Interdisciplinary Minors & Concentrations

Environmental Studies Concentration

The Environmental Studies concentration is designed to acquaint students with the knowledge necessary to understand and solve environmental problems: the operations of the physical, biological, and chemical systems of our planet; the impact of people on these systems; the cultural underpinnings of our current patterns of interaction with nature; and the substantive nature and institutional process of political and social change that impinge on our environment. Students pursue the concentration in Environmental Studies along with a major.

Students must complete 21 credit hours selected from the following course offerings: AR 199; BL 109, 111, 115, 155, 156, 159, 215, 222, 331; CH 103, 105, 299, 455; EC 315; HS 271; PH 101, 102; PL 314, 375, 385; PO 312, 361, 363, 464; RL 260, 363, 368; SC 290, 360, 380, 390. Students must take at least two courses in the natural sciences and two courses in the social sciences and/or humanities. Independent studies and internship opportunities may be arranged with the director of the concentration.

Coordinator: Dr. Wendy Wiedenhoft, Department of Sociology

Neuroscience Concentration

This concentration is coordinated by the Department of Psychology, and is intended for biology, chemistry, and pyschology majors who desire an interdisciplinary approach to the study of physiology, biochemistry, and behavior of higher organisms.

Required courses for Biology majors; BL 155, 156, 157, 158, 360, 360L; CH 141, 142, 143, 144, 221, 222, 223, 224; BL 475 AND CH 431 (or CH 435, 436, AND 437); PS 326, 426, 497N.

Required courses for Chemistry majors: BL 155, 156, 157, 158, 360, 360L; CH 141, 142, 143, 144, 221, 222, 223, 224, 435, 436, 437; PS 326, 426, 497N.

Required courses for psychology majors: BL 155, 156, 157, 158, 360, 360L; CH 141, 142, 143, 144, 221, 222, 223, 224; PS 101, 326, 426, 497N; MT 122, 123.

Coordinators: Dr. Cyrilla Wideman, Department of Biology; Dr. Helen Murphy, Department of Psychology

Population and Public Health Minor

This interdisciplinary minor is for students in any major interested in protecting and improving the health of communities. The minor addresses biological, social and cultural, environmental, ethical, and public policy influences on a population’s health and requires critical, cross-disciplinary thinking applied to solving health problems. The course of study consist of three parts, altogether totaling 10 credit hours of prerequisite courses that simultaneously fulfill divisional John Carroll Core requirements: Biology: BL 112/112L with a grade of B or better, or BL 156, BL 158. Statistics: a grade of C or better must be earned in MT 122, MT 228, MT 229, or EC 208. Social and behavioral science: SC 101 or SC 245.

In addition to the prerequisite courses, student will fulfill 26-27 credit hours of requirements in the core areas of Population and Public Health. Public health: SC 273 and AR 273. Epidemiology: BL 240. Environmental studies: Choose one from BL 109/109L, SC 290, SC 380, or PO 361. Social and behavioral health: Choose one from BL 260, SC 275, SC 285, SC 315, SC 343, SC 370, SC 385, or PS 226. Policy studies: Choose one from PO 204, PO 309, or PO 397 (Crisis Mapping). Global health: Choose one course not taken to fulfill other PPH requirements from BL 260 or SC 370. Public health practice: AR 473 (capstone course with internship). Elective course: Choose one course not taken for other PPH minor requirements from BL 260, BL 310/310L, BL 410, PE 200, PL 316, PO 309, PO 397 (Crisis Mapping), PS 226, SC 275, SC 285, SC 315, SC 330, SC 343, SC 370, or SC 385.

Note: Admission to the minor is limited by the enrollment cap for AR 473.

Coordinators: Dr. Jim Lissemore, Department of Biology