Environmental Sustainability, B.A.

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Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120

Minimum Upper-Division Hours: 40


Overall GPA - Combined and OU: 2.25

Major GPA - Combined and OU: 2.25

Program Code: B408

Major Requirements

  • Courses required for the major may also fulfill University-Wide General Education Requirements.
Core
GEOG 1203Global Environmental Issues3
GEOG 2021Exploring DGES1
GEOG 3233Principles of Sustainability3
GEOG 3443Environment and Society3
GEOG 3923Quantitative Methods3
GIS 2023Introduction to Spatial Thinking and Computer Mapping3
GEOG 4523Life Cycle Analysis3
GEOG 4893Research and Professional Development3
GEOG 4953Capstone (Capstone)3
Major Electives
Choose two of the following:6
Living With Nature
Managing for a Changing Climate
Gender and Environment
Human Impact on the Earth
Cities and Society
Environmental Justice
Energy Systems and Sustainability
Urban Sustainability: Nature, Justice, and the City
Water and Society
Concentrations
Choose a minimum of 9 hours, including at least 6 hours of GEOG courses, from one of the following concentrations (approved course lists maintained by the department): 9
Culture and Society (P161)
Planning and Management (P516)
Science and Natural Resources (P591)
Total Credit Hours40

Major Support Requirements

  • Courses required for major support may not also fulfill University-Wide General Education Requirements.
Advisor-Approved Electives
Choose 20 hours, including six hours upper-division (3000-4000 level), of advisor-approved coursework relevant to the student’s field(s) of study. 20
Total Credit Hours20

General Education and College Requirements

Courses for fulfillment of General Education and college requirements must be from the approved General Education course lists at http://www.ou.edu/content/gened/courses.htmlCourses graded P/NP will not apply. 

UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION (MINIMUM 40 HOURS) AND COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS

At least three hours of Upper-Division General Education coursework must be completed outside the major.

Core Area I: Symbolic and Oral Communication
English Composition (6 hours)
ENGL 1113Principles of English Composition3
ENGL 1213Principles of English Composition3
or EXPO 1213 Expository Writing
Language (0-10 hours)
(0-10 hours) Students who have not completed two years of the same language in high school are required to take two college courses in the same language
Beginning Course0-5
Beginning Course, continued0-5
Mathematics (3 hours)
Choose one course from the General Education Mathematics list3
Core Area II: Natural Science (7 hours, 2 courses)
Choose two courses including one laboratory component7
Core Area III: Social Science (6 hours)
P SC 1113American Federal Government3
Choose one course from the General Education Social Science list3
Core Area IV: Arts and Humanities
Artistic Forms (3 hours)
Choose one course from the General Education Artistic Forms list3
Western Culture (3 hours)
HIST 1483United States to 18653
or HIST 1493 United States, 1865 to the Present
Choose one course from the General Education Western Culture list (excluding HIST 1483 & 1493)3
World Culture (3 hours)
Choose one course from the General Education World Culture list3
Core Area V: First Year Experience (3 hours)
Choose one course3
Total Credit Hours37-47

ADDITIONAL COLLEGE B.A. REQUIREMENTS

Humanities and Social Science Electives (3 hours must be Upper-Division)
Choose one course from Arts & Humanities Gen Ed lists3
Choose one course from the Social Science Gen Ed list3
Natural Science
GEOG 1114Physical Geography4
Language
Choose one course at the intermediate level 23
Total Credit Hours13
1

If the student successfully places beyond the second intermediate course, the 13 hours of required language will become free electives. 

Free Electives

Electives to bring total applicable hours to the minimum total required for the degree.

Information Concerning General Rules, Regulations and Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees

Total Hours: A minimum of 120 semester hours acceptable toward graduation must be completed.
Upper-Division Hours: A minimum of 40 upper- division semester hours acceptable toward graduation must be completed. OU courses numbered 3000 or above are upper- division. Transfer work is counted as lower-division or upper-division credit depending on the level at which it was offered at the institution where it was earned. Two-year college work is accepted only as lower-division credit.
Senior Institution Hours: A minimum of 60 semester hours applied toward graduation must be earned at senior (4-year) institutions.
Residency:

  • A minimum of two semesters must be spent in residence in the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences.
  • At least 36 of the last 48 hours must be completed in residence at OU.

Individual Studies: No more than six hours of independent study or directed readings may be applied toward degree requirements.
Grade Point Averages: Students must earn a minimum overall 2.25 for each of the following: Combined Retention GPA (all college grades), OU Retention GPA, GPA for all major courses, and GPA for all major courses taken at OU.

Suggested Semester Plan of Study

This plan shows one possible grouping of courses that would allow students to graduate in four years. Please refer to the front of the degree checksheet for official requirements. Students must consult with College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences and/or Department of Geography academic advisors to verify that courses selected each semester fulfill the recommended plan and satisfy university, College of Atmospheric & Geographic Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability major requirements.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
First SemesterCredit Hours
ENGL 1113 Principles of English Composition (Core I) 3
Beginning Language (Core I) 5
GEOG 1203 Global Environmental Issues (Core III) 3
General Education Math (Core I) 1 3
 Credit Hours14
Second Semester
ENGL 1213
Principles of English Composition (Core I)
or Expository Writing
3
Beginning Language continued (Core I) 5
GEOG 1114 Physical Geography 4
First Year Experience (Core V) 3
 Credit Hours15
Sophomore
First Semester
GEOG 2021 Exploring DGES 1
GIS 2023 Introduction to Spatial Thinking and Computer Mapping 3
General Education Artistic Forms (Core IV) 1 3
Intermediate Language (College elective) 3
HIST 1483
United States to 1865 (Core IV)
or United States, 1865 to the Present
3
College Elective 2 3
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
General Education Natural Science (Core II) 1 3-4
General Education Western Culture (Core IV) 1 3
General Education World Culture (Core IV) 1 3
General Education Social Science Elective 1 3
GEOG 3443 Environment and Society 3
 Credit Hours15
Junior
First Semester
GEOG 3233 Principles of Sustainability 3
P SC 1113 American Federal Government 3
College Elective 2 3
Concentration Elective 3 3
General Education Arts & Humanities Elective 1 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
GEOG 3923 Quantitative Methods 3
GEOG 4523 Life Cycle Analysis 3
College Elective 2 2
Concentration Elective 3 3
General Education Natural Science with lab (Core II) 1 4-5
 Credit Hours15
Senior
First Semester
GEOG 4893 Research and Professional Development 3
Major Elective 3
College Elective 2 3
College Elective 2 3
Concentration Elective 3 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
GEOG 4953 Capstone 3
College Elective 2 3
College Elective 2 3
College Elective 2 3
Major Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours120
1

To be chosen from the University-Wide General Education Approved Course List. Three hours of general education must be upper-division outside the major. 

2

Twenty hours, including six hours of upper-division (3000-4000 level), of advisor-approved coursework relevant to the student’s field(s) of study. 

3

A minimum of 9 hours, including at least 6 hours of GEOG courses, to be chosen from approved course lists in one of the following concentrations: Culture and Society, Planning and Management, or Science and Natural Resources.