Show:
Major Structure
Concentrations
Resources
Advising vs. Mentoring
Miscellaneous
100
What are the core courses within the major?
What is ENVS 1, 2, 151?
100
What is a concentration? Name the concentrations. (Must use full names)
What is... A theme of courses and experiences to add breadth and depth to a student's studies. 1) Ecology and Conservation 2) Food, Land and Community 3) Environmental Policy and Development 4) Nature, Culture and Justice 5) Sustainability Studies 6) Environment and Health 7) Individually-Designed Concentration
100
How do you schedule an advising appointment?
Contact Amara Devino at Bittersweet front desk, 802-656-4055. She makes appointments for all the ENVS advisors, with the exception of Professor Frank Zelko whom you can email, fzelko@uvm.edu (link sends e-mail), or call, 802-656-8517 for an appointment.
100
I am transferring in AP Environmental Science credits. Do I need to take ENVS 001?
What is... Advising (Explain your experience in ENVS 1) ENVS 001 offers students a broad overview of environmental concepts and issues, with an emphasis on local, regional, and national concerns. This course introduces you to most of the members of the Environmental Program faculty and other guest lecturers and ensures that all of our majors receive a similar foundation at the start of the ENVS major. The course involves local field trips on- and off-campus. ENVS 001 provides students with foundational knowledge about environmental studies from an interdisciplinary—natural science, social science, and humanities—perspective, rather than the primarily natural science perspective of an Environmental Science (ENSC) course.
100
What is a major plan?
What is a form to track courses through graduation
200
What are the breadth requirements within the major? And what is the course level each has to be taken at?
What is... 100-200 level in 1) Natural Science (NS) 2) Social Science (SS) 3) Humanities (HUM) 4) International (INT)
200
Name 3 ways students can get more information about concentrations.
What is... 1) Concentration Papers at Bittersweet 2) Academic Advisor 3) ENVS website 4) ENVS faculty/staff 5) ENN Peer Mentors
200
What is the Career Center and where is it?
What is... A team of counselors that are here to speak with students and alumni about goals related to major, career, work, grad school, what you want to be when you grow up and much more. Available for a quick drop-in chat! Or students can make an appointment for a longer conversation. Located: Living/Learning E-140 Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm.
200
How do I choose a concentration?
What is... You as a student must consider where your interests are within environmental studies. Your concentration will direct your learning during your time at the University of Vermont and it is important that you choose (or design) a concentration that is relevant to your interests and goals. This choice is partly guided through enrollment in ENVS 151, an exploratory course in which students consider what they see themselves doing in the near and distant future. The choice is also facilitated through meetings with your academic advisor, who can help focus your interests and categorize them into a concentration area.
200
Name and describe 3 environmental focused student clubs
What are... 1) Outing Club - to promote the enjoyment of our natural environment, make friends, and to have a lot of fun in the outdoors. They offer trips of all types, at levels from beginner to expert. They provide all the equipment and instruction needed. 2) Student Climate Culture - student activist group with the overarching goal of empowering and educating students, faculty, staff, and community members with the organizing tools to enact positive change to combat climate change. SCC is currently focusing on a fossil fuel divestment campaign at UVM 3) The Vermont Student Environmental Program (VSTEP) - organization of concerned individuals dedicated to coordinating environmental activities on Vermont campuses and throughout the general public. 4) UVM Wildlife and Fisheries Society - a student run organization based on professional interests in the wildlife or fisheries fields of study. Student club-members will gain knowledge and practical experience in their field through participation in national or regional conferences held by The Wildlife Society, guest lectures, fieldwork, and volunteering for various wildlife and fishery-related organizations. 5) Student Environmental Educators Doing Service (SEEDS): SEEDS works with local elementary schools to provide environmental education to students in the Burlington community in an after-school setting.
300
What are the 3 Senior Capstone options? What is the purpose of having this in the ENVS major curriculum?
What are... 1) Advance Course Sequence 2) Internship 3) Thesis/Project  Integrate ideas and information from various sources and diverse perspectives  Analyze the elements of an idea, experience, or theory  Synthesize and organize ideas, information, or experience  Critically assess the value of information  Apply theories to practical problems or new situations
300
What if a student asks about courses that are not on the concentration sheets. Can they take them? What would you tell?
What is... 1) Let them know that there are courses that are approved that students frequently take. So check that list 2) If it is not on that list, have the student meet with their Academic Advisor to have the class reviewed and to have further conversations about the concentration classes/student interest
300
What is the Learning Co-Op? And where is it?
What is... We are a community of staff and students whose purpose is to foster academic growth and equal access to education for all students by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, nurturing students' identity development and personal academic growth, being innovative and collaborative student advocates, and providing excellent and effective services. The Learning Cooperative 244 Commons Living/Learning Center
300
When should I take ENVS 151?
What is... Advising. This course is meant to be an exploratory course in which our students consider and investigate possible future directions in terms of course work, study abroad, internships, senior ENVS capstones and livelihoods. Students develop their major plan in this course and decide on their concentration within the major. Due to the directed nature of ENVS 151, it is recommended that students take the course during spring semester sophomore year or fall semester junior year, after they have taken ENVS 001 and 002 and have had some time to explore their interests and the various opportunities available to them.
300
Name 3 resources that can help students find jobs
What is... 1) Catamount job link 2) ENV-talk 3) Anna Smiles-Becker 4) Idealist 5) USA Job Link
400
What is the structure for the ENVS minor? (Courses, credits, college - what college/school can ENVS be minored in)
What is... 1) Courses - ENVS 1, ENVS 2 2) Credits - Min. 9 ENVS credits at 100-level or above (in addition to ENVS 1 and ENVS 2). 17 credits total, minimum. One non-envs course allowed with permission 3) College - Any UVM college/school. The minor is the same regardless of your UVM college or school.
400
When do students declare a concentration?
What is... ENVS 151. Students are assisted in identifying their environmental interests to make their choice in which concentration is right for them.
400
3 part question What does "CATS" in CATS Report stand for? What does it do? When should a student "run a CATS Report"?
What is... 1) Curriculum Audit Tracking System 2) UVM's degree audit system that produces automated, individualized reports to help students track their progress toward completing their degrees. Used by students and advisors, identifies both completed and outstanding requirements and provides a current list of courses that can be taken to satisfy them. 3) Whenever they question or wand to review their academic progress
400
What's the difference between majoring in Environmental Studies (ENVS) and Environmental Science (ENSC)? What are the benefits of each?
What is... 1) Environmental Studies majors earn a B.A or a B.S., depending on in which UVM college or school they are enrolled. 2) The major is interdisciplinary. 3) All students take 3 core ENVS course (11 credits total), 3 100-200-level credits of each of the 4 environmentlaly-related breadth requirements: natural science, humanities, social science, and international studies; 2 (CAS) or 6 (CAS and RSENR) additional courses in their ENVS concentration; and a 9 credit senior capstone. 3) This major is best for students who want a broadly interdisciplinary environmental education and who want a great deal of choice in their course work. 4) All Environmental Science majors earn a B.S. degree. Students take a common set of courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, and geology or plant and soil science. A common set of environmental science core courses is followed by 14-16 credits of specialized courses in one of the chosen nine focus tracks.
400
Name 2 action steps on the four year plan
What is... 1) Engage in experiential learning opportunities 2) Write a resume and cover letter to market your qualifications; upload in Catamount Job Link for review 3) Meet with faculty/staff to discuss your academic and career path and ask about their work and research.
500
2 part question 1) What type of degree will ENVS majors get in each of the 4 colleges/schools? 2) What is the minimum credit hours needed for the major in each school?
What is... 1) CALS - B.S. degree with min. 50 credits 2) CAS - B.A. degree with min. 38 credits 3) RSENR - B.S. degree with min. 50 credits 4) CESS - B.S. with min. 30 credits
500
Turn to the person to your left and ask them their concentration. 1) Provide a description of their concentration and 2) Name two courses that are appropriate for a student to take if they had that concentration
What is... 1) Ecology and Conservation - Scientific and management approaches for landscape protection and stewardship with a focus on field observation, conservation planning and policy; interdisciplinary grounding in the environmental and conservation sciences. 2) Food, Land and Community - Ecological aspects of agricultural landscapes, food production and distribution with a focus on scientific and social analysis in food and agriculture aspects of environmental planning and community development; interdisciplinary grounding in agroecology and sustainable food systems. 3) Environmental Policy and Development - The role of social, political, and economic forces in environmental policy and economic development with a focus on problem analysis, systems thinking, and social evaluation; interdisciplinary grounding in the environmental social sciences. 4) Nature, Culture and Justice - Nature-culture concerns reflecting social values and justice issues with a focus on environmental communication, expression, and advocacy; interdisciplinary grounding in the environmental humanities. Tracks in the creative arts, environmental ethics, and environmental education and activism. 5) Sustainability Studies - Sustainable ecological and social processes that inform human choices in relation to energy, transportation, climate, waste, and food systems, with a focus on applying sustainability principles to environmental problem-solving; interdisciplinary grounding in systems thinking and ecological processes. 6) Environment and Health - The connection between environmental health and human health impacts of degraded and toxic soils, water, food, and air with a focus on problem analysis, systems thinking, and social evaluation; interdisciplinary grounding in environmental health sciences and social sciences.
500
Name 3 types of Experiential Learning ENVS students can take advantage of. And describe what the first steps are to pursuing them.
What is... 1) Study Abroad - a) Speak with your ENVS advisor or Ibit Wright, ENVS Student Services Coordinator. b) Create your iAbroad account and begin that process. 2) Internship - a) Find an internship by following ENV-talk listserv, talking to faculty/staff, talk to students who have done internships in the past, ENVS website. b) Work on resume/cover letter 3) Student clubs and volunteering - a) Check out the environmental related clubs on ENVS website or lynx page b) contact club member/go to club meeting
500
What college or school should I go through as an ENVS major? (What is unique for each college or school?)
What is... Mentoring 1) CALs offers a curriculum emphasizing the natural and social sciences as they apply to environmental problem-solving. 2) The CAS offers a broad liberal arts education spanning the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and fine arts. 3) The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources offers a curriculum emphasizing the natural and social sciences as they apply to environmental problem-solving. 4) The CESS prepares students for professional work in education, social work, and human services, with the aim of creating a more humane and just society that fosters respect for ethnic and cultural diversity, and maximizes quality of life. *The major concentration in ENVS is only available to CESS students majoring in Early Childhood, Early Childhood Special Education, and Physical Education students.*
500
"I am interested in hydroelectric dams, has an ENVS student written a thesis on this topic?" Name 2 ways you could help answer this student's question. Demonstrate one way that you could direct the student into finding this thesis.
What is... 1) Bittersweet thesis room 2) Online database