Introduction
The Environmental Justice Minor offers opportunities to critically interrogate the relationships between power, privilege, and the environment. Environmental justice, both a field of academic inquiry and a social movement, brings to light injustices related to the uneven distribution of environmental hazards, the consistent failure of environmental decision-making to address adequately the needs of marginalized communities, and the skewed representation of environmental issues in government and mainstream society. The minor provides an educational experience that offers critical and deconstructive approach by challenging dominant paradigms in human-environment studies and analyzing the underlying structural causes of environmental injustice. The program also embraces reconstructive and praxis approaches by providing opportunities for application and community collaboration.
Why Consider an Environmental Justice Minor?
This minor provides space for students who wish to bridge interests in the environment and social justice. It allows students to connect the theoretical insights they are learning in class to practical applications. This minor is appropriate for students with a background in the environment who wish to deepen their understanding of connections to social justice, for students with a background in social justice who wish to deepen their understanding of connections to the environment, and for students with little background in either the environment or social justice.
Student Resources
Department website: Environmental Studies
Contact information: Kathryn Patrick, College of the Environment Professional Advisor, Environmental Studies 539, 360-650-3520, Kathryn.Patrick@wwu.edu; Kate J. Darby, Minor Coordinator, Arntzen Hall 209, 360-650-6133, darbyk@wwu.edu.
Department advising: See the Advising section of the College of the Environment website.
Degree Works: Current students should also log on to Degree Works to check student-specific program progress.
Career Services Center: Connect major to a career
Sample Careers: Bring environmental justice considerations to a range of environmental or social service sector careers; provide volunteer or paid support for non-governmental environmental justice organizations; prepare for graduate work in the social sciences, environmental studies, environmental justice, and law.
How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):
Some courses in the minor may be restricted to ENVS declared majors and minors.
At any time, you can apply to the Environmental Justice Minor. To declare a minor, set up an appointment with a professional adviser on our Undergrad Academic Advising webpage, by visiting the College of the Environment Student Support office in Environmental Studies Building 539, or by calling 360-650-3520.
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.
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