Undergraduate Bulletin

Ecosystems and Human Impact (EHI)

The Ecosystems and Human Impact major, leading to a Bachelor of Art degree, provides the skills, knowledge, and preparation for students to assess and address the complex interaction of humans and natural environments.  The curriculum integrates principles and methodologies from ecology, biology, genetics, anthropology, human ecology, and geography, combined with an understanding of economics, ethics, and policy within a greater global perspective. 

The major prepares students for entry-level employment in the public, private, or non-profit sectors concerned with a wide range of issues, such as: conservation of ecosystems, ecosystem restoration, loss of biodiversity, and development of sustainable bioresources. The major prepares students for graduate study in anthropology, geography, environmental science, sociology, natural resource management, and biology among other fields. 

The major builds on the interdisciplinary sustainability core curriculum. Students will enroll in major-specific courses in their junior and senior year. In their junior or senior year students will have the opportunity to enroll in the study abroad program at Ranomafana, Madagascar, which provides training in field biology, ecology, primatology, and anthropology. Students enrolled in this program will take courses and conduct independent research that contributes to a better understanding of Ranomafana National Park and the link between the park and the people of the region. Local internships, research courses, and field courses are also available to students to build up real-world experience.

The Ecosystems and Human Impact minor is intended for students who seek to complement their chosen major with a coherent set of courses emphasizing the interaction between humans and ecosystems from an interdisciplinary perspective.