New degree combines environmental studies with liberal arts

Graduate student William Sanchez wants a job in public administration and environmental science.

He’s pursuing a master’s degree in environmental science in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, but as an undergraduate, he majored in political science.

A new degree will allow undergraduates to combine environmental and sustainability studies with liberal arts.

“I had a liberal arts background,” Sanchez said. “It shouldn’t close you off from different fields of study.”

The new bachelor of arts in environmental and sustainability studies major was approved by the Board of Trustees last week. The degree must still be approved by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education before becoming official.

In addition, SPEA is introducing majors and minors in education policy, law and public policy and human resource.

The B.A. in environmental and sustainability studies, like the current bachelor of science in environmental science, will exist in conjunction with the College of Arts and Sciences, founding dean Charles Bonser said.

Freshman nonprofit management major Kelsey Johnson said it is important to approach sustainability and the environment from humanitarian and research perspectives.

She said studying human interaction with the environment is crucial.

“Sustainability cannot be studied through scientific principles alone,” Johnson said. “Sustainability is creating and maintaining human practices and conditions in nature where humans and the environment simultaneously get both of their needs met.”

Bonser said the B.A. degree’s addition to the environmental studies program reflects the makeup of SPEA faculty.

“Look at our faculty. They’re from several different fields, including the sciences and the social sciences,” Bonser said. “It’s important to have that mixture.”

Combining sustainability with environmental sciences in the B.A. degree will help students contribute to society, he said.

“The sustainability matter of the problem is a tough one for many kinds of organizations in our society,” Bonser said.

“We can develop the right framework to get the right kinds of people involved to develop intellectual structures that will benefit our community.”

Sophomore environmental management major Maddy Brown said she will not pursue a B.A. since she is on track for law school, but she is intrigued by the arts approach.
“I think it’s an awesome program,” Brown said. “I will definitely look at the classes offered and consider taking a few.”

Students like Brown might benefit from taking such classes, Sanchez said.

“I think it’s a really good idea for people from a liberal arts background to be able to pursue their interests in sustainability,” Sanchez said. “I don’t think it should be closed off to just scientists.”

The education policy minor will exist in conjunction with the School of Education.
Senior marketing major Sally Bae is working with SPEA and the School of Education to promote the new minor.

Classes include Legal Issues for Teachers, Sociology of Education and Managing Behavior in Public Organizations, according to the SPEA website.

Bae said education policy is a “fairly specific field” that not many students know about.

“We’re trying to generate more awareness about it,” Bae said. “This program can help students really get their feet wet in a lot of the government sector.”

The education policy minor will launch in spring 2014.

The new major and minor in law and public policy is designed for students considering careers in tax and health care policy, social justice, cybersecurity or intellectual property rights, according to the SPEA website.

Classes include Public Law and the Courts, Legal History and Public Policy, Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs and Public Law and the Legislative Process.

The IU Human Resource Association will unveil the new human resource major at its HRA-IU Banquet Friday in State Room East at the Indiana Memorial Union.

Follow reporter Hannah Alani on Twitter @hannahalani.