLS 101: Introduction to Global Studies GLBS WI 102: Global Studies II: The Global Environment, when dedicated to an environmental theme. HUMN 200/201: Climate Change Interdisciplinary Seminar  Spring 2011 HUMN WI 250: Contemporary World, when dedicated to an environmental theme. IDS 201A WI:Catholic/Benedictine Traditions: The Environment Impact of Benedictine Stewardship and Stability, Fall 2014 IDS 202: Catholic/Benedictine Intellectual Traditions: Sustainability/Stewardship IDS 302: Human Dignity/Common Good: Sustainability/Stewardship IDS 304: Human Dignity/Common Good: Sustainability/stewardship, Global LITR 241: Environmental Literature LITR 381/ GENS 100: Intro to Gender Studies: Gender and the Environment, when dedicated to an environmental theme, as in Spring 2009. MGT Environmental Sustainability and the Role of Business in Climate Change MGT 120: “Going Green” in the Business World  MGT 125: Business Sustainability Topics NTSC C210A: Science in the Humanities PHIL C248A, B: General Ethics for the Ecologically Minded, when dedicated to an environmental theme, as in Spring 2009, 2011. PHIL C348: Ethics for the Ecologically Minded PLSC C210: Introduction to World Relations, when dedicated to an environmental theme, as Fall 2008. PLSC C215 – Model UN, when dedicated to an environmental theme. RELS C140: World Religions, When dedicated to an environmental theme, as Fall 2008 RELS C191 A,B: Selected Topics: The Divine Economy, when dedicated to an environmental theme, as Fall 2008. RELS 180: The Divine Economy, subsequently SOCL 240: Social Problems, when dedicated to an environmental theme, as in Spring 2009, Spring 2013 SOCL 350: Social Theory, when dedicated to an environmental theme, as in Fall 2009, Fall 2010 THEO C104: Theology: Faith and Science

In addition, an array of environmentally-themed courses are offered each semester and many existing courses – particularly those in biology, humanities, religious studies and anthropology – have incorporated environmental topics into their curriculum. For more information about the Certificate in Environmental Studies, contact the Enrollment Center at (630) 829-6300 or by e-mail admissions@ben.edu.


Updated 2/13/17