Skip to main content

Secondary Menu

  • Hotline
  • Contact Us

Call to Action Menu

  • Visit Us
  • Apply Now
  • Give Now
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Search type:
Information for:

Information Menu

  • Future Students
  • First-Time Students
  • Transfer Students
  • Adult Learners
  • International Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni & Friends
  • Visitors
Penn State Brandywine Home
Penn State Brandywine Home
Penn State Brandywine
Search

Information Menu

  • Future Students
  • First-Time Students
  • Transfer Students
  • Adult Learners
  • International Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni & Friends
  • Visitors

Secondary Menu

  • Hotline
  • Contact Us

Call to Action Menu

  • Visit Us
  • Apply Now
  • Give Now

Main navigation

  • This is Penn State
  • Academics
  • Admission
  • Student Life
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
  • Workforce & Innovation
  • Athletics
Information for:

Information Menu

  • Future Students
  • First-Time Students
  • Transfer Students
  • Adult Learners
  • International Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni & Friends
  • Visitors

Main navigation

  • This is Penn State
  • Academics
  • Admission
  • Student Life
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
  • Workforce & Innovation
  • Athletics
  1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Minors

Environmental Inquiry Minor

The Environmental Inquiry minor was created to enrich all areas of academic study with essential, cross-disciplinary understanding of crucial environmental issues and how they are being framed and tackled from both scientific and policy perspectives.

The Environmental Inquiry minor introduces students to different ways of thinking about and studying the environment.

The minor will give students a greater appreciation of the environment, a broader understanding of the environmental issues and problems, and insight into alternative methods of inquiry.

The minor permits students to:

  • Explore environmental interests
  • Provides additional perspectives
  • Uses a participatory approach and interactive learning style

WHY SELECT THE ENVIRONMENTAL INQUIRY MINOR?
Human impact on the environment is an increasingly relevant issue as populations grow, resources are consumed, and businesses and industries become ever more productive.

Addressing this issue is controversial and involves complex debates that engage professionals from all fields. Now, more than ever, concerned groups seek individuals knowledgeable about these important issues with experience communicating with people in professions outside of their own.

Not only is being familiar with current environmental issues important for all professional fields it is part of being a well-informed citizen.

YOU CAN MAKE AN IMPACT!
The dual perspective of nature and society is really important when trying to understand environmental issues in our world today. The Earth really needs interdisciplinary people!

The environment provides many exciting, interesting, and satisfying career choices stretching across a tremendous range of fields and disciplines. Working in the environmental field is rewarding because students can contribute to the maintenance and conservation of essential life systems necessary for our human survival.

"Customers prefer doing business with companies who maintain clean shops and protect the environment" - Pam Evans, Coordinator for green businesses, Alameda County, CA.

"Talented writers who can handle highly specialized scientific or technical subjects have an advantage" - U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics

If a student has a background in science but also has ambitions to DO something about the environment, he/she might find that a lot of the decisions about the environment are taken in politics. To have success in improving the environment will require one to speak the language of policy makers.

The minor can help students on this track, exposing them to both the scientific background they need to understand environmental issues as well as the social science needed to promote these issues successfully.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL INQUIRY MINOR
A total of 18 credits are required, of which 6 are circumscribed and 12 are elective.
Course substitutions are encouraged! Consult Dr. Laura Guertin to explore the options.

HOW THE MINOR WORKS IN 4 EASY STEPS:
(Detailed Course List)

  1. Take a 3-credit introductory course. Pick an introductory course from the approved list. 
  2. Take nine credits from one of the following seven specialty clusters that best suits your needs and interests:
    • Biodiversity and Ecosystems
    • Environment and Society
    • Environmental Explorations
    • Ideas About the Environment
    • Water Resources (available only at University Park)
    • Human Settlements
    • Energy Resources (available only at University Park)
  3. Take an additional 3-credit course: To provide greater breadth to the curriculum, select one environmentally related 400-level course from outside your chosen cluster and major. Field experiences are encouraged! 
  4. Take a 3-credit final course: Pick a capstone course from the list to tie all of your coursework together. 

Campus minor coordinator: Laura Guertin, Earth Science
Please direct all inquiries to Laura Guertin (610-892-1427, [email protected])

See Also

  • Earth Sustainability Certificate

Brandywine Academics

Advising and Career Services
Academic Support
Degrees and Majors
Special Programs
Registrar
University Bulletin

Penn State Brandywine

25 Yearsley Mill Road
Media, PA 19063
610-892-1200

Secondary Menu

  • Hotline
  • Contact Us

Call to Action Menu

  • Visit Us
  • Apply Now
  • Give Now
Penn State Brandywine is Philadelphia's "next-door" neighbor. The 112-acre campus lies just 20 miles west of Center City and offers four-year baccalaureate degree programs, associate degree programs and workplace professional education programs.
Information for:

Information Menu

  • Future Students
  • First-Time Students
  • Transfer Students
  • Adult Learners
  • International Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni & Friends
  • Visitors

Footer Menu

  • +This is Penn State
    • Campus Information
    • Chancellor
    • Leadership
    • Visit Us
  • +Academics
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Internships
    • Workforce & Innovation
    • Center for Ethics & Civic Engagement
    • Study Abroad
    • Vairo Library
  • +Admission
    • How to Apply
    • First-Year Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Adult Learners
    • Virtual Tour
  • +Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Financial Aid
    • Tuition & Fees
  • +Student Life
    • Career Services
    • Code of Conduct
    • Counseling Services
    • Get Involved
  • +Athletics
    • Club and Intramural Sports
    • Fitness Center
  • +Contact Us
    • Calendar
    • Faculty and Staff Directory
    • Stay Connected
    • University Police and Public Safety

Connect with Us

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • linkedin
Penn State University
Penn State University

Footer Info Menu

  • Directions
  • Map
  • Contact Us
  • Search
  • Hotlines
25 Yearsley Mill Road, Media, Pennsylvania 19063 | 610-892-1200

Footer Legal Menu

  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
The Pennsylvania State University © 2022