2017-18 Pomona College Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2017-18 Pomona College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG] Use the dropdown above to select the current 2023-24 catalog.

Environmental Analysis Major


Requirements for the Major in Environmental Analysis


The major consists of three sets of requirements:

  1. Three introductory core courses:
  1. EA students develop a course plan with faculty approval within the following tracks:
    • Environment and Society
    • Sustainability and the Built Environment
    • Environmental Science

EA requires that students work closely with an affiliated faculty member to develop a course plan that includes not fewer than seven but no more than 11 courses  in addition to the core and capstone courses. Student course plans must show depth in some foundational discipline or set of closely related disciplines, and must be cleared and approved by the EA Coordinator.

  1. Senior Capstone (both courses are required):
    • The senior thesis, to be completed in the fall of senior year (EA 191 PO )
    • The senior seminar, to be completed in the spring (EA 190 PO 

Environmental Analysis Tracks:


1. Environment and Society


The study of the relationship between humans and our environment, including wild areas and the built environment, involves careful analyses. When we assess, evaluate, and propose environmental policies and practices, we need to consider sources and methods from a variety of different areas. These areas include (but are not restricted to) portions of moral philosophy, religious studies, history, and the social sciences. Courses address how we value the environment from philosophical and economic perspectives and how issues of race, class, and gender influence environmental outcomes. For course plans consult Mr. Cutter (environmental economics); Ms. Davis (values and environment); Ms. Kassam (race, class, and gender); Ms. Williams.

Advisors:

Mr. Cutter (Economics)
Ms. Davis (Philosophy)
Ms. Kassam (Religious Studies)

2. Sustainability and the Built Environment


The sustainability and built environment or SBE focuses on the design or re-design of the city, suburbia, and rural, and undeveloped. SBE is designed to enable students to learn how to plan, design, construct and manage communities from a more sustainable perspective. They also learn about the latest planning approaches and policy/regulatory requirement; green architecture, sustainable site design and landscapes; renewable energy and energy efficiency; sustainable water resources management; and green infrastructure. They acquire the skills necessary to integrate sustainable design principles into long-range visions and the day-to-day development and management of the built environment. The Sustainability and the Built Environment Concentration (SBE) is designed for those who plan to work in urban planning, design and/or architecture. This course plan was developed in direct conversation with some of the relevant graduate programs.  Many EA students are admitted to the strongest programs in the country. The advisors below will help students develop a course plan.

Advisors:

Mr. Miller3 (Environmental Analysis)
Mr. Neckar (PZ)

3. Environmental Science


These concentrations are designed to prepare graduates to work in STEM fields to evaluate and mitigate environmental issues, and to help prepare and to help prepare them pursue graduate degrees in environmentally relevant fields. In addition to the core courses, students in these concentrations take a minimum of five upper level courses within a discipline, e.g. biology, geology, physics, chemistry, or mathematics. The advisors below will help students develop a course plan related to their discipline of interest.

Advisors:

Mr. Gaines (Geology)
Mr. Los Huertos (Environmental Analysis) or Ms. Karnovsky (Biology)
Mr. Taylor (Chemistry)
Mr. Tanenbaum (Physics and Engineering)
Mr. Chandler (Mathematics)

Other related majors:

Students with an interest in environmental policy may major in the Environmental Analysis Track in Public Policy Analysis (PPA). Please consult with Ms. Williams (Politics) or Mr. Worthington (Politics) to work out a course plan.  Similarly, students who are interested in environmental history may major in History; consult with Mr. Miller3, Ms. Chu (History) or Ms. Mayes (History).