ENVS Senior Comprehensive

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Senior Comprehensive Requirement

A senior exit requirement is designed to integrate the knowledge and skills learned throughout the curriculum. There are several possibilities for meeting the SCR in Environmental Studies including opportunities for team and individual work. The majority of environmental studies majors choose to take the Capstone (ENVS 190) or Senior Seminar (ENVS 196) courses; the type of student you are might affect your choice. If you feel you would benefit from more structure in the SCR process, you should take Capstone or Senior Seminar. If you feel comfortable working independently with a flexible amount of supervision, you might prefer to do a senior thesis or project (ENVS 195). A Senior Internship (ENVS 183B) could be either a thesis or a project, depending on the agency.

Please also read the Guidelines for the Senior Comprehensive Requirement if you choose to do a thesis or internship.

Students choose one of the following options:

1. ENVS 190 - Capstone Course, Environmental Problem Solving

Winter only

A synthetic course that draws on the knowledge and skills students bring from other courses in the major. Focuses on written and oral individual and group projects in which students must take the initiative. Emphasizes developing skills critical for students in their future careers.  Capstone is a large-lecture course that promotes discussion of primary, current literature surrounding important environmental issues. No special interview or application process is needed, ENVS 100/L is the only pre-requisite and any ENVS junior or senior should be able to directly enroll into this 5-unit course through the student portal enrollment menu.

2. ENVS 196 - Senior Seminar, Various Topics

Offered throughout the year

Senior seminars explore advanced aspects of current and future environmental issues.  Such courses are reading and writing intensive and promote discussion and hands-on learning.  Courses are usually restricted to graduating seniors and are generally 20 students or less in size.  If interested in using a senior seminar to fulfill the senior exit requirement, discuss the prospect of joining the class with the course’s instructor.  Most senior seminars have an application process, pre-requisites and/or interview requirements (see the Seminar Application page).  PLAN EARLY!  Do not assume you will get in to a senior seminar course. 

3. ENVS 183 & 183B - Senior Internship

Offered each term, but requires a TWO-QUARTER COMMITMENT

Open to declared majors only, this course combines fieldwork at an off-campus agency and a comprehensive analytical paper produced for the agency. Equivalent to a thesis in terms of the depth and quality of the work expected, it is combined with a 5-credit internship (ENVS 183) that is completed the quarter before enrolling in ENVS 183B. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency. Enrollment restricted to environmental studies majors and the ENVS combined majors with Earth sciences, biology and economics.  A senior internship is a wonderful way to develop your own senior exit requirement with the help of an agency sponsor (from your internship) and a faculty sponsor (within the ENVS department).  For further information, please see Chris Krohn in the internship office (ISB 491).

4. ENVS 195A or ENVS 195B - Senior Thesis

195A may be completed any quarter, 195B only offered winter term
BOTH are a TWO-QUARTER commitment.

The quarter prior to writing a thesis, the student should enroll in an independent study course in order to prepare for completion of their thesis.  This should be coordinated with the ENVS undergraduate advisor, the student completing the thesis, and the student’s faculty thesis advisor.  The petition to enroll in this independent study course, and the thesis class itself, is available in the ENVS main office (ISB 405).

ENVS 195B - Students involved in group or individual research that results in a senior thesis or project or done in conjunction with an internship meet regularly with their faculty sponsor to discuss the progress of their work, to receive academic and technical guidance, and to critique one another's written work. To receive credit the student must submit an electronic copy of the completed research and write-up. Satisfies the senior comprehensive requirement. Students must discuss details with faculty sponsor. Students submit petition to sponsoring agency.

ENVS 195A - An individually supervised course, with emphasis on independent research that either results in a thesis or project or is done in conjunction with a senior internship.  In order to receive credit, students must turn in an electronic copy of their thesis to their faculty sponsor and the ENVS main office. Theses should be turned in NO later than ninth week of the quarter during which the thesis is being completed.