Dec 21, 2024  
2024-25 Western Washington University Catalog 
    
2024-25 Western Washington University Catalog

Student/Faculty Designed, BA (College of the Environment)

Location(s): WWU - Bellingham


Department of Environmental Studies, College of the Environment

Introduction

Students who wish to design their own majors within the College of the Environment should obtain complete guidelines from the Undergraduate Advisors located in ES 539, the College of the Environment office. The major must be developed with faculty advisement and must be approved by two faculty members and the College of the Environment Curriculum Committee at least four quarters before the student’s anticipated graduation.

Why Consider a College of the Environment Student/Faculty Designed Major?

 

 Contact Information

Department Chair
Rebekah Paci-Green
Arntzen Hall 206
360-650-2707
Rebekah.Paci-Green@wwu.edu

College of the Environment​ 
Professional Advisor

Kathryn Patrick
Environmental Studies 539
360-650-3520
Kathryn.Patrick@wwu.edu

 Sample Careers

Career choices are determined by the student’s interests.

 Major/Career Resources

careercenter.wwu.edu/connectmajorcareer

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

You can declare yourself as an Environmental Studies (ENVS) pre-major at any time.  There are several advantages to declaring during your freshman or sophomore year. Once you are declared as a pre-major you are assigned a College of the Environment faculty advisor based on your interests at the time of declaration. You can then meet with your faculty advisor to discuss which courses to take and when, how to prepare for graduate school or a future career, or simply to get assistance navigating through the College of the Environment curriculum. Your email is added to an email distribution list for College of the Environment majors so you will begin to receive notifications and general announcements, as well as information about jobs, internships, or research opportunities.

Some important information about the ENVS major:

  1. Admission to the student faculty design major is a competitive process and requires the coursework above and a grade of B- or better in ENVS 201 and ENVS 203, as well as a satisfactory GPA in all other coursework. Applications can be found at cenv.wwu.edu/undergraduate-applications-college-environment
  2. Student faculty design majors must submit their plan of study and a brief written justification to the College of the Environment Curriculum Coordinating Committee at least four quarters before graduation. Their major must have a unique title and the support of two faculty members. The Academic Coordinating Commission, a standing committee of Western’s Faculty Senate, must provide final approval of a Student/Faculty Designed Major title.
  3. Changes to your major, plan of study or requests for a change of advisor require completing a new declaration card.

If you have any questions, please contact a professional advisor at the central College of the Environment office in Environmental Studies Building 539, or by phone (360-650-2817), or (360-650-3748).

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.