MSU.EDU CARRS
   
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND AGRISCIENCE MAJOR
The Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies (CARRS) offers a Bachelor of Science degree program with a major in environmental Studies and Agriscience. This program of study is concerned with who uses resources, how they use then, and how positive outcomes of use can be enhanced and negative impacts can be mitigated. The program is designed to educate a diverse assembly of professionals who will work across disciplines and at many levels to provide expertise and leadership in agricultural, environmental and natural resource professions. Students benefit from a broad range of interdisciplinary courses, as well as disciplinary courses carefully selected to enhance students’ technical knowledge. Professional internships and study abroad experiences are encouraged to provide students with experiences beyond the classroom and the university campus. Graduates of this program will be prepared to enter professions in environmental, natural resource and agricultural fields through careers in education, government, private industry, non-profit organizations, and public relations and communications. Graduates of this program will also be prepared to enter a professional or graduate school program upon completion of the B.S. degree.

Students focus their studies by completing one of the interdisciplinary professional concentrations offered by the Department of CARRS designed to provide additional breadth and depth. Students may also choose to complete a specialization.

To find more information on the courses listed in the following tables, please visit http://reg.msu.edu/Courses/Search.asp
 
Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Studies and Agriscience
Course # Course Name Credits
  UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS  
     
WRA 1__ Tier I Writing 4
IAH 20__ Arts and Humanities area A 4
IAH 2__ Arts and Humanities area B 4
ISS 2__ Integrative Studies in Social Science 4
ISS 3__ Integrative Studies in Social Science 4
BS 110 Organisms and Population 4
CEM 141 General Chemistry 4
ZOL 355L Ecology Lab 1
     
  College Requirements  
  One of the following courses  
EC 201 Introduction to Microeconomics 3
EC 202 Introduction to Macroeconomics 3
     
  Mathematics Requirement 3-4
MTH 116 College Algebra and Trigonometry 5
  OR  
MTH 103
MTH 114		 College Algebra PLUS
Trigonometry		 3
3
 

Course # Course Name Credits
  DEGREE REQUIREMENTS  
     
  1. All of the following Courses 16
ACR 202 Problem Solving in Community, Agriculture, and Environmental Systems 3
ACR 205 Agriculture and Natural Resources Communication Theory and Practice 3
ACR 492 Senior Seminar 1
ESA 200 Introduction to Environmental Studies and Agriscience 3
ESA 312 Principles of Leadership for Environmental and Agriscience Professionals 3
ZOL 355 Ecology 3
     
  2. One of the following courses 3
ESA 401 Agriculture and Natural Resources Communication Campaigns 3
ESA 413 Grant Writing and Fund Development 3
ESA 420 Risk and Decision Science for Environmental and Natural Resources Management 3
     
  3. One of the following courses 3-4
STT 200 Statistical Methods 3
STT 201 Statistical Methods 4
FW 324 Wildlife Biometry 3
PSY 295 Data Analysis in Psychological Research 3
COM 200 Methods in Communication Inquiry 4
     
  4. One of the following courses 3-4
CSS 210 Fundamentals of Soil Science 3
GLG 201 The Dynamic Earth 4
     
  5. One of the following courses 3
ABM 100 Decision-making in Agri-food Systems 3
ABM 130 Farm Management 1 3
EEP 255 Ecological Economics 3
     
  6. One of the following courses 3-4
ANS 110 Introductory Animal Agriculture 4
FW 101 Fundamentals of Fisheries and Wildlife Management 3
ZOL 313 Animal Behavior 3
     
  7. One of the following courses 3
CSS 101 Introduction to Crop Science 3
FOR 202 Introduction to Forestry 3
FOR 204 Forest Vegetation 3
HRT 203 Principles of Horticulture 1 3
PLB 105 Plant Biology 3
     
  8. One of the following courses 3-6
ESA 475 Agriscience and Natural Resources Studies Abroad 3
ESA 480 Environmental Studies Abroad 3
ESA 493 Professional Internship 3
     
  9. CANR or Approved Science course at 300 level or above 6
     
  10. Professional Concentration 19-24
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Communications Concentration
Students who select the Communication concentration will be prepared for careers in agricultural, natural resource, and /or environmental journalism, public relations, advertising, or marketing communications. Professionals combine agriculture, natural resource and environmental subject-matter knowledge with skills in writing, speaking, layout and design, and information management. Colleges, advertising and public relations agencies, trade associations, government agencies, extensions services, and corporations need professionals who can work in this field. Success in these organizations may lead to positions as editors, advertising account supervisors, public relations directors, and marketing communications managers.
 
Requirements for the Communications Concentration

Course# Course Name Prerequisite Credits
       
  1. One of the following   3-4
JRN200 News Writing and Reporting 1 English  test 4
JRN 205 Writing for Media   3
  2. One of the following   3
WRA 320 Technical Writing   3
WRA 341 Writing Nature and the Nature of Writing   3
  3. Four of the following   12-13
ESA 412 Special Topics in Leadership and Education ESA 312 3
ESA 420 Risk and Decision Science of Environmental and Natural Resources Management STT 200 or STT 201or FW 324 or PSY 295 or COM 200 3
PRR 451 Interpretation and Visitor Information Systems   3
WRA 210 Introduction to Web Authoring   3
COM 240 Introduction to Organizational Communication   4
COM 275 Effects of the Mass Media   3
COM 325 Interpersonal Influence, Persuasion and Conflict COM 200 or concurrently 3
FIM 424 Information and Market Intelligence in the Agri-food Industry FIM 220 or concurrently and EC 201 3
TSM 251 Information Technology in Agricultural Systems   3
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Community Engagement and Education Concentration
Students who select the community Engagement and Education concentration will develop and conduct educational programs in non-formal settings, assist with formal, school-based educational programs, organize workshops and seminars, develop leadership programs for agribusiness, government agencies, recreation organizations and non-profits, and design environment, natural resource, agriculture, and recreation education and outreach programs for adults and youth in a variety of settings. There are many professional opportunities in non-profit organizations, trade associations, and federal, state and local government agencies, as well as volunteerism.
 
Requirements for the Community Engagement and Education Concentration

Course# Course Name Prerequisite Credits
       
  1. All of the following   13
ACR 415 Program Planning and Evaluation MTH 103 +114 and STT 200/201 3
ESA 335 Engaged Learning and Teaching   3
ESA 434 Professional Skills for Non-formal educators ACR 205 3
ESA 435 Conservation Education ESA 335 3
ESA 436 Conservation Education Practice ESA 435 or concurrently 1
  Two of the following   6
ESA 412 Special Topics in Leadership and Education   3
ESA 413 Grant Writing and Fund Development   3
PRR 451 Interpretation and Visitor Information Systems   3
TSM 251 Information Technology in Agricultural Systems   3
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Science and Policy Concentration
Students who select the Science and Policy concentration will build a strong, interdisciplinary foundation in science and policy related to the environment, natural resources and agriculture. Students may select to focus on Agriscience and policy, or they may choose to focus on environmental science and policy. Creatively combining course work in environmental science and Agriscience will also prepare students for leadership roles in an increasingly complex area. Students who select this concentration will find careers in federal, state and local government, nonprofit organizations and trade associations, and private industry and consulting.
 
Requirements for the Science and Policy Concentration

Course # Course Name Credits
     
  1. One of the following 3-4
CSS 210 Fundamentals of Soil Science 3
GLG 201 The Dynamic Earth 4
  *students should select the course not taken to satisfy the major requirements.  
  2. One of the following 3
ESA 440 Environmental and Natural Resource Policy in Michigan 3
ESA 444 Pesticides, People and Politics 3
ABM 400 Public Policy Issues in Food and Agribusiness 3
FOR 466 Natural Resources Policy 3
  3. Two of the Following 6
ESA 430 Environmental and Natural Resource Law 3
ESA 460 Natural Resources Economics 3
ABM 430 Farm Management II 3
PRR 302 Environmental Attitudes and Concepts 3
  4. Two of the following 6-8
ACR 415 Program Planning and Evaluation 3
ESA 415 Environmental Impact Assessment 4
ESA 324 Water Resource Management or ESA 452 Watershed Concepts 3
ESA 450 Smart Growth and Strategic land Use Decision Making 3
ANS 418 Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning 3
GEO 221 Introduction to Geographic Information or FW 419 Applications of GIS to Natural Resources Management 4
GEO 325 Geographic Information Systems 3
UP 353 Land Use Planning 3
UP 400 Environmental Planning 3
  5. One of the following 3
ESA 343 Community Food and Agricultural Systems 3
ESA 470 Theory an Practice in Community and Economic Development 3
HRT 486 Biotechnology in Agriculture: Applications and Ethical Issues 3
ANP 470 Food, Hunger and Society 3
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Upon completion of the requirements for the Specialization in Natural Resource Recreation, the student should contact the Chairperson of the Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies (CARRS) and request certification for the completion of the specialization. After the certification is approved by the Chairperson of CARRS and the Director of Academic Affairs of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Office of the Registrar will enter on the student’s academic record the name of the specialization and the date that it was completed. This certification will appear on the student’s transcript.